The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-04-14

Mark 1883
GOLDEN TEXT -"she hath done what
she c0ud."-Mark i4.N
TlME.-Jesus arrived 40 Bethany on Fri
das six days before thc Passover lie
rested on Saturday. the Jewish sabbath,
which ended at sunset ana tle supper was
Saturday evening
PLACE.-The house OF Simon. the Leper,
h Bethany. on the Mount of olives.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. /. Bethany Lazarus
raised from the dead" See Les.
son ,.
w MADE Him a supper Jesus
friends gave a supper In His honor
Martha served" she was one of those
who prepared and served the food.
sat at table Guests reclined on
couches around the table
v 3. 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. were kept in small Jars
knOwns as alabasters. The jar was
frail. and Mary crushed it with her
hands. that the oil might flow out.
Amounted the feet" Il was custom
airy TO honor a guest by amounting him.
V. 4. 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.
" s. "a thief and had the bag"
Judas was treasurer Of Jesus little
company Of apostles. and often took
from the common fund for himself.
" 7. Let her alone" Jesus, who
did care for the poor and longed 70
help them, nevertheless reproved those
who found fault with Mary, for lie 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 10 anoint Him
Mark 1871. g..
V. s. THE poor always ye have
but Ne not always" Only for a
little time was opportunity given the
friends Of Jesus to express loving de-
yotion 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.
25: 31-46).
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 # important to get him out
Of the way. We do not know that they
ever succeeded in killing him.
V. H. Went away and believed"
Left Bethany believing that Jesus was
the Messiah, and had wrought this
wondrous miracle Of raising Lazarus.
The mention of Marthas serving
throws our thought back to the rec
ord of Luke 10: 3S-42. Dr. G.. Camp
bell Morgan fancies that although en-
gagged in the same work as formerly,
Martha's spirit has quite changed. lie
says:
Martha does her work, now, smil-
ing all the time. She is even more
busy than before, 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 If
we do not honor her, and recognize
that her kind Of service is true service.
She has many successors among
Christ's 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, DO 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 100,-
100000 worlds could absorb. The how-
ers are a million times more abundant
than men ever gather, or even see. He
seeks every possible occasion to pour
out into our bosoms spiritual gifts
good measure. shaken together. press
ed down and running over. How glad
he must have been to find one giyer
whose love made her as wasteful as
HIMSELF They are scarce. Bishop II.
w. Warren.
Only for a little time was oppOrtuni-
ty 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 20 His
brethren" Matt. %: 31-46). Only for
few short years will any Of us have
opportunity Of ministering 10 Jesus
and suffering with Him here on earth;
let us improve this precious time 10
the utmost. and count it not waste TO
spend much in simply loving Him and
telling Him our love.
Practical Points.
w. Each according to the dispo-
sition God has given, can find oppor-
tunity to serve jesus Cor. 1874
W. God calls us from the death
Of sin to arise and sit with Jesus
Eph. 2:6.
Va. How can we hesitate 10 yield
our best TO Him who gave His best
for us?-l John 1916.
" Z. Let us lavish our love upon
our dear ones now. and not hoard %
TO pour upon their cofins.-Rom.
1910.
Last Hope Vanished.