The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-05
THE sUNDAY-sCHOoL LESSON.
January 9, 1901: Matthew XVI, 6-I6-
Jesus Amounted ut Bethany.


1t is well that there are some incidents which
relieve the somber and agonizng hours of Jesus
last days earth. Among them the ''anoint-
ing is conspicuous. The very fact that ii is
act prompted purely by sentiment gives IL charm
and worth. The calculating spirit is ruled out.
Love has its way. For eight weeks Mary
had watched her opportunity to express in this
significant action her gratitude for the restora-
ton of her brother. well her personal love
and reverence for the Master. She has kept in
her boudoir the Egyptian aabaster 1t is
rich in hue and dainty in shape, like Plny
aptly compares to a closed rosebud. BOX" and
contents are in harmony that each enhances
the other The alabaster holds a heavy weight
o. liquid perfume distilled with the high chem.
teal art of the far East Edersheim
marks the fondness of Jewish women for per-
fumes. and some one suggests that this ''pistic
nard'' relic of Mary's old life before she
knew Jesus. However, ii is difficult to how
the continued possession. and even personal use.
OF perfume should be incompatible with fidelity
to her new-found Master. II the new life was in
her heart, and she had enough for charity, she
could keep her alabaster'' without offense in
jury. II there love- sale of her fragrant
oil and gift OF process to the poor would avail
nothing. Only love gives value to an act.
The company has gone into the banquet room.
Simon the host whom Jesus may have healed
OF his leprosy, assigns his guests for places On
this occasion Lazarus may have supplanted John
.n Jesus bosom" At this moment Mary ap-
pears. She breaks the slender neck of the cruise
and pours part of the contents upon Jesus head
| Mark and part upon his feet John) and wiped
| his feet with her luxuriant tresses, a not
common Oriental act 1t is like the singing Of a
sweet hymn OF praise, which, though directed to
one all hear and enjoy: for the house is filled
with the odor OF the ointment See the
lavish nature Of love. Part of the pound
would have been ample. but Mary gives it ALL
| Not drop at time. but she pours it out at
once. For her and Jesus IL is 1.-THE rich luxury OF
brief moment" She "elevates the custom TO
| the highest point of honor when the feet and the
head are alike anointed." How quick the in
buttons of womans hearth A would have
thought of this gentle courtesy the next day, IL
| at all. . Strange. but this good deed goads
/ one of the guests TO ugly one. It is the in
| evitablc clash OF the Christlike and the anti
| Christlike spirit. Judass Economically kindled
| avarice is famed TO a fame lurid hell But
we can forgive him for the villains part he
| plays in Simon's house. He gives n
first clew to his character the devious windngs
| OF which confessedly difficult to trace. Fur
| tier, he quotes the market value of the nard
which is astonishirgly high figure ESQ., or. in
corresponding purchasing power to-day. $780, Is
| it any wonder Judas protested? Especially since
| he was "a thief, and, having the bag, took away
L
| frenzy at the thought OF such utter perdition
/ OF such good money (Farrar.) And should
| be surprised that the poor Galileans who fol-
| lowed Jesus, and unaccustomed to any
| luxury, amazed at this? Judas, taking the
| mask of charity. and Stimulating anger that the
| poor forgotten, manipulated these unso-
phsticated folks for while There
| not wanting sef-appointed apologists for Judas.
| The criminal lawyer has pleaded hard and skill
| fully for him. But what recks II? He himself
| pleaded guilty and inflicted capital punishment
| upon himself. II would take more than Mary's
pound of liquid perfume to offset the unpleasant
| odor of his rottng name. But even Jesus toll
| Grated Judas until only he excluded himself by
| ar act of self-reprobation." However. Iscariot
was desperately human after all. He first
blinded himself with false pretexts-sympathy
| for the poor, and what not. Under the opiate OF
| his COINCIDENCE he almost lost consciousness and
| in his deIirium made himself believe he was do
| ing God service And history Is peopled with the
like But we further thank Judas for
| his interested criticism. because it brings
Jesus commendation and the ample grounds
| upon which that commendatiou is based. Mary
| performs this act OF worship. II is her
| last opportunity Jesus will soon pass into that
| state (of DEATH in which he Will be oblvious
| her act. One OF the loveiiest deeds was
| the provoking OF Of the most dastardly
| deeds Of human history. The loss OF the money
| for which the nard might have been sold burnt
| in Judas's heart with a secret, bark and mel
/ anchoiy fire." He will not lose everything. and
| 50 Treason goes to the chief priests 20 get n
| price for the head which Love had just anointed
| with oil.
Judas is first in the long line OF embezzlers
/ He was 'looting'' the meager treasury OF the
| college OF apostles and doing IL with system
| like the CONFIDENTIAL employee Of to-day. II Is
| practically impossible 70 keep absolute check
| uron the cashier OF large commercial estab-
| i.sfment Such a is honor. If he has
| none Il Is the misfortune OF the establishment;
4. You wonder that the defaulter sells him
| SELF his employer. his children, his WIFE, He
| does not as rule. do il on sudden. II Is an
| evolution from the first pecuation. Judas ended
| by selling the life OF Jesus. That the climax
| In a course OF sin. How contemplate the pricei
/ Two and one-half times less the value of the
| ointment against the holy OF which he pro-
tested Here Is a study IN the aesthetics
of religion. Religion may express itself in per-
| fume a color. harmony; fresco
| terio Shall the money put into cathedrais be
| considered wasted misspent, 10 we not erect
| monuments TO encourage patriotism and valor.
| and shall have none 20 inspire 20 religion
Marie Corelli utters her philtppic In
master Christian against 81. Peters and the
4 Vatican. But should she not remember that the
art and library treasures OF the Pope's palace
have been the legacy OF Europe for three hun
dred years. and that the cathedral OF Michael
Angelo and his fellows IL not merely place 20