The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-04-06
THE AMOUNTING IN BETHANY.



GOLDEN TEXT.-She hath done what
she could Mark l4:8.
THE SECTION includes only the lesson,
with the parallel accounts and n broad
view of the rest Of the chapter. which in
cludes all that John tells us of the five days
from Saturday. April 1. to Wednesday.
EXPLANATORY
I. Jesus Entertained at Bethany.--
vs.. q. The rising of Lazarus from the
dead. as described in our last lesson,
produced SO much excitement and
awakened such bitter hostility that
Jesus left the region Of Jerusalem and
spent few weeks in retirement with
His disciples at Ephraim in the noun
tainous district north of Jerusalem.
Az the Passover drew near, Jesus
went across the Jordan and descended
on the other side. through Perea to the
fords opposite Jericho. healing and
teaching by the way. Thence he went
up toward Jerusalem and reached
Bethany on Friday evening, March 81,
"six days before the Passover" Here
He spent Saturday. the Jewish Sabbath.
doubtless with the family "that Jesus
loved"
,. "There they made Him supper"
In the little town of Bethany Jesus had
become popular. and since the raising
OF Lazarus He was regarded with
marked veneration. The supper was
on Saturday evening. after the Jewish
Sabbath was ended at sunset, and at
the house of Simon the leper. probably
one who had been cured by Jesus.
Lazarus was one of them that sat at
the table," What had been done for
him by Jesus made him an honored
guest.
II. The Flask of Precious Odors
Poured Upon the Feet Of Jesus.-V. 3.
Then took Mary pound of ointment
OF spikenard: BY the ointment we
are to understand rather liquid per-
fume than what we commonly know as
ointment. Very costly" worth about
5000 or $500 in our time. "Anointed the
feet of Jesus:" She first poured it
over His head" (Mark). but John no
tices only her pouring it upon His feet,
for It was common to pour it upon the
head, and expressed the usual senti-
ments of honor to a guest; but anoint-
ing the feet was unusual. and expressed
the tenderest, most humble. most rev.
erential, unutterable affection. "And
wiped His feet with her hair:" This,
too, was unusual. She took "woman's
chief ornament" and devoted it to wip-
ing the travel-stained feet of her
teacher.
III. Boxes Of Money Versus Flasks OF
Fragrance.-Vs. 40. 4. Then saith
Judas Iscariot:" He looked up
on this as waste, and his mutterings
convinced some of the other disciples SO
that they Joined with him in his con-
demnation of the act.
g. "Not that he cared for the poor:"
He was acting under false pretenses
"Bare what was put therein:" rather,
took away, as r. ", stole. Or his bear
ing the money bag gave him the oppor-
tunity to steal.
Nv. The Two Answers of Jesus in De-
fense of Mary's Act.-Vs. z. 8. z. "Then
said Jesus:" If we combine the reports
of the three evangelists, it will appear
that Christ's words were substantially
as follows: LET her alone. Why
trouble We the woman? for she hath
wrought good work upon me; she
hath done what she could; against the
day of my burying hath she kept this,
and is come beforehand to anoint my
body for the burial" LET her alone:"
Spoken chiefly 10 Judas. 1t was the
language Of sharp rebuke. Jesus was
indignant at the hypocrisy of Judas
and the dull perceptions of the others.
The first defense of Mary's deed was
that 1t was a high act of a noble soul ex-
pressing its noblest emotions. The sec
| ond defense was that the act did not
interfere with gifts to the poor.
8. "For the poor ye have always with
you:" They would have plenty Of oppor-
tunities to aid them; and the more they
did for their Master, the more they
would do for the poor. for the poor are
left in His stead, and through them
would be expressed the increased love
| Of the Master.
v. Conclusion.-More Opposition
and More Faith.-Vs. ell. Q. "Much
people:" The R. w., uses Greek text
which inserts the article so that it reads
'sthe common people" in contrast with
the rulers. These. incited by curiosity,
went to see the wonder worker, and the
man on whom he had wrought this mar
| velous work.
10. But the chief priests consulted
that they might put Lazarus also tc
DEATH" This standing public proof Of
Jesus a. the Messiah must be put away
At any cost.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
The AEyt condition Of all really great
moral excellence 10 q spirit Of genuine
self-sacrifice and self-renunciation.
A Acurious writer says, "Ifmy friends
have alabaster boxes full of fragrant
perfume OF sympathy and affection laid
away, which they intend to break owe,
my body, ! would rather they would
bring them out in my weary and
troubled hours, and open them. that
may be refreshed and cheered by them
while ! need them. ! would
y.a ther havA n nlaiu Co<Nu yvitA ant =