The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-04-13
THE SUPPER
AT BETHANY
Sunday School Lesson for Apr. 10. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

marx 1853,
GOLDEN TEXT she hath done what
| she could. Mark l4:S.
| TIME.-Jesus arrived at Bethany on Fri
| day, six days before the Passover. lie
rested on Saturday, the Jewish sabbath
which ended at sunset and the supper was
| Saturday evening.
| PLACE.-The house OF Simon. the Leper,
/ IN Bethany, on the Mount Of olives.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
I v. l. Bethany Lazarus
raised from the dead" See Les
son 2.
Va Made Him a supper" Jesus
friends gave q supper in His honor.
Martha served" She was one of those
who prepared and served the food.
"sat at table" Guests reclined on
couokes around the table.
" 8. ointment of spikenard."
Oils, extracted from various plants,
were commonly used by eastern peo-
pies Among the most costly was the
pure nard or spienard, from a plant
which grows in India. Such oils. or
ointments, we're kept in small jars
| knowns as alabasters. The jar was
frail, and Mary crushed il with her
hands, that the oil might flow out.
Amounted the feet" Il was custom
airy to honor a guest by amounting him.
VA. Saith one" All the disciples
were shocked by this wasteful expendi-
ture. Judas spoke for the company.
V. 5. Three Hundred pence" See
note on verse three.
V. 6. "A thief, and had the bag"
| Judas was treasurer Of Jesus little
company of apostles. and often took
from the common fund for himself.
V. I. Let her alone" Jesus, who
did care for the poor and longed TO
! help them, nevertheless reproved those
who found fault with Mary. for He un-
/ derstoOd her act was from love TO
Himself. Against the day Of my bury
ing" Mary's act was prophetic. She
had some idea that trouble lay before
her loved Lord. She was the only
Mary who was in time to anoint Him
MARK 1871. g..
V. 8. The poor always ye have
. but Me not always" Only for a
little time was opportunity given the
/ friends of Jesus to express loving de-
votion to His person, as was then pos
sible, but His friends OF all succeeding
days have opportunity of ministering
to Him by helping the poor and show
ing kindness to His brethren" Matt.
%: 31-46l.
V. 9. Much people" Many Jews
on their way to Jerusalem for the
feast, stopped at Bethany to see Laza-
rus and Jesus.
V. 10. Put Lazarus to death" He
was such a convincing witness of Je-
sus' divine power that the enemies Of
Jesus felt it important to get him out
of the way. We do not know that they
ever succeeded in killing him.
V. IL. Went away and believed"
Left Bethany believing that Jesus was
the Messiah, and had wrought this
wondrous miracle of raising Lazarus
The mention of Martha's serving
throws our thought back TO the rec
ord OF Luke 10: 3S-4& Dr. C. Camp
| bell Morgan fancies that although en-
gagged in the same work as formerly
Martha's spirit has quite changed. He
says:
!
ing all the time. She is even more
busy than befors. but she is restful
and peaceful in her work. She is not
numbered with her business, nor angry
with Mary nor casting reflections on
Jesus. She has learned something in
the day of sorrow and darkness.
We do Martha less than justice IL
we do not honor her. and recognize
that her hr1 Of service is true service.
She has many successors among
Christs true followers. who cannot
rise to the heights of His lofty teach
ing, but who have taken Him for their
Lord, and can. at any rate, 40 humble
practical service in kitchen or work
shop-Maclaren.
For a moment one of our race was
like the Master. Through all time, he
had been flooding the world with gifts.
The sun gives more light than l0O.-
100000 worlds could absorb. The flow
ers are a million times more abundant
than men ever gather, OF even see. lie
seeks every possible occasion to pour
out into our bosOms spiritual gifts
| good measure shaken together, press
ed down and running over. How glad
be must have been TO find one giver
whose love made her as wasteful as
HIMSELF They are scarce Bishop H..
w. Warren.
Only for little time was OppOrtuni-
| ~ given the friends of Jesus to express
loving devotion to His person. as was
then possible, but His friends. of all
succeeding days have opportunity OF
ministering to Him by helping the
poor and showing kindness TO His
brethren" Matt. %: 3l-46) Only for
few short years will any of ms have
opportunity of ministering to Jesus
and suffering with Him here on earth /:
let US improve this precious time to
the utmost, and count IL not waste to
spend much In simply loving Him and
telling Him our love.
Practical Points.
V. 2. Each according 30 the dispo-
| sitiOn God has given. can find oppor-