The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-05
Jesus AnOinted at Bethany
rlatt. XVI; 6-l6,

upon the dead, and placed the deed Of the hour
in new light, worthy to be approved by all
present.
MEMORIAL Verse 13).-When man dies in
this country his relatives or nearest friends
place his body in the casket and with becoming
reverence bear 1t to the last resting place. That
is their right or privilege, the final service Of
lcye. 1t is afterward mentioned as an honor
that they did this for the deceased. in like
manner the amounting by Mary having been &C.
copted by Jesus as preparation for burial, as
stated in last verse, it is now declared that il
shall be remembered and proclaimed to her credit
wherever the Gospel, the glad tdngs Of Ills
sacrifcial death, Is published. That is quite
the same as to say that what she had done was
80 intimately related TO His passion that the
two could not be separated in the thoughts OF
men. Thus she was brought nearer to Him than
any other, achieving immortality by that which
others condemned. The fact OF this widespread
and prolonged publicity is here stated with II
two-fold purpose-as rebuke TO the men and
as eommendation and consolation to Mary.
Happy must she have been 10 hear His words.
THE BETRAYAL Verses II, Is and lG). These
words OF Jesus, commencing the act OF Mary,
ought 10 have exerted a salutary influence upon
her critics. With shame for what had been
OF loyalty for their Master. Such may have
been the effect upon most Of them, but one, he
who gave speech to the thought Of the Others,
carried his avarice into the great city, and four
days after, he was consorting with enemies in
a barter that covered his name with infamy. For
thirty pieces OF silver, the price paid for slave
he bargained to sell Jesus to the chief priests
enabling them to accomplish their mulderous
purpose without arousing the populace. There
have been many att ttpmpts n oynlain thie s,,,.
prising course of Judas. II has been ngeniously
| suggested that he believed Jesus would assert
His Messianic office and overcome Ills enemies so
that the betrayal was intended merely to precl.
pitate the issue But the theory does not com.
port with the facts The man acted from mer.
cenary consideration He was moved by the
| hope Of gain. II was a new form OF the same
| spirit that animated him in Simon's house
TIE REFLECrlONS.--The sef.seeking heart
turns basam into poison, a joyous feast into
| an hour Of temptation, the purest Offering Of
! love into an oferce Even among the Lords
| own company the heart that is truly devoted
must be prepared for bitterest trials Covetous.
ness and ambition develope each other. The
| attempt to relieve poverty at the expense Of
| Christ is hypoertical humanitaranisn. Tie
impershable remembrance Of the good deeds OF
believers is bound up with the praises Of Christ.
! The Gospel makes all its children in two senses
immortal Many perform acts Of love to Christ
in which the world puts false construction. In
| the actions Of Gods children there are often sc.
crets which they themselves do not understand
their deeds extend beyond their thoughts and
purposes. To grieve noble soul in the per.
formance Of a glorious act Is a heavy oiense.
There is no greater enemy to man than a pggard.
lie who sets out in sin will easily 20 on, ior
the opportunity to indulge an evil passion il
never wanting.