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d for that man if he had not been born。〃 The disciples had searched one another's faces closely as they asked； 〃Lord； is it I？〃 And now the silence of Judas drew all eyes to him。 Amid the confusion of questions and expressions of astonishment； Judas had not heard the words of Jesus in answer to John's question。 But now； to escape the scrutiny of the disciples； he asked as they had done； 〃Master； is it I？〃 Jesus solemnly replied； 〃Thou hast said。〃
In surprise and confusion at the exposure of his purpose； Judas rose hastily to leave the room。 〃Then said Jesus unto him； That thou doest； do quickly。 。 。 。 He then having received the sop went immediately out： and it was night。〃 Night it was to the traitor as he turned away from Christ into the outer darkness。
Until this step was taken； Judas had not passed beyond the possibility of repentance。 But when he left the presence of his Lord and his
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fellow disciples； the final decision had been made。 He had passed the boundary line。
Wonderful had been the long…suffering of Jesus in His dealing with this tempted soul。 Nothing that could be done to save Judas had been left undone。 After he had twice covenanted to betray his Lord； Jesus still gave him opportunity for repentance。 By reading the secret purpose of the traitor's heart； Christ gave to Judas the final； convincing evidence of His divinity。 This was to the false disciple the last call to repentance。 No appeal that the divine…human heart of Christ could make had been spared。 The waves of mercy； beaten back by stubborn pride； returned in a stronger tide of subduing love。 But although surprised and alarmed at the discovery of his guilt； Judas became only the more determined。 From the sacramental supper he went out to complete the work of betrayal。
In pronouncing the woe upon Judas； Christ also had a purpose of mercy toward His disciples。 He thus gave them the crowning evidence of His Messiahship。 〃I tell you before it come；〃 He said； 〃that； when it is come to pass； ye may believe that I AM。〃 Had Jesus remained silent； in apparent ignorance of what was to come upon Him； the disciples might have thought that their Master had not divine foresight； and had been surprised and betrayed into the hands of the murderous mob。 A year before； Jesus had told the disciples that He had chosen twelve； and that one was a devil。 Now His words to Judas； showing that his treachery was fully known to his Master； would strengthen the faith of Christ's true followers during His humiliation。 And when Judas should have come to his dreadful end； they would remember the woe that Jesus had pronounced upon the betrayer。
And the Saviour had still another purpose。 He had not withheld His ministry from him whom He knew to be a traitor。 The disciples did not understand His words when He said at the feet washing； 〃Ye are not all clean；〃 nor yet when at the table He declared； 〃He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me。〃 John 13：11； 18。 But afterward； when His meaning was made plain； they had something to consider as to the patience and mercy of God toward the most grievously erring。
Though Jesus knew Judas from the beginning； He washed his feet。 And the betrayer was privileged to unite with Christ in partaking of the sacrament。 A long…suffering Saviour held out every inducement for the sinner to receive Him； to repent； and to be cleansed from the defilement of sin。 This example is for us。 When we suppose one to be in error and sin； we are not to divorce ourselves from him。 By no careless
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separation are we to leave him a prey to temptation； or drive him upon Satan's battleground。 This is not Christ's method。 It was because the disciples were erring and faulty that He washed their feet； and all but one of the twelve were thus brought to repentance。
Christ's example forbids exclusiveness at the Lord's Supper。 It is true that open sin excludes the guilty。 This the Holy Spirit plainly teaches。 1 Cor。 5：11。 But beyond this none are to pass judgment。 God has not left it with men to say who shall present themselves on these occasions。 For who can read the heart？ Who can distinguish the tares from the wheat？ 〃Let a man examine himself； and so let him eat of that bread； and drink of that cup。〃 For 〃whosoever shall eat this bread； and drink this cup of the Lord； unworthily； shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord。〃 〃He that eateth and drinketh unworthily； eateth and drinketh damnation to himself； not discerning the Lord's body。〃 1 Cor。 11：28； 27； 29。
When believers assemble to celebrate the ordinances； there are present messengers unseen by human eyes。 There may be a Judas in the company； and if so； messengers from the prince of darkness are there； for they attend all who refuse to be controlled by the Holy Spirit。 Heavenly angels also are present。 These unseen visitants are present on every such occasion。 There may come into the company persons who are not in heart servants of truth and holiness； but who may wish to take part in the service。 They should not be forbidden。 There are witnesses present who were present when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and of Judas。 More than human eyes beheld the scene。
Christ by the Holy Spirit is there to set the seal to His own ordinance。 He is there to convict and soften the heart。 Not a look； not a thought of contrition； escapes His notice。 For the repentant； brokenhearted one He is waiting。 All things are ready for that soul's reception。 He who washed the feet of Judas longs to wash every heart from the stain of sin。
None should exclude themselves from the Communion because some who are unworthy may be present。 Every disciple is called upon to participate publicly； and thus bear witness that he accepts Christ as a personal Saviour。 It is at these； His own appointments； that Christ meets His people； and energizes them by His presence。 Hearts and hands that are unworthy may even administer the ordinance； yet Christ is there to minister to His children。 All who come with their faith fixed upon Him will be greatly blessed。 All who neglect these seasons of divine privilege will suffer loss。 Of them it may appropriately be said； 〃Ye are not all clean。〃
In partaking with His disciples of the bread and wine； Christ pledged
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Himself to them as their Redeemer。 He committed to them the new covenant； by which all who receive Him become children of God； and joint heirs with Christ。 By this covenant every blessing that heaven could bestow for this life and the life to come was theirs。 This covenant deed was to be ratified with the blood of Christ。 And the administration of the Sacrament was to keep before the disciples the infinite sacrifice made for each of them individually as a part of the great whole of fallen humanity。
But the Communion service was not to be a season of sorrowing。 This was not its purpose。 As the Lord's disciples gather about His table； they are not to remember and lament their shortcomings。 They are not to dwell upon their past religious experience； whether that experience has been elevating or depressing。 They are not to recall the differences between them and their brethren。 The preparatory service has embraced all this。 The self…examination； the confession of sin； the reconciling of differences； has all been done。 Now they come to meet with Christ。 They are not to stand in the shadow of the cross； but in its saving light。 They are to open the soul to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness。 With hearts cleansed by Christ's most precious blood； in full consciousness of His presence； although unseen； they are to hear His words； 〃Peace I leave with you； My peace I give unto you： not as the world giveth； give I unto you。〃 John 14：27。
Our Lord says； Under conviction of sin； remember that I died for you。 When oppressed and persecuted and afflicted for My sake and the gospel's； remember My love； so great that for you I gave My life。 When your duties appear stern and severe； and your burdens too heavy to bear； remember that for your sake I endured the cross； despising the shame。 When your heart shrinks from the trying ordeal； remember that your Redeemer liveth to make intercession for you。
The Communion service points to Christ's second coming。 It was designed to keep this hope vivid in the minds of the disciples。 Whenever they met together to commemorate His death； they recounted how 〃He took the cup； and gave thanks； and gave it to them； saying； Drink ye all of it； for this is My blood of the new testament； which is shed for many for the remission of sins。 But I say unto you； I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine； until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom。〃 In their tribulation they found comfort in the hope of their Lord's return。 Unspeakably precious to them was the thought； 〃As often as ye eat this bread； and drink this cup； ye do show the Lord's death till He come。〃 1 Cor。 11：26。
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These are the things we are never to forget。 The love of Jesus； with its constraining power； is to be kept fresh in our memory。 Christ has instituted this service