The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-18
MferndtiOndL SundaySchOol
 Lesson
Second Quarter. Lesson if. John xh'
 III Anrfl 10. 1908.


 I-I1. April ID, 1908.
 JESUS ANOINTED AT BETHANY.
 If was well that there are some tn- cidents which relieve the somper ana a agoniziffE hours of Jesus last days on earth. Among them the "anointing is conspicuous. The very fact that U is an act prompted purely by sentiment sives it it's charm and worth. The calculating spirit is ruled out. Love has it's way For eight weeks Mary had watched her opportunity to eX- press in this significant action her gratitude for the restoration or her brother as we'll as her personal love kept in her boudoir the Egyptian ala, baster vase. It Is rich in hue ana dainty in shape. like one Piiny aPtly compares to a closed rose bud. Box each enhances the other. The alaoas- ter holds a heavy weight or liquld per fume distilled with the high chemical art of the Far East. Endershetm re marks the fcndness of Jewish women for perfumes, and some one suggests that this "pistic nard" was relic or Mary's old life before she knew Jesus. However, 1t Is difficult to see how the continued possession. and even personal use, of a perfume should be incompati- ble with fidelity to her new w-found Mas ter. If the new life was Tn her heart, and she had enough for charity. she could keep her alahaster without of ferlse or injury. If there was no love, sale of her fragrant oil and gift of proceeds to the poor would avail noth- ing. only love gives value to an act.
 The company had gone into the ban quet room. simon. the host whom Jesus may have healed of his leprosy' assigns his guests to their places. On this occasion, Lazarus may have sup planted John in Jesus bosom. At this moment E1ry appears. She breaks the slender Pck of the cruse, and pours ,arf r,f IASnS head and part upon his feet. and wiped his feet with her luXuriant tresses. not uncommon Oriental act. It is like the singing of sweet hymn of praise, which. though directed to one. all hear and enjoy; for the house is filled with the odor of the ointment See the lavish nature of love! Part of the pound" would have been ample; but Mary gives it all. Not drop at time but she pours 1t out at once. For her and Jesus 1t is the rich luxury of tom to the highest point of honor when the feet and the head are alike anoint- ed. How quick the munitions of wo- mans heart! A man would have thought of this gentle courtesy the
 Strange, but this good deed soads one of the guests to an ugly one! It is the inevitable clash of the Christ like and the anti ti-Chirstlike spirit. Judas demonically kindled avarice is famed to a flame as lurid as hell. But we can forgive him for the villains part he plays in Simon's house. He gives us a first clue to his character, the devious windings of which are confessedly difficult to trace. Further, he quotes the market value of the nard, which is astonishingly high hgure power today. s300). Is it any wonder Judas protested? Especially since he was "a thief and having the bag. took away what was put therein" He was in "a frenzy at the thought of such utter perdition of such good money" And should we be surprised that the and were unaccustomed to any luxury, were amazed at this? Judas. taking the mask of charity. and stimulating anger that the poor were forgotten. folks for awhile.
 There are not wanting f-appointed apologists for Judas. The criminal lawyer has pleaded hard and skillfully for him. But what recks it? He him self pleaded guilty and inflicted cap ital punishment upon himself. It would take more than Mary's pound Of liquid perfume to offset the unpleasant Odor of his rotting name. But even Jesus tolerated Judas until only he eX- cluded himself by an act of self-repro- bation. However. Iscariot was des- perateIy human after all. He first blinded himself with false pretexts- sympathy for the poor, and what not. Under this opiate to his conscience he almost lost eonsciousness and in his delirium made himself believe he was doing God service. And history is peopled with the like. But we further thank Judas for his interested eriti- Cism because ft brings out Jesus com mendatiou and the amDie grounas u. on which that comn1enda ton is based. Mary performs this act as one of wor- shin. IL is her last opportunity. Jesus will soon pass into that state (of death) in which he will he ohlfvious to her act. One of the loveliest deeds was the provoking cause of one of the most dastardly deeds of human history.