The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-08
Sunday School Lesson for April 9.
THE AMOUNTING in BETHANY.
JOHN XII: LII
BY J. e. GILBERT, D. D., Ii. d.,
Secretary of American Society OF Religious Education

CONTEXT.-Aftert the raising of Laza-
rus Jesus made a brief circuit In Ephraim
and in the borders of Samaria. The syn.
optic Gospels record the following events
of that journey, which John fails to mem
tion-the healing of the lepers, the para
BILE of the unjust judge, the parable of
the pharsee and the publican, the uues-
tion of divorce raised by the rabbis, the
blessing of the little children, the rich
young ruler, the parable Of the laborers
In the vineyard, the request of James
and John for places of honor. the heal
ing of blind Bartmeus, the visit to che
house of ZaCcheus, the parable of the
pounds By these deeds and teachings
Jesus was preparing those who accom-
panied Him for the approaching tragedy
that would close His earthly career At
length He retraced His steps and moved
toward Jerusalem, followed by the little
band of apostles and by some of the peo-
pie who Clung to Hin, partly through
curiosity and partly through gratitude.
NlSlT.--Directly in the pathway of
Jesus was the little village of Bethany,
on the eastern slope of the Mount Of
Olives, near the point where the road to
Jericho begins to descend more preci-
lately to the Jordan valley. Many trees
give the place an air of seclusion and
fore His last Passover (verse II, that is
ON Friday. He came to rest in the beau
tiful homo of Mary, Martha and Lazarus
whom He loved John all, D, with whom
previously lie had held sweet converse.
In that quiet retreat In the midst of tried
friends lie would find comfort as a prep
araton for the ordeal through which He
must shortly pass. The historian has
drawn "a veil over the hours of the holy
cd n those
delightful Commurings which they only
know who have been brought into the
fellowship Of complacent love and of adj
miring gratitude. We are left to conjec-
ture what transpired.
SERVICE-Of this visit at Bethany a
single incident is meutioned--a supper
made for Jesus at the house of Simon :he
leper Matt XVI, 81. There have been
many conjectures concerning the host,
most scholars (see Ewald) believing taht
he was the father of Lazarus, and that
Jesus had cured him of the leprosy. Be
that as II may the feast was chiefly men,
Orable because of woman's deed of love.
While Lazarus sat at the table, and Mar
tina served Cverse p, true to her habit of
busy usefulness duke y, 40, Mary sat
and gaZed AMI yet more deeply worshipped
the Lord who had restored her brother
TO life John XII iD. Impelled to some
outward sign of her gratitude, she rose,
brought a costly vase of Indian spike
nard. broke the alabaster, and poured
the precious contents over His feet (verse
81 and His head MARK xiv, 81. And then,
unconscious of any presence have His,
she wiped those feet with the long tresScs
of her hair while the atmosphere of the
house was filled with the delicious fraS-
rance" 1t was an act of devoted self
sacrifice of exquisite abandonment.
CRITICISM.-Did any one ever do Il
generous act that was not condemned
by some one? Humanity appears to be