Catoctin clarion., 1905-04-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL Is.
Subject: The Supper mt Bethany, John
xiii, 1-11-Golden Text, Mark xiv, s.
Memory Verses, 2, 3--Commentary Oh
the Day's IessOu

Subject: The Supper mt Bethany, John
xiii, 1-11-GOlden Text, Mark xiv, s.
Memory Verses, 2, 3--ConmentarJ Oh
the Days Lesson.
l. Jesus entertained at Bethany Tvs.
!, p. 1. "SiX days before the pass
over.' Six days before His crucitiX-
ion. He probably reached Bethany
about the beginning of the sabbath, as
the Jews reckOned from sunset to sun
set. "Bethany.' Bethany means
House of Dates" or House of Com
fort 1t was a village beautifully sit.
uatcd 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-
tion to life that this supper WAS given.
and in gratitude for it that our Lord
was anointcd. :" "Made Him a sup
per-" In the house of Simon tho ieper
Matt. 26:6,. This man had evidently
been a lcper, and had probably been
cured by Jesus. According to Il 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 We're in all re-
spects the central figure at this enter
tainmcnt Martha seems to have had
the entire supervision of the feast. and
the risen Lazarus was almost rs much
an object of curiosity as Jesus Him
self. In short, 50 many thronged to
see Lazarus, that the miracle which
had been performed on his behalf
10 hnlin,.n
arus at the table" The supper WAS
probably the next day after Jesus ar
rival. after the close of the Jewish
sabbath.
II. Mary anointS the Savior (v. -.
3. a pound" This was Il Roman
pound of twelve ounces. "Ointmcnt."
BY the ointment we are to understand
rather liquid perfume than what we
commonly know as ointment. "Spikc-
nard.' a aromatic herb imported from
Arabia and India. "Ncry costly" 1t
was worth three hundred pence or
denarii. silver coins worth fifteen to
seventeen cents each; hence the oint-
ment was worth between foTty-hvr
and fifty dollars. This would he
equivalent to ten times that amount
at the present time. "Anointed the
feet The perfume was an alahaStpr
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 tn" per-
fume from cvaporating had never
been removed: it was "U this occasion
first opened Matthew says she poured
it on His head. There is manifestly
Il "
here between th" cvangciSts. Mary
poured the ointment over His head and
then over His feet. John notices the
amounting of the feet. not only rs III"
act of greatest humility and tho mark
of deepest venCratiOD. but from its I'M
usual character. while anQintng the
head was not 50 uncommon. She who
had so often sat ut His feet, now
anoints them. and alike for love, rcv-
Prcnce and fellowship of Ills 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 travCl-Staincd feet of her
Lord. 1t was the utmost possible cX-
preston of her love and devotion.
House was filled" The house WAS
filled with the odor of the ointment.
and to-day the church and the world
are filled with heavenly traGrancH
whenever loving deeds are performed
for Christ.
III. The hypocrisy of Judas rcbuked
Tvs. 4-Sl.
4. Judas IScariot." Judas began
- tp1 - ~ ol ~ T.,
His muttcringS convinced some OF the
other disciples. 50 that they joined
with him in the condemnation of the
act Whenever there is an act of
splendid SClf-forgctfulneSS there is al
ways a Judas to SnCer and murmur at
it. ). "Givcn to the poor Mark
says they murmUrcd against the Wonl-
an, and their words and manner were
also Il reflection on Christ Himself,
because He had permitted it to occur.
&. "A thief" Judas was bad at
heart; he was playing the hypocrita.
The bag The caSh-boX in which the
funds of the small company were kept.
"And bare" etc. Not bare it off by
theft. though that he did; but simply
had charge of its contents as treas
urcr. :. Let her alone" Christ was
indignant at the hypocrisy which mace
Il pretended consideration of the poor
an excuse Cor attacking and condemn
ing an act of love toward Himself.
against the day of My buryng.' 1t
is not for nothing, as your rcproaChcS
suggest. that she has poured forth
this perfume. She has cmbalmcd Me
beforehand
s. The poor always" This act of
Mary'S will not Interfere with yoUr
care for the poor. You can 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.
". Curiosity and conspiracy Tvs.
9-1n. o. "Of the Jews" John, who
was Gall2an. 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-
tionS of the country. and the news
would spread quickly through the
shifting crowds that Jesus and Laz-
arus wcrc in Bethany. The result was
that many of them believed. 10.
Lazarus also to DEATH AS long as
he Lived. thcy saw an incontestable
proof of The divine power of Christ
H. "Bclicvcd." The resurrection Of
Lazarus convinced many that Jesus
WAS the Messiah.