The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-04-13
The Supper At Bethany.

acle under the caves of the ecclesiasti-
cal establishment. 1t was accepted as
challenge, and steps were immed-
ately taken to compass His death
His hour not vet having come, the
Master retired to Ephraim, twenty
miles away, near to the wilderness or
sparsely populated country. There
in company with His disciples, He
passed the time in physical and
spiritual recnperation. A price was
practical set upon His head, for the
chief priests and Pharisees had given
notice that if any one knew where He
was he should give information in or
der that the arrest might be made.
With mingled motives of curiosity,
admiration, and opposition the people
who had come to Jerusalem in large
numbers to attend the PassC yer made
| quest for Jesus. For the time He
eclipsed both temple and ceremony.
AS the days passed they began to say
to each other in their disappointment,
the feast at ALP But when the time
/ was fully come, the Master resolutely
set His face toward that slaughter
| house of the prOphets-J erusalem.
| He was fully cognizant of all the peril
| of going to the city at the juncture
1t was in this instance that one sig
nificant incident like shaft of light
! fell across the inky blackness in which
| His lie closed. 1t was that high and
! loving courtesy shown Him in the
/ home in Bethnay. They banqueted
! Jesus They made supper in His
| honor, and in grateful recognition of
His merciful deeds.
/ In the noblest villa of the suburb of
| Jerusalem, the table with its damask
| coverings. was set in hollow square,
as the custom was. 1t was sur round
ed by richly upholstered touches.
| Shaded lamps cast their full radiance
upon the goodly scene. Eye, nostril,
rand palate were delighted. Color,
! fragrance, music, and viands match
| their several organs of sense. Ac-
| cOrding to Oriental custom, the
/ house was open and the interested
| villagers hung like an animated fringe
around the table, sharing with the
| invited guests sight of the cheer and
| gladness. On either side of Jesus re
clined the trophies OF His power
| Simon whom He had healed of leprOsy,
and Lazarus whom He hau revived
/ from death. Noble and beautiful
women graced and adorned the scene
and hour.
/ One significant and timely deed lift
/ ed this feast to the level OF a sacra-
ment. Out of her boudoir Mary
brought the most precious thing it
contained-an Oriental cruise of al
abaster, filled with genuine liquid
/ perfume, very precious, the seal of
which had never been broken. Her
/ unspeakable gratitude would fain eX-
press itself in a deed of reverence and
love. Unstintedly she poured the
costly liquid upon Jesus head and
feet, using her luXuriant tresses for
a towel. In moment every recess
of the house was filled with the subtle
and delicious fragrance.
But as may be expected in every
human gathering, which of necessity
must contain some whose ethical evo-
luton is retarded or stunted, an APP
pie of discord was thrown into this
feast of love. 1t came from the very
hand that was tilching from the com
stole the livery of charity in which to
serve his own cupiditY. he affected
benevoence that he might cover his
own grasping spirit. Some of the
apostles were evidently infected with
his carping spirit, at least joined mild
ly in the specious protest
Rightly royalty did Jesus come to
defense of Mary and her deed He
interpreted her action and put the
seal of His Divine approval upon it.
If she gave Him mOmentary and
passing embalming, He embalmed her
forever in the ineffable incense of His
praise: "She hath wrought a good
work. She hath done what she could.
Wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached there shall also this that
this women hath done be told for
memorial of her" A practical princi,
pie of life is irradiated in connection
with this incident. Jesus af1irms that
deeds which can be done any time
must give place to those which can
only be done just now. THE poor
are always with you; not so l."
The banquet intended for His hon
or really Set the seal of jesus doom
and fastened it. The banquet couch
proved a pedestal to lift him not'only
in sight of the admiring people, but
also of His implacable enemies. The
end of it was that not only "much
people knew that He was there and