The record-union., 1898-01-18

not only his head, but also his feet and
his entire body. This amounting would
be a strange way of showing ones re-
spect now, but it was then accounted
the highest mark of respect. This was
after the resurrection of Lazarus. In
this act, esteem, affection and grati-
tude We're mingled. What better can
anyone do who has received anything
from the Lord, than to render him gem
erous Servfce2
The promptness Of her act is worthy
of notice. She did not decide to
anoint Jesus with that precious ONT
ment and then wait for some other time
or opportunity to do it. How many of
Mary's sisters have decided to do some
thing for Christ, have decided to give
him their hearts and their service and
then have delayed, delayed perhaps un-
til it was too late? But of Mary Christ
said: "She is come aforehand to
anoint my body to the burying." The
end of Christ's public ministry was
nearer than any of those who were at
the supper with him knew. But Mary
came aforehand'' to show her affec-
ton and her gratitude.
1t was a generous offering that she
brought Christ. Nothing was too good
for him who had done so much for her
and those dear to her. The precious
ness Of the ointment is especially en-
phasized. A pound of such nard was
worth in our money about $40. 1t
would indeed have purchased food for
many poor. 1t was equal to the years
wages of a laboring man. She did
not bring a little of it and put it on the
Masters head and feet, but lavishly
poured it all out upon him so that it
anointed his entire form. Such lavish
ness astonished the humble Gallileeans
who were present and witnessed it.
Such lavishness seemed to them like
extravaganza and they felt disposed to
| murmur. But this was a rare occa-
sion This was one of the closing scenes
in the life of Christ on earth. This
was the act of one who recognized that
Jesus was Lord and believed that moth
ing was too good for him. Once 1t
would have been a sacrifice to give so
much away, but now so deep was her
affection that to give to Him was only
a pleasure.
This thoughtful, generous woman
who performed this service that
We read Of with pleasure to the present
time was criticised. The generous,
thoughtful Christian must expect to be
found with. Even fellow Christians
may be pushed to jealousy or may mis-
conStrue motives. Let us not be dis
appointed, then, if from some quarter
we hear a murmur even when we have
done our best for Christ Judas was
covetous, and suggested that the oint-
ment might far better have been sold
and the money given to the poor. Some
of the other disciples quite agreed with
him in what seemed a very practical
criticism. But none of them appreci-
ated the occasion or the act. DR.. Schaf
says: Sacrifice made out of love to
Christ seems wasteful to the world, and
even to the church, when under the in
f1uence of a mercantile spirit" Often
still is the murmur heard: why this
waste?" when the generous donations
of Christ's disciples to missions and
noble charities are reported. Still there
are some who are covetous, and some
even in the church who do not compre-
hend the demands of our times and the
grand opportunities that are now open
to the church and to private Christians
to give lavishly to Christ and His
hSl us Dt CoI clul llOW we SlilA-
else or become jealous Of the generous
hearted Marys Far better let one
overdo now and then, do something that
is not quite practical, than that so many
should be found underdoing.
1t looks little as if Mary in doing
this for Christ did more for Him than
she dreamed of when she did it. He
said that she did this for his burying.
Many think that Mary felt that the end
was near, and that thereafter there
would be no need Of amounting. 1t may
be that Mary listened SO intently to the
teachings of Christ that she gained a
deeper insight into them than his dis
ciples did, and SO understood more
about His DEATH. The disciples could
not comprehend Him when He talked
about dying. 1t may be that Mary did.
THE secret Of the Lord is with them
that fear Him" He reveals His, mys-
teries to those who wait most faithfully
upon Him. But still it is doubtful
whether she fully comprehended the
breadth of her act when she brought
the alabaster box with its precious con-
tents and anointed Jesus. The ques-
tion arises whether we in doing any
thing for Jesus out of affection for Him
are not doing a great deal more than
we know or think of at the time. In
the light Of eternity it may be revealed
to US that some of our Christian SER
vice was more far-reaching than We
ever dreamed.
Jesus quickly checked the murnuring
that arose. He would not allow this
thoughtful, devoted woman to be mis-
understood or her generous Offering to
be criticised For he that TOUGHEST
you TOUGHEST the apple of his eye" He
told them that it was a seasonable
amounting for His burial. Then he
added: Verify, I say unto you. where
soever this gospel shall be preached
throughout the whole world, this also
that she hath done shall be spoken of
for memorial of her." How true this
prophecy of Christ! More than nine
teen centuries have gone. and we are
gathered here to-day. 10000 miles from
the place where these words were
spoken, at the other extremity of the
globe speaking of Mary's act "for a
memorial for her, o, thou Christ, how
surely and richly canst thou reward
those who thoughtfully and generously
serve Thee!
The Master whom Mary so generously
anointed has gone into the courts above,
and is seated "at the right hand of the
throne of God" He does not need
your precious ointment now and He
needed it then What will you do with
it: for some of you still have the ala
have the ability to anoint the Christ
/ l~.J -