The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-04-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL Is.

Subject: The Supper at Bethany, John
Kill, 1-11-Golden Text, Mark XIV. g.
Memory Verses, 2, 3-Commentary Oh
the Days Lesson.
l.. Jesus entertained at Bethany Tvs.
l., p. /. six days before the pass
over" Six days before His crucifx-
ion. He probably reachtd Bethany
about the beginning of the sabbath, as
the Jews reckoned from sunset to SUM-
set. Bethany" Bethany means
House of Dates" or House of Com
fort" 1t was a village beautifully sit
uated about two miles southeast of
Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the
mount of Olives. 1t was often visited
by Christ. Where Lazarus was" 1t
may have been in honor of his restora-
ton to life that this supper was given,
and in gratitude for it that u Lord
was anointed. 2. MADE Him a sup
per-" In the house Of Simon the leper
(Matt. $3.50. This man had evidently
been a leper, and had probably been
cured by Jesus. According to a tradi-
ton Simon was the father Of Lazarus;
according to others he was the husband
of Martha, or Martha was his widow.
Martha served" etc. 1t is clear that
the family of Bethany were in all re-
spects the central figure at this enter
tainment. Martha seems to have had
the entire supervision Of the feast, and
the risen Lazarus was almost al much
an object of curiosity as Jesus Him.
self. In short, so many thronged to
see Lazarus, that the miracle which
had been performed on his behalf
caused many to believe on Jesus. Lag
arus at the table" The, supper vas
probably the next day after Jesus ar
rival, after the close Of the Jewish
sabbath.
II. Mary anoints the Savior ". 81.
8. "a pound" This was a Roman
pound Of twelve ounces. ointment"
BY the ointment we are to understand
rather a liquid perfume than what we
commonly know as ointment. Spike
nard." A aromatic herb imported from
Arabia and India. very costly" 1t
was worth three hundred pence or
denarii, silver coins worth fifteen to
seventeen cents each; hence the ONT
ment was worth between forty-fye
and fifty dollars. This would be
equivalent to ten times that amount
at the present time. Amounted the
feet" The perfume was an alabaster
bottle, or flask, which was made with
a long narrow neck. Mark says 'she
brake the box" or the neck. Of the
flask. The seal which kept the per-
fume from %evaporating had never
been removed; it was OF this occasion
first opened. Matthew says she poured
it on His head. There is manifestly
neither contradiction nor divergence
here between the evangelists. Mary
poured the ointment owe His head and
then W. His feet. John notices the
amounting Of the feet, not only as the
act Of greatest humility and the mark
Of deepest veneration, but from its I'M
usual character, while amounting the
head was not so uncommon. She who
had 20 often sat at His feet, now
anoints them. and alike for love, rev.
; erence and fellowship Of His suffer-
ings, will not wipe them but with her
hair. The amounting shows her faith
in Christ and her love for Christ.
Wiped His feet" She took "woman's
chief ornament" and devoted it to
wiping the travel-stained feet of. her
Lord. 1t was the utmost possible ex-
preston of her love and devotion.
House was filed" The house was
filled with the odor Of the ointment,
and to-day the church and the world
are filed with heavenly fragrance
whenever loving deeds are performed
for Christ. "h.T
III. The hypocrisy of Judas rebuked
Tvs. 49,. -.
4. Judas Iscariot." Judas began
to find fault at what he called a waste.
His mutterings convinced some Of the
other disciples, so that they joined
with him in the condemnation Of the
act. Whenever there is an act Of
splendid self-forgetfulness there is al
ways a Judas to sheer and murmur at
it. g.: "Given to the poor" Mark
says they murmured against the w0m-
an, and their words and manner were
also q reflection on Christ Himself,
because He had permitted it to occur.
6. A thief" Judas was bad at
heart; he vas playing the hypocrite.
THE bag" The cash-boX in which the
funds of the small company were kept.
And bare" etc. Not bare it OF by
theft, though that he did; but simply
had charge of it's contents as treas
urer. Z. Let her alone" Christ was
indignant at the hypocrisy which made
q pretended consideration Of the poor
an excuse for attacking and condemn
ing an act of love toward Himself.
Against the day Of My burying." It
is not for nothing, as your ~reproaches
suggest, that she has poured forth
this perfume. She has embalmed Me
beforehand.
8. THE poor always" This act Of
Mary's will not interfere with your
F., care for the poor. You a do good
to them at any time. Me not always"
Christ's bodily presence was about to
be removed from them. What they
did for Him must be done quickly.
Nv. Curiosity and conspiracy Tvs.
Oily. 9. "Of the Jews" John, who
was q Galilean, often gives the title
of Jews to those who were inhabitants
of Jerusalem. Knew that He was
there" Large caravans would be COM
Ing up for the Passover from all por-
tons of the country. and the news
would spread quickly througf The
shifting crowds that Jesus anC naz-
arus were in Bethany. The result was
that many of them believed. 10.
Lazarus also to death" AS long as
he lived, they saw an incontestable
proof of the divine power Of Christ.
IL. Believed" The resurrection Of
Lazarus convinced many that Jesus
was the Messiah.