The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1908-04-17
Jesus Amounted
at Bethany
Sunday School Lesson for April 10. 1908
Specially Prepared for This Paper

LESSON FEXT.-John i2:i-n Memory
worse 8
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Wc love him be
cause be- first loved us."-l John. i.i9
TIME. Jesus reached Bethany on Fri
day. March 90. a. d. %. six days before
tho Passover. he rested fhe next dal
Saturday. the Jewish Sabbath. which
ended af 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 a single word the subject OF
our Scripture passage. is Service
different ways OF serving Christ. and
he way Christ prefers No other pas
SAGE In the Bible presents these ways
so wildly. Therefore It is a passage
Of great and fundamental importance.
Gelkie imagines that "the sisters
had often pondered how they could
show their gratitude for all Christ
had been. and an that he had done for
them" Mary showed II by Amounting
Christs feet and head Matt 26:D
with very precious ointment. by
ointment we are to understand rather
liquid perfume than what we com
monty know as ointment '-Schah. II
was common to anOint the heads Of
guests. but amounting the feet was
very special honor.
"Nard" is an unguent from the
head OF spike OF a fragrant East IN
llan plant belonging TO the genus
valeriana. which yields Juice Of de
,lclons odor"-Thayer. This was, lit
orally translated. "pistic nard. the
adjective meaning pure genuine;
or "drinkable." as some ointmenis
we're drunk. mixed with wine; or It
may indicate the place whence the
nard came.
"A pound latin. libra), the unit Of
weight ia the Roman empire, slightly
over II ounces ayoirdupois. Expos
Greek Test.
The estimate Of Judas ~ - was
800 denarii. "a day laborers wage for
one ar."-Expos Greek Test. Equal
to 5000 or $500 Of our money. Altar
Of roses sells for $1,000 a pound.
II was kept in a cruise or flask Of ala
baster MARK. called AN alabaster,
inst as we call a drinking vessel made
Of glass a glass. It was a kind OF
sruet. having a cylindrical form at the
Top. Pllny compares these vessels to
4 closed rosebud. PROF. Marvin K.
Vincent
The tables were low. sometimes not
more than a foot high. and the guests
recllned around them. leaning on theiI
elbows. their feet stretched out away /
from the table. We recall the ideal
picture Of Aaron when anolnted ~
the priesthood (Psa. 1922. to mark
here the fuldllment OF the type when
the great High Priest was anoinied
FOR the sacrifice. She who had so
often sat at his feet now anoints
them. and alike for love. reverence,
and fellowship Of his suferings. will
not wipe them but with her hair
This simple act pro
'laimed the selfhumilation Of her IN.
bounded love. seeing that the loosen
ng Of a woman's hair was a mark Of
unusual sef.ablndonment" - Pulpit
Commentary.
This deed Of Mary became so "a
nous. as Christ prophesled 1t would
Matt. 26:l3). because.
l. II was a beautiful example Of that
Inc siitue. gratitude s
2. II was a beautiful example Of Tire :
acrifces glsdly made by love. .
3. II was a beautiful example OF d
owes courage. Mary was willing 20
ace Observation-Disclosures sneers. cap.
ious criticism. and smiles Of riiicule
Ter great love brushed these aside
Ike cobwebs Most service OF Christ
ais for similar courage, from the I
rst stammering attempt Of the young
onvert 70 speak for Jesus. to the
lrge tasks OF the missionary aud the
eformer. But love for Christ makes
all easy.
4. Il was n beautiful ore-glimpse Of
hrists great sacrifice. This deed
as the dying OF Jesus, IN a figure
hrist found in 1t the very spirit that
as leading him so steadily to Cal
airy. For Jesus, Ike Mary. layished
verything in saving men. REV. g.
/. Morrison.
5. Il furnished a beautiful illustra.
on Of Christ's ready reception of
wing service. The disciples chided
Ut Jesus praised.
6. But. fine as It was. Mary's spir.
uaf devotion 10 Christ would have
zen Just as fine II II had been ac-
,mpanied by household ministrations {
his needs. "A kinsman Of mine
as once entertained by gifted WON.
/, who was so much absorbed in his
teresting conversation that she for
II to inspect the spare room in
hich he slept, and in which he passed
e night in exasperating collisions =.
ith a silver soup tureen which long ~
fore had been concealed from the
lrglars in his bed; and | confess /
reed with a cynical female critic =
ho observed. on hearing the story.
at clever and deyout women might
metimes most wisely pray and talk -
IS and keep house more. bishop
liter. Mary may have done both:
? are not told.
Practical Points.
When Christ asks us 10 do such
,rk. It becomes at once OF supreme
poriance, and invested with royal
entity.
There is splendid service in faith