Passover Supper
63
With the deepest interest Jesus poured forth the burden of his soul
in words of comfort, of counsel and prayer, which would ever remain
imprinted on the minds and hearts of his disciples. These words from
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the lips of the Saviour, traced by the inspired John in chapters fifteen,
sixteen, and seventeen, were repeated again and again by the disciples
to stay their sinking hearts in their great disappointment and trial. Not
until after the resurrection, however, were the words spoken upon this
memorable occasion fully understood and appreciated. But the truths
uttered by the Redeemer in that upper chamber have spread from the
testimony of the disciples over all lands, and will live through all ages
to comfort the hearts of the desponding, and give peace and hope to
thousands who believe.
Jesus with his disciples now left the upper chamber, and crossed
the brook Kedron. Sorrow and anguish again pressed heavily upon his
heart. With touching sadness he addressed his companions: “All ye
shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite
the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen
I will go before you into Galilee.” Peter, again anxious to assure his
Master of his fidelity, said, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not
I.” Jesus, reproving his confidence as before, said, “Verily, I say unto
thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou
shalt deny me thrice.” But Peter only “spake the more vehemently, If I
should die with thee I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also
said they all.”
Jesus now repaired with his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane,
at the foot of Mount Olivet, a retired place which he had often visited
for seasons of communion with his Father.
It was night; but the moon was shining bright and revealed to him
a flourishing grapevine. Drawing the attention of the disciples to it,
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he said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
The Jewish nation was a fruitless branch, and was therefore to be
separated from the living vine, which was Christ Jesus. The Gentiles
were to be engrafted upon the stalk, to become a living branch, partaker
of the life that nourished the true vine. This branch was to be pruned
that it might be fruitful. In view of his separation from his disciples,
Jesus now exhorted them to connect themselves firmly to him by faith,