The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-05-10

teenth day, that Is four days; Jesus was set
apart before tho foundation Of the world, and
now four days 1900 years. had passed, and
He was about to be slain. Ex. xii, 5, 6; Pct
i,19, 2O.)
2. "Not on tho feast day, lest there be an
uproar Of the people," This very fear on
their part helped to bring about the sacrifice
of Christ ut tho appointed time Tho SER
wants of Satan are often filled with fear,
even tho fear Of man; the servants of God
are taught to fear neither men nor tho devil,
nor sufferings, nor death, but knowing that
their lives arc hid with Christ in God they
are to see "Jesus only" and say, "In God
havo put my trust; will not bo afraid
what man can do unto NO." Though an
host should encamp against me, my heart
shall not fear" Ps lvi, III; xvii, 3)
s. "And being in Bethany, in tho house Of
that this supper and amounting at Bethany
took place six days before the Passover and
before His public entry into Jerusalem
'As Ho sat at meat" John tolls us that
they made Him supper, that Martha served,
and that Lazarus disen from the dead was
one Of them that sat ut the table with Him.
Here is love and life and resurrection In Him,
and on their part loving service and whole
hearted devotion. We would like to know
who Simon the leper was, and his relation to
this family; We would like to know what
Lazarus, Who'll had been three days in tho spirit
world, talked about; but these things are
omparatively unimportant, and let us rather
fix our attention upon Jesus and Mary who
anointed Him (John xii, 81.
''Thcre came woman having an alabaster
box OF ointment of spikenard, very precious;
and she brake the box and poured it on His
head" John says that she also anomted His
feet, and wiped them with her hair; and that
the house was filled with the odor of the oint-
ment. We must not get this amounting con-
fused with the amounting in the house Of ST.
mon the Pharisee, at a much earlier period in
His ministry, and by woman whose nane
wo know not Luiso vii, 36-50.)
4. "And thcro were some that had indigna-
tion within themselves, and said, Why was
this waste of tho ointment made" That
Judas, who, though treasurer Of the disciples,
was thief and possessed with tho devil,
should say this was not strange, for to talk
of anything given to Or done for Jesus os
being wasted was surely devilish saying;
but that any of tho other disciples (Matt.
XVI, 8 should talk so was strange indeed.
8. ut might have been sold for moro than
three hundred pence, and have been given to
the poor. And thoy murmurcd against her. {"
In tho parable Of Matt. Xxx, u penny was n
days wages, SO that ut that estimate this
ointment was equal In valuo to nearly q
years wages of q laboring man. Ii the mem
bers Of any church were to bo asked to giyo
unto the Lord Jesus for some special work
even a weeks wages, how some of them
would look and sllrug their shoulders; and
whata nlurmuring there would be against the
mover Of such q resolution, tho nstgator Of
such an unwarranted waste Of precious
money.
6. Jesus said, let her alone; why trouble
ye herr t5io hath wrought good work on
Me-" Low precious is tho Masters approval,
how restful His blessed words! What does it
matter WHO, or how many, find fault, if wo
are only well pleasing unto Hilna Let no
criticism or thoughtless remark from fellow
Christians hinder you in your devotion to
Christ, o fellow laborcr, but being sure
that your motive is right end that love to
Him prompts you to seek in ell things His
is in thine heart unto Him. Good works are
ways approve, but only those which are done
to tho glory Of God
T. "For ye have tho poor with you al-
J
good; but mo yo havo not always" Tho dis
ciplcs did not understand His going away
from them, but thought ho would continue
with them in person aud at that tiino restore
tho kingdom to Israel; though lie had so often
spoken so plainly Of His death and resulrec-
tion they had never received it, while Mary,
Oh tho contrary, who sat at His feet and
heard His word l4ule x, 30) seems to have
understood that His enemies would put Him
to death, and that she would therefore, with
al His friends, be deprived Of tho privilege
OF ministering to Him at His death or burial.
s. "She hath done what she could.n So
many say, GLOW would like to do thus and
good would do if had Mr.. IS money, or
Mrs. BIS opportunities" and while thus
thinking and talking about what they would
do, others like Mary are doing just what they
willing mind it is.accepted according to that
hath not" ldI Cor. s, 0.) Wo are not ex-
pected 70 use other peoples talents or oppor-
tunities, but simply to do what our own
hands find to do as unto Him. God knows
have to do with, and all talk about what VIC
would do if we had the power, and how
sorry wo me that we cannot do moro, is
too often only idlo talk. Mary did what
she could; let US do likewise and He
hand to anoint my body to the
burying." When He was buried it was
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who
were privileged to wrap the body in linen
with spices and lay it in tho tomb; when the
women came on the first day Of tho week tc
anoint His body it was too late, for Ho was
risen, SO that Mery's hands were tho only
womans hands that helped anoint Film.
Q. "Verly, say unto you, wheresoevel
this gospel shall be preached throughout the
whole world, this also that she hath done shnll
| be spoken Of for memorial of her," And SC
vide world N Mary @ and her amounting @ tine Of Of Chrisi I
is spoken Of; and how many have been en-.
couraged by her act and her Saviours ap
| provaI to do for Him and unto Him just what
they could, will never be known till that day,