The Montgomery tribune., 1908-04-17
Jesus AnOinted
at Bethany
Sunday School Lesson for April 10, 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

udy, MdrCn 81, a, ~ ~, SIX uays UetOro
the Passover. lie rested the next day.
Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, which
ended at sunset. The feast was held that
evening.
PLACE.-The house OF Simon the ieper.
In Bethany, on the Mount Of Olives.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Put in 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 vividly. Therefore 1t Is a passage
of great and fundamental Importance.
Gekie imaglnes 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 1t by amounting
Christ's feet and head Matt. 26:O
with very precious ointment. by
ointment we are to understand rather
liquid perfume than what we COM
monty know as ointment."-Schaff. 1t
was common to anoint the hea6s or
guests, but amounting the feet was
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 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 1t
may indicate the place whence the
nard came.
"a pound Latin, libra), the unit Of
weight in the Roman empire. slightly
over II ounces avoirdupois. Expos.
Greek Test.
The estimate of Judas ". 81 was
800 denarii, "a day laborer's wage for
one year."-Expos. Greek Test. Equal
to 5000 or 5000 of our money. Altar
of roses sells for $1,000 pound.
1t was kept in a cruise or flask Of ala
baster MARK, called IAN alabaster,
Just as we call drinking vessel made
of glass a glass. 1t was kind OF
cruet, having q cylindrical form at the
top. Pliny compares these vessels to
a closed rosebud. PROF. Marvin r.
Vincent.
The tables we're 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. 1882, 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
Edersheim. "This simple act pro-
claimed the self-humiliation of her un.
bounded love, seeing that the loosen.
ing OF a woman's hair was mark OF
unusual self-abandonment." - Pulpit
Commentary.
This deed of Mary became so IA
nous, as Christ prophesied it would
Matt. 26:13), because,
/. 1t was 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
1t all easy.
4. 1t was beautiful fore-glimpse Of
Christ's great sacrifice. This deed
was the dying Of Jesus, in figure.
Christ found in 1t the very spirit that
was leading him SO steadily to Cal
vary For Jesus. like Mary, lavished
everything in saving men."-Rev. G.
Il. Morrison.
S. 1t furnished beautiful illustra.
tion of Christ's ready reception Of
loving service. The disciples chided,
but Jesus praised.
6. But, fine as 1t was, Mary's spir-
itual devotion to Christ would have
been just as fine If it had been ac-
companied ny household ministrations
to his needs. "A kinsman OF mine
was once entertained by a gifted wom.
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 niCht In exasperating collisions
with a silver soup tureen which long
before had been concealed from the
burglars in his bed; and confess
agreed with a cynical female critic
who observed, on hearing the story,
that clever and devout women might
sometimes most wisely pray and talk
less and keep house more bishop
Potter. Mary may have done both;
we are not told.
Practical Points.
When Christ asks US to do such
work, IL becomes at once Of supreme