The Tupelo journal., 1908-04-17
Jesus Amounted
at Bethany
Sunday School Lesson for April 10, 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

TIME.-Jesus reached Bethany on Fri
day, March 81, A. d. 80, six days before
the Passover. He rested the next day,
Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, which
ended at sunset. The feast was held that
evening.
PLACE.-The house of Simon the leper,
In Bethany, on the Mount of Olives.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Put in a single word the subject OF
our Scripture passage, is Service
different ways of serving Christ, and
the way Christ prefers. No other pas
sage in the Bible presents these ways
so wildly. Therefore 1t is a passage
of great and fundamental importance.
Geikie imagines that "the sisters
had often pondered how they could
show their gratitude for all Christ
had been, and all that he had done for
them" Mary showed it by amounting
Christ's feet and head Matt. 26:7)
with very precious ointment. by
ointment we are to understand rather
a liquid perfume than what we com.
monty know as ointment."-Schaff. II
was common to anoint the heads OF
guests, but amounting the feet was a
very special honor.
"Nard" is an unguent from "the
head or spike of a fragrant East In
dian plant belonging to the genus
Valeriana, which yields a juice of de-
licious odor."-Thayer. This was, lit
orally translated, "pistic nard," the
adjective meaning pure, genuine"
or "drinkable," as some ointments
were drunk, mixed with wine; or il
may indicate the place whence the
nard came.
"A pound (Latin, libra), the unit Of
weight in the Roman empire, slightly
over II ounces NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Greek Test.
The estimate of Judas ". 81 was
300 denarii, "a day laborer's wage for
one year."-Expos. Greek Test. Equal
to $300 or $500 of u money. Altar
of roses sells for $1,000 a pound.
1t was kept in a cruise or flask of ala
baster MARK, called AN ~alabaster,
just az we call a drinking vessel made
of glass a glass. 1t was a kind OF
cruet. having a cylindrical form at the
top. Pliny compares these vessels to
a closed rosebud."-Prof. Marvin R.
Vincent. .
The tables were low, sometimes not
more than a foot high, and the guests
reclined around them, leaning on their
elbows, their feet stretched out away
from the table. I'VE recall the ideal
picture of Aaron when anointed to
the priesthood (Psa. 1899, to mark
here the fulfillment of the type when
the great High Priest was anointed
for the sacrifice. She who had so
often sat at his feet, now anoints
them, and alike for love, reverence,
and fellowship of his sufferings, will
not wipe them but with her hair
Edersheim. This simple act pro.
claimed the standardization of her un.
bounded love, seeing that the loosen
ing of a womah's hair was a mark Of
unusual self-abandonment."- Pulpit
Commentary.
This deed Of Mary became so ia.
nous, as Christ prophesied it would
to1dlI. %o.loJ, uCSouSC,
/. 1t was a beautiful example of that
fine virtue, gratitude.
2. 1t was a beautiful example of the
sacrifices gladly made by love.
8. 1t was a beautiful example Of
loves courage. Mary was willing to
face misunderstanding, sneers cap,
tious criticism, and smiles of ridicule.
Her great love brushed these aside
like cobwebs. Most service of Christ
calls for similar courage, from the
first stammering attempt of the young
convert to speak for Jesus, to the
large tasks of the missionary and the
reformer. But love for Christ makes
it all easy.
4. 1t was a beautiful fore-glimpse OF
Christ's great sacrifice. This deed
was the dying OF Jesus, in a figure.
Christ found in it the very spirit that
vas leading him SO steadily to Cal.
vary. For Jesus, like Mary, lavished
everything in saving men."-Rev. G.
H. Morrison.
5. 1t furnished a beautiful illustra.
ton of Christ's ready reception of
loving service. The disciples chided,
but Jesus praised.
6. But, fine as it was, Mary's spir.
itual devotion to Christ would have
been just as fine If it had been &C.
companied by household ministrations
to his needs. "a kinsman of mine
was once entertained by a gifted WON.
an, who was so much absorbed in his
interesting conversation that she for.
got to inspect the spare room in
which he slept, and in which he passed
the night in exasperating collisions
with a silver soup tureen which long
before had been concealed from the
burglars in his bed; and 1 confess ]
agreed with a cynical female critic
who observed, or hearing the story.
that clever and devout women might
sometimes most wisely pray and talk
less and keep house more. '"-Bishou
Potter. Mary may have done both;
We are not told.
Practical Points.
When Christ asks us to do such
work, it becomes at once of supreme
and invested with roya
dignity.
There is splendid service in faith
as we'll as in works, in love as well
as in active ministering to the loved
one.
Those whose special gifts lie In ae.
tivity and those whose minds tend
rather to inner devotion, should appre.
one another. christian work