The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 191

tic11l religious life. Now, we possess a Divine solemn private declaration that it is hia commentary on this sacrament instituted by deliberate wish to suffer with hia Lord nnd our Lord. It is noticeable tbe.t St. John, for his Lord's sake; that it is, too, his firm whose Gospel we.g the le.teat or well-nigh purpose to imitate the earthly life lived by the le.test of the canonical writings of the his Lord. The partaking of thia Holy New Testament, when at gree.t length he Communion, too, is the Christian's moat relates the story of the 111st Passover evening solemn prayer for strength thus to suffer and its teo.ching, does not allude to the and to Ii ve. It is, too, his fervent expression institution of that famous service, which, of belief that this strength will be surely when he wrote his Gospel, had become part given tn him. Further, the partaking of of the settled experience of Church life. this Holy Communion is, above all, the He presupposes it; for it had passed then Christian's most solemn prayer for living into the ordinary life of the Church. In union with Christ-" that Christ may dwell another and earlier portion of his Gospel, in hie heart by faith." It is, too, his fervent however, St. John (vi. 32-58) gives us e. expression of belief that •• then we dwell in record of the Lord's discourse in the syna- Christ, and Christ in ns; we are one with gogue of Caperne.nm, in which Jesus, while Christ, and Christ with us." This confession, speaking pie.inly to those who heard him at declaration, and prayer he constantly renews the time, gave by anticipation e. commentary in obedience to the dying command of his on the sacrament which he afterwards in- Master. It is difficult to UI1derstand how any stituted. The trnth which was taught in belief in a physical change in the elements this discourse is presented in e. specific act of bread and wine, such as is involved in aud in II concrete form in the Holy Com- the theory of transubstantie.tion held in the munion. In the fifty-third verse of that Roman Church, or of consubstantiation in sixth chapter we read, "Verily, verily, I se.y the Lutheran community, can be supposecl. unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son to enha.nce the reverence of the communi- of man, and drink his blood, ye have no cant, or to a.ugment the blessing promised. life in you." How is this now to be done? The words of the Lord, "This is my body We reply the.t our Lord bas clothed these ..• my blood," cannot surely be pressed, ideas and brought them near to us in this seeing that the same Divine Speaker was in sacrament; while, by his teaching in the his discourseil in the he.bit of using imagery sixth chapter of St. John, he guards thls which could not literolly be pressed, such sacrnment from being regarded on the one as " I am the Bread of life," "I am the Door band as an end in itself, or on the other as of the sheep," "I am the true Vine," etc. a mere symbol. Certain truths, great land- Nothing that can be conceived is more marks le.id down in this discourse, he.ve to be solemn the.n the simple rite, more awfnl in borne in mind. (1) The separation of the its grandeur, more Divine and far-reaching flesh of the Son of man into flesh and blood in its promises to the faithful believer. (John vi. 53) presupposes II violent dee.th Hnman ima.ginings e.dd nothing to this Di- submitted to for the se.ke of others (John vi. vine mystery, which is connected at once 51). (2) Both these elements, the flesh and with the Incarnation and the Atonement. the blood, are to be appropriated individually They only serve to envelop it in a shroud of by the believer (John vi. 56). (8) How ap- ea.rth-born mist and oloud, e.nd tbna to dim propria.ted? St. Beme.rd well answers the if not to veil its Divine glory. question which he asks: "What is it to Vera. 21-23.-The Lord's BOTTWJjv.l allu- eat his flesh e.nd to drink his blood, but Bion to Judas the traitor. to share in his sujferings and to imitate the Ver. 21.-But, behold, the hand of him life lie lfoed when with WI in the flesh?" the.t betrayeth me is with me on the table. (St. Bernard, on Ps. iii. 3). "If ye suffer Th is is the second mention of the trnitor in with him, ye eha.11 also reign with him." St. Luke's account of the Last Supper. From Tho Holy Eucharist is from one point of St. John's recital, we gather th(\t Jesus re- view a great truth dramatized, instituted for turned several times in the course of that the purpose of bringing before men in a. solemn evening to this sad topic. That one vivid manner the grent truths above e.lluded of his own little inner circle, so closely a.sso- to. But it ia something more. It brings to oia.ted with him, should so basely betray the believer, to the faithful communicant, him, was evidently a. very bitter drop in the to the one who in humble adoring faith ce1r- Lord's cup of suffering. In bis dread ex- ries out to the best of his ability his Master's perience of hume.n sorrow it wo.s needful dying charge-it brings e. blessing too great that the Christ should fulfil in his own ex- for uo to measure by earthly language, too perience whe.t even the noblest of the chil- deep for us to futhom with human inquiry. dren of men-David, for instance-hnd felt For the pa.rtaking of this Holy Communion of the falsAness of friends. What sufforing is, first, tho Ohristia.n's solemn public confes- oon be inflicted on o. generous heart com- 1ion of his faith in Christ crucified; his parable to it? Surely he of whom it Wall  200 1'RE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKR [crt :s.:tn. 1-11.