The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1905-04-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON ~, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, APRIL 10.

copyright 1908, by American Press Associatior-l
1t is probable that all the events of
Luke tx. 81, to xix. %, intervene be-
tween the raising OF Lazarus and the
supper and the amounting of this lesson
in the home at Bethany. Luke omits
the record of this supper and amounting
and passes right on 10 the triumphal
entry of the next lesson. which is
recorded by all four of the evangelists,
while only Matthew, Mark and John
record the amounting. What n great
contrast between the sorrow in this
home in the last lesson and this happy
gathering with Lazarus alive and well
and Jesus Himself in the midst. How
the sadness of that occasion is all for
gotten in joys of the present one.
Some one has suggested that in
Martha, Mary and Lazarus on this oc-
casion we have, if we take them to-
gether, a sample of well rounded
Christian life, for we see in Martha
service without anxiety in Mary true
worship, giving to her Lord heart de-
votion and costly Offering, and in
life. How suggestive the fine words,
at the table with Him. They carry
US bacl; to II Sam tx, I, 10, II, 10,
where we see Mephibosbeth. al I'M
worthy, eating continually at the kings
table. and onward TO Luke Xii. 30.
"That ye may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom" and Rev. xix, 8,
BLESSED are they which are called to
the marriage supper Of the Lamb"
In the record in Matthew and Mark
this home in Bethany is called the
house of Simon the leper, but we are
not told whether this Simon was the
father Of these three or the husband
Of Martha or what relation he was to
these, nor are we told if he was one
Of the lepers whom Jesus healed nor
if he was ut this time alive. Some day
we shall know the sequel TO this, and
many another Bible story if we need
to.
Putting together the records in
Matthew, Mark and John, we learn
that Mary poured this very precious
and very costly ointment on the head
Of Jesus, and also anointed His feet
and wiped them with her hair The
great value Of the ointment reminds us
of David's words, Neither will l offer
burnt offerings unto the Lord my God
of that which doth cost me nothing"
III Sam. xii, 24). What contrast to
the saying OF many in connection with
the work of the Lord in our day! Why,
you can give that or do that and never
miss it or not feel It. Well, our blessed
Lord felt what lie did for us, and to
Him it was very costly. How much Of
His Spirit have we?
Judas. the thief Verse @, who wanted
the price of this ointment in the bag
for his own use, is called Simon's son,
and we have seen that this was Simon's
house, and although Simon was COM
mon name, and there are many such
in the New Testament story, we can
not but wonder If this Judas was the
black sheep Of this family and does
that account for his freedom in finding
fault with Mary. y more pertinent
question, however, would be, Am l
disciple, and If so, am / one in deed
and not in name only? There are many
who are called disciples to whom the
words might be addressed: "Will Il
man rob God? Yet We have robbed me
in tithes and offerings" (Mal. iii, 81.
Let us not think that the nameless
woman Of Luke vii, 81, SO. who also
anointed our Lords feet and wiped
them with her hair, was Mary Of
Bethany. Neither let us call her Mary
Magdalene, as many have done, but as
our Lord so kindly conceals her name
let us leave it so, for so He would have
it. oh, for more of such love!
"Let her alone" Verse y is a good
word for many fault finders to lay to
heart, and snecially for those who are
inclined to criticise woman's ministry
Be of good courage, We sisters whowork
good works which He commends, and
fear not the criticism even of the
apostles. Let His approval be suffi-
cient. Your service may be of world
wide significance, as was Mary's Matt.
XVI, 10; Mark xiv, 81, even though
lIOSS VIM hhON. lOu DtSl anu Sttlu III
some respects superior to you may
think and speak against YOU Let
Cor. iv, 3, 4, be comfort to you.
Against the day of my burying hath
she kept this" "She is come aforehand
to anoint my body to the burying'
Verse and Mark xiv, 81 would indi-
cate that she was intelligently seizing
her opportunity to do just this that the
Saviour said. Because she sat at His
feet and heard His word | believe that
she knew more than others about His
death and resurrection. The other
women, who perhaps loved Him as
much as Mary did, but did not receive
His words as she did. bought spices
after He was dead with which to anoint
His body at the first opportunity. but
their opportunity never came.
How comforting also to Mary the
beautiful word, "She hath done what
she could Mark xiv, 81. If this shall