Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-18
Sunday School Lesson for April - Discussed
by Rev. j. E. Gilbert, D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.
JESUS AMOUNTED AT BETHANY John. xii Ill

CONTEXT.-After the raising of
Lazarus, Jesus made brief circuit in
Ephraim and in the borders of Samara.
The synoptic Gospels record the follow
ing events of that journey, which John
falls TO mention the healing of the lepers.
the parable of the unjust judge the par
able of the pharisee and the publican. the
question of divorce raised by the rabbits.
the blessing of the little children. the rich
young ruler. the parable of the laborers
in the vineyard. the request of James
and John for place ~ honor. the healing
of the blind Rartimeus, the visit to the
house of Zacheus. the parable of the
pounds. BY these deeds and teachings
Jesus was preparing those who accom-
panied Him for the approaching tragedy
that would close His earthly career. AT
length He retraced His steps and moved
toward Jerusalem. followed by the little
band of apostles. and by some of the peo-
pie who chung to Him, partly through
curiosity and partly through gratitude.
VISIT.-Directly in the pathway of
Jesus was the littlesvillage of Bethany.
on the eastern slope of the Mount of
Olives. near TO the point where the road
to Jericho begins to descend more precip-
itately to the Jordan valley. Many trees
give tiit place an air L SetiuSlcn ana re-
pose. Here Jesus halted six days before
His last passover verse u. that is. on
Friday. He came to rest in the beautiful
home of Mary. Martha and Lazarus.
whom He loved John. Xi:3), with whom
previously he had held sweet converse
In that quiet retreat. in the midst of
tried friends. He would find comfort as
a preparation for the ordeal through
which He must shortly pass. The his
torian has drawn a veil over the hours of
the holy Sabbath that were thus devoted
to those delightful communings which
they only know who have been brought
into the fellowship of complacent love and
of admiring gratitude. We are left to
conjecture what TRANSFERRED
SEREICE.-Of the visit at Bethany
single incident is mentioned-a supper
made for Jesus at the house of Simon
the leper. Matt, xxvi:6. There have
been many suggestions concerning the
host. most scholars (see EwalD believing
that he was the father of Lazarus. and
that Jesus had cured him of the leprosy
BE that as 1t may, the feast was chiefly
memorable because of WomanS deed of
love. While Lazarus sat at the table and
Martha served Verse -, true to her
habit of busy usefulness duke, x:40),
Mary sat and gaZed and yet more deeply
wOrShiped the Lord, who restored her
brother to life. John, xi:44. Impelled
by some outward sign of her gratitude
she arose, brought a costly vase of In
dian spikenard. broke the ala baster and
poured the precious contents over His
feet (verSe - and His head. mark
xiv:a. And then, unconscious of any
presence save His. she wiped those feet
with the long tresses of her hair while
the atmosphere Of the house was filed
with the delicious fragrance" 1t was an
act of devoted self-sacritice, of exquisite
self-abandonment.
CRITICISM-Did any one ever do a
generous act that was not condemned by
some one? Humanity appears to be di-
vided into two great classes-those who
go forward and do something and those
who come after and find fault On this
occasion the loving woman was censured
by a selfish man-Mary. the hostess. by
Judas Iscariot. the guest. How seldom
does the mind of man place just estimate
upon the heart of woman! The question
Of Judas (verse - was left-handed pro-
fession of charity. He would have sold
the ointment and given the proceeds to
the poor. Regard for the unfortunate
was in those days esteemed d mark of
excellence. which most men were eager
to exhibit before others. Matt, vi:D.
The plea of Judas. as he expected. gained
favor with other disciples, who took up
the same argument and murmured
against Mary because of her wasteful-
ness. Matt. XXvi:S). On commercial
or humanitarian basis these men were
right in their complaint. With $50 bread
could have been purchased for the hungry
and clothing for those who were unclad.
MOTIVE-The question of Judas was
a cloak to cover a sordid motive. People
rarely sin under the full glare of self-con-
sciousness-they usually blind themselves
with false preteXts. While pleading the
cause of disinterested charity. Judas was
dominated by the spirit of aVarice verse
81. He was the treasurer of the apostolic
band. receiving and disbursing the money
This fact had strengthened his one beset-
ting sin. The failure to struggle with
his temptation; the disappointment of
every expectation which had drawn him
to Jesus; the intolerable rebuke conveyed
to his whole being by daily communion
with sinless purity"-all these things
gradually prepared him for this hour
when he looked on Marys Offering with
covetous eyes. feeling that he had been
cheated of that which would still further
minister to his greed. Unfortunate man!
He could not appreciate the act of love to
his Master, whom within a week he would
betray (verse - for one-tenth of the
amount of the ointment. Matt, xXvii:9)
APPROVAL = The Master came
promptly to the defense of Mary who