The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-24
AN HoNoRED GUEST.
TJohn xii. Zig. |

AN HoNoRED GUEST.
IN We enter now upon the scenes of the
last week of JESUS life. The time is six
days before the Passover, probably Sunday
evening tRobinson's English Harmony;
though many scholars, following Lightfoot,
and reckoning six whole days, against the
usual Scriptural method of reckoning time,
make it day earlier, or on the evening of
the Sabbath. The place is Bethany, the
scene of the last Lesson. On account OF the
determination of the Jewish Council to take
his life, JESUS "walked no more publicly
among the Jews, but departed thence into
the region near the desert, into city called
Ephrailn, and there remained with his disci-
pies" some six or eight weeks, or until it was
time to 90 up again to Jerusalem, to attend
the great national feast of his people. As in
his previous retirement he did not hesitate to
walk in the light of his duty, SO now, as
true Israelte, he joins his countrymen IN
their Journey to the Passover. On the way
he announces to the disciples his approach
ing death and resurrection, converses with
James and John, and their Jealous but ambi-
tious mother, concerning positions OF honor
in his kingdom, teaches the multitudes that
swell the crowds moving towards the festival
city, blesses the little children whom mothers
proudly put in his arms, restores to sight the
blind beggars who sat importuning by the
wayside, and is Hospitality entertained by
Zaccheus, the rich publican at Jericho. at
whose house he probably spent the Sabbath.
After the rest of the Sabbath, days journey
brings him again to Bethany, favorite re-
sort, and where is the beloved family, and,
no doubt, other dear friends.
(2) The Supper.-Just who "they" were
who made him supper is not quite clear. It
was probably either the family of Martha,
where he had before been Hospitality enter
tanned luke K. 30-42), and whose dead
brother he had so lately restored, or his Beth
any friends generally, who united in feast
given in honor of his arrival. Both Matthew
and Mark locate the supper ''in the house of
Simon the leper (Matt. XVI. 6; xiv. 3-9).
But we are nowhere informed who Simon
the leper is. Some have thought him per
son whom JESUS had sometime healed, and
who took this means of expressing his graft
tude. On account of Martha's serving, and
the presence of Lazarus and Mary, some
have concluded that the supper was at the
house of Martha, and that Martha was either
widow or wife of Simon, with whom her
brother and sister resided, or that Simon
was the father of the family. What the
truth is may not be determined. Any of the
suggestions will sufficiently account for the
respect thus shown for JESUS. He undoubt-
eddy had many warm friends in Bethany,
among whom were especially the two sisters
and their brother.
(3) The Amounting. JESUS was re-
clining at supper Mary came in with flask
containing pound of very costly perfumed
ointment, which she broke and poured in
profusion upon his head MARK xvi. 81 and
with which she anointed his feet and wiped
them with her hair Amounting was a GUS
tomary act of hospitality among many an
cient people. Kings were anointed as a part
OF, the ceremony of their inauguration. Hence
amounting came to be mark of distinction
and honor. David in the twenty-third Psalm,
when acknowledging the Divine mercy and
favor, says ". 81, "He prepared table be-
fore me, He anointed my head with
OIL" The more costly the ointment, or de-
licious the fragrance the greater the honor
or respect shown. In Marys thought JESUS
was worthy of highest regards. The most
and best that she could do but poorly ex-
pressed her love and gratitude for her divine
friend and benefactor. She only did what
she could, and would gladly have done
much more. The perfume of her precious
ointment filled the whole house. The fra
90 hon. 1aod mill fill the
whole world. similar incident is recorded
in Luke vii. So, which see.
She desired to confer on JESUS some
testimonial which would at once be worthy
of the great service he had rendered her, and
a fitting expression of her own reverence and
love for him. No trivial Offering seemed to
her to be fitting, although to him it would
no doubt, have been very acceptable. Her
heart, thus deeply stirred, demanded that she
should make a signal gift, by which to tell
the depth and strength of its sentiment. She
must do all she could. Her best glft would
be too meager, but that she fastened to con-
fer. 1t was vase of costly spikenard, with
which kings and princes we're glad to be
anointed, and by which priests were conse-
Grated to their offices. It's costtiness was to
her type of the riches she had found in her
Christian faithr-its fragrance was symbol
of the sweet loves hopes, communions, aspi-
rations that CHRIST had awakened in her life
and the comforting Of the gift ,oith her oecn
hand revealed her readiness to tender per-
sonal service in the cause of GoD and human
ity as it now appeared.-Reu. Sumner Ettis,
ID. d., S. S. Helper.
(4-8) Moral Estimdtes.-Judas, and, ac-
cording to both Matthew and Mark, Others
among the disciples regarded this lavish use
of the costly ointment with disfavor, and
suggested that it might better have been sold
for its value 600 dennaries-$45), and given
to the poor. They seemed utterly unable to
estimate the value of sentiment, or to recog-
nize any practical utility in its proper ex-
preston. John charges Judas with avarice
and says that she said this not because he
cared about the poor, but because he was a
thief, and having the box carried what was
placed in it, Coveting the 300 dennaries,
he is utterly heartless towards Mary's beau
tiful act, and reveals himself hypocrite.
JESUS, with his superior insight and more re-
fined perception, was able to recognize a
practical utility in Mary's even lavish express
sion of her love and gratitude. "Let her
alone,' he said, ''there will be no waste.
She may keep it for the day of my embalm-
ing. You always have the poor with you,
you do not always have me-" JESUS per-
ceived the moral quality and grace of the
service Mary rendered; the disciples only the
present apparent expediency. 1t was a beau
tiful work, and the knowledge and influence