Part 254 (1/2)

And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, {250} Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from G.o.d, and goeth unto G.o.d, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, ”Lord, dost thou wash my feet?”

Jesus answered and said unto him, ”What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter.”

Peter saith unto him, ”Thou shalt never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered him, ”If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”

Simon Peter saith unto him, ”Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”

Jesus saith to him, ”He that is bathed needeth only to wash his feet, and is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”

For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, ”Ye are not all clean.”

So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, ”Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me 'Master,' and, 'Lord': and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them.”

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE LAST SUPPER.

By Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

This was painted on the wall of a monastery in Milan. It has been damaged and mutilated, and now is almost faded out.

This is one of the greatest pictures ever painted. The following is an explanation of the picture: ”Judas half turns to discover of whom St. Peter is speaking so pa.s.sionately, and is preparing himself to deny everything. But he is already discovered. St. James the Less, pa.s.sing his arm over the shoulder of St. Andrew, touches St. Peter to tell him that the traitor is at his side. St. Andrew looks at Judas with horror, and St. Bartholomew, at the end of the table, has started up from his seat to regard him more intently. At the left of Christ, St. James protests his innocence by a natural gesture. St.

Thomas, pressing near to Christ, seems to ask 'One of us?' St.

Philip, the youngest of the apostles, places his hand over his heart and rises to protest his fidelity. St. Matthew repeats the terrible words to the indignant St. Simon, who refuses to believe them. St.

Thaddeus, who has first told them to him, points to Matthew to confirm them. The dying rays of evening light add deeper somberness to the sad face of the Christ.”

--_Stendhal, ”History of Italian Painters”_ [End ill.u.s.tration]

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When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and said, ”Verily, verily, I say unto you, one of you shall betray me.”

The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke. There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, ”Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh.”

He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast, said unto him, ”Lord, who is it?”

Jesus therefore answereth, ”He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him.”

So when he had dipped the sop, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the sop, then entered Satan into him.

Jesus therefore saith unto him, ”What thou doest, do quickly.”

Now no man at the table knew why he spoke this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the bag, Jesus said unto him, ”Buy what things we have need of for the feast”; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went out straightway: and it was night.

When therefore he was gone out, Jesus said, ”Now is the Son of man glorified, and G.o.d is glorified in him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, 'Whither I go, ye cannot come'; so now I say unto you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all {254} men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.”