sat next to Peter, and the other disciples were arranged in
their order. The table was covered with a white cloth with embroidered
edges. On the cloth stood a flagon of wine and several cups, and a
plate on which lay a loaf of bread. Jesus, standing in the midst, said
unto them, "With longing have I desired to eat this Passover with you
before I suffer, for I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof
until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Jesus then took the cup,
and lifting it with both hands, looked up to heaven and said, "I thank
thee for this fruit of the vine." Then drinking of it he passed the
cup to Peter, who also drank and passed it to Judas, who in his turn,
after drinking, passed it to the next disciple, and so on until it went
all around. "Take this," said Jesus, as he passed the cup to Peter,
"and divide it amongst yourselves, for I say unto you, I will not drink
henceforth of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

[Illustration: "Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter."]

Then exclaimed all the disciples together, "Alas, Lord, is this then
the last Passover?"

Jesus said unto them, "There is a cup which I will drink with you in
the kingdom of God my Father. As it is written, 'Thou shalt make them
drink of the river of thy pleasures.'"

Then said Peter unto him, "Master, when this kingdom shall appear, how
will the offices be portioned out?"

"Who amongst us," said James the elder, "will have the first place?"

Then Thomas said, "Will each one of us have lordship over a separate
land?"

"That would be the best," said Bartholomew; "then no dispute would
arise amongst us."

Then Jesus looked upon them and said, "So long a time have I been
amongst you and you are still entangled in earthly things? Verily, I
appoint unto you, which have continued with me in my temptations, the
kingdom which my Father has appointed unto me, that you may eat and
drink with me in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel. But, remember, the kings of the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them, and they that exercise authority over them are
called benefactors, but ye shall not be so. He that is greatest among
you, let him be as the least, and the chief as your servant. For
whether is greatest he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth? Is not
he that sitteth at meat; but I am among you as one that serveth."

Thereupon John removed the long purple robe from t