Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/172

 ing at  the  table,  "  their  reins  girt,  with  shoes  on  their feet,  holding  staves  in  their  hands,  eating  in  haste." (Exod. xii.  11.)  All  this  was  expressive  of  the  vigor  of mind  and  promptitude  with  which  He  suffered.

III. When Christ  beheld  the  paschal  lamb  on  the table, in  the  state  prescribed  by  the  law,  He  could  not help reflecting  how  He  was  soon  to  be  extended  on  the cross, after  having  been  scourged  and  variously  tormented by  the  malicious  Jews. When the  lamb  was  cut in pieces,  without  breaking  any  of  its  bones,  he  saw  pictured before  Him  His  own  mangled  body,  and  the  disjointing of  His  bones,  though  none  of  them  were  to  be broken. The haste  with  which  the  Jews  were  commanded to  eat  the  paschal  lamb  prefigured  the  hasty  fury  of His  persecutors. The bitter  wild  lettuce  represented  the gall to  His  mind,  and  the  bitter  chalice  of  His  passion, which He  had  to  drink  to  the  very  dregs. Great must have been  His  love  for  mankind,  when,  with  all  these presentiments and  feelings,  He  could  still  persevere  in hastening  to  commence  His  passion!

I. After  Christ  had  eaten  the  paschal  lamb  with  His disciples, He  began  to  prepare  for  the  greatest  act  of kindness  that  He  could  perform  for  mankind. He intended to  leave  them  a  perfect  memorial  of  Himself,  by leaving  them  His  body  and  blood  for  the  food  and  nourishment of  their  souls. Before He  did  this,  however,  He gave  them  an  example  of  the  most  perfect  humility,  by washing  the  feet  of  His  disciples. By this  act  He  also intended to  show  mankind  with  what  purity  they  ought to approach  the  sacred  table. Ponder the  simple  words