they were tempted. He did not know what they would do when the trial came; but he was certain at least of their affection.

The supper is over, the look of distress has passed away from among them. He proposes now to give them two lessons, one by his own act, and one as a last talk with them. In the first place he must make a bold effort, once for all, to rid them of any idea of glory or power which should come to them from being his disciples or being princes of this new Kingdom of Heaven. If they could clearly understand that one point, one-half of his purpose at least would be secured. He wanted to be certain that if the same kind of a temptation came to them when they set out as teachers, as came to him in the wilderness two years ago, that they would withstand it as firmly as he had withstood it himself. He must feel sure that they would say as he had said: Get thee behind me, thou tempter.

And so he rises from supper and puts aside his garments. The disciples are seated around him or reclining near by. He pours water into a basin, and then what do you suppose he did? He begins to wash the feet of his disciples and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. They looked on in silence and astonishment. Their loved master and teacher was performing that humble and lowly office! What could it mean? One of them, however, tried to stop him and cried out, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." But Jesus looked at him for a moment and then went on in silence.

When he had washed their feet and sat down again, he said to them: Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me master and teacher. Well, so I am. If I then the master and teacher have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to

you. Truly I say unto you, a servant is not greater than his master. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them!

They understood now what it meant, and said nothing. They accepted the fact. But now they began to see what was to come into their lives. The last vague hope of a kingdom of glory on earth died away at that moment. They knew now what their mission was to be. It had been given them with such plainness in that beautiful example.

He knew

They sat down once more in a little group around the table, for a few last words together. that everything now depended on what they would do. If these men stayed true and loyal, if they did not fail and give up in despair after he had gone, then he was sure of the triumph of his teaching. It depended so much on this little group of eleven men. He knew that they loved him; he knew that they knew he loved them. But he could not be certain how firm they were as to their belief in the new teaching. They were to be separated from him; they were now in fact each man of that number to be himself a teacher. All the rest of the world might turn against him at that moment; look down upon him and despise him; scorn his teachings and think him and his message of no account;—all this would not matter in the end, if only he could depend on these eleven disciples. He had given them one great truth. Now he was to add to it one further lesson.

And so he begins: A new teaching is given unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you that ye also love one another. By this shall a man know whether ye believe in what ye teach, if ye have loved one another.

As he said those words the impetuous Peter springs to his feet and exclaims: "I would lay down my life for you." Jesus turns to him. For a moment he does not say a word. He has lived with him for two years. He knows the man's love; but he also knows his weakness. Then he says to Peter: Wilt thou indeed lay down thy life for me? Wait; truly I say unto you, the cock shall not crow before thou hast denied me thrice. Peter is startled and would speak again. But he sits down once more as Jesus re

sumes:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid. Now I have told you before it came to pass, that when it does come to pass, ye may still believe. A little while, and the world shall see me no more. But again I say unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Remember the word that I said unto you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me they will also persecute you; if they have listened to me they will also listen to you. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Forget not this last teaching given unto you, that ye love one another. As he said these words a silence fell on the group. They sat, each man thinking by himself. No further word was said. It was so hard for them to do what he had asked of them. "Let not your heart be troubled" was his saying. Alas, how could they help it, when they knew that in a few short hours they would be alone. They had leaned upon him now so long that they dreaded the moment when he was to go.

The afternoon wore away, moment after moment,— and still no further word was said. Each one disliked to be the first to move. Yes, their hearts were

troubled; they had never seen clearly before what it would mean to have him no longer with them; they had somehow always thought of themselves as going about with him as their leader. When they were anxious or discouraged, they had leaned on him; and he had had the one answer which always cheered them. "Take courage." When they dreaded failure and came to him in despair over the want of success in their efforts, it had strengthened them so much to hear him say, "there can be no failure."

He had expressed to them his last teaching, "Love one another." Yes, they thought they could do that. They only half understood what it meant; they learned in later years when they were carrying those teachings abroad, what it implied to love one another; that is, to love all men. As the evening hour drew on, it was certain that the time to separate must come. Jesus extends his hand. In the dim light which hides the look of sorrow, they say good-bye. One after another in silence they pass out of the door, softly whispering to themselves: A new lesson is given unto us, that we love one another.

At length but three of the number remain. They linger as the darkness deepens. They will not, they cannot leave him. They are determined to go with him, wherever he goes. They will watch to the end. Jesus at last goes out with these three disciples. And so ended the "Last Supper."

GETHSEMANE.

Jerusalem stands on a number of hills. It was surrounded by a great wall. Every one who came in or went out would have to pass through the gates which

could be closed at any time, to keep out any armies which should attack the city. On all sides were deep valleys and gorges which could be seen everywhere from the walls of the city. On one of the hills, which was called Mt. Zion, stood the great and beautiful temple. From this place the people could look down across one of those gorges up the sloping sides of the Mount of Olives. In the valleys which were all around the city, were running brooks, which the people had to cross when they left to go elsewhere on a journey.

Down in one of these valleys, close by the famous brook Kedron, just at the foot of Mt. Olives, was a beautiful garden. It was a quiet place all by itself. Few people ever went there. It was inclosed by a wall which shut out the gaze of the passer-by. Within this garden there were wild flowers growing, and paths winding in and out among the olive trees. It was that kind of a place which a man would like to go to, when he is tired and troubled and wants to be by himself and think. He could enter the gate undisturbed, wander along one of the paths, or throw himself down under a tree where he could rest in the shade and let the calm and repose all about him come into his soul. He could hear not far away, the murmur which told him of the life of a great city; but the sounds were not loud enough to disturb his thoughts. Just outside the walls he could hear the ripple of the brook as its waters went speeding on down through the valley. The sunlight as it played in and out through the leaves touching the ground here and there with its light of gold, could fill his heart. The blue sky above, like a great canopy overhead, seemed to be wrapping him and the world about, as with a great mantle of love and peace.

The flowers of the seasons came and went; but few persons ever saw them there. The birds that alighted in the branches and sang to one another their songs of joy