other tilings, to teacli the need of special preparation for that blessed ordinance, is an interesting* thought, and worth consid- eration. It certainly seems our Lord's last action before He gave the bread and wine.
[He said.. .know ye what...done.,.you.'] This question was meant to stir up in the disciples' minds inquiry as to the meaning of what they had just seen. Understanding and intelligent per- ception of all we do in religion, should be sought after and valued by all true Christians. There is no real religion in blind devotion. " What, mean I by this service ? " should be the question often impressed on our minds.
13. — [ Ye call me Master and Lord.] These words would be more literally rendered, " Ye call Me, or speak of Me, as the Master and the Lord." The expression seems to show that this was the habitual language of the disciples while our Lord was on earth. So Martha says to Mary, " The Master is come." (John xi. 28.)
[ Ye say icell : for so I am.] The word " so " is not in the Greek. It is simply " for I am." The expression is a beauti- ful warrant for applying to Jesus especially the appellation " the Lord." He has Himself endorsed it, by the words, " Ye say well."
14. — [If 1 then, your Lord, etc.] The argument of this verse is one which our Lord very frequently uses : " If I do a thing, much more ought ye to do it." Literally rendered the meaning is, " If I, the Person whom ye speak of as * the Lord ' and * the Master,' have washed your feet, and condescended to perform the most menial act of attention to you, ye also ought to feel it a duty to do acts of the same kind for one another, — acte as condescending as washing one another's feet."
The words " Your Lord and Master " in the Greek are liter- ally, " The Lord and the Master."
" Ye ought " is a very strong expression. It is tantamount to Baying, " It is your duty and debt, — ye are under an obligation to do it."
Paley on Evidences, p. 2, ch. iv., has a remarkable passage, showing the close affinity between our Lord's conduct here, and His conduct when taking a little child and putting him in the midst of the disciples. In both he taught humility, that rare grace, by action.
15. — [For 1 havie given you an exam'ple, etc.] " I have, in my own person, given you a pattern of what your own conduct sliould be. The duty I want you to learn is of such vast importance that I have not left it to a general precept, but have given you an example of my meaning."
Of course the question at once rises, — What did our Lord really mean ? Did he mean that we all ought literally to do the