Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-04-16
Jesus AnOinted
at Bethany

Specially Prepared for This Paper

verse 3.
GOLDEN TExT.-"we love him be-
cause he first loved us."-1 John, ilo.
TINE-Jcsus reached Bethany on Fri
! day. March 81, a. D. ~, six days betors
| the Passover. lie rested the next day,
Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, when
ended n, sunset. The feast was held that
evening.
PLACE The hous" Of Simon tho Upper.
In Bethany, on the Mount Of owes
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Put In n single word the subject OK
our Scripture passage, is "Service"-
different ways Of serving Christ, and
the way Christ prefers. No other pas
sage in " Bib" presents these ways
70 yiyIdN. Therefore It is a passage
Of great and fundamental Importance.
Gcibio imagincs that "thc sisters
had often %pnndered 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 fMatt. ESQ
with very precious ointment. by
ointment we are TO understand rather
a liquid perfume than b we com
monty know as Ointment.'--Schaf. ~
was commO 10 anoint the heads or
guests, bu, AMOUNTING the feet was a
very special honor.
"Nard' is an ungnent from the
head or spike OF "A fragrant East In
dian plant belonging to the genus
Valcriana, which Yields a Juice of dc.
liclons odUr"-Thay"r. This was, 1T
orally translated, "pistic nard," the
adjective meaning pure, gcnuinc;'
or "drinkabI",' rs some ointmcnts
were drunk. mixed with wine; or II
may Indicate the place whence the
nard came.
"A POUND n.atin, libra). the Giit o.
weight In The roman empire, slightly
over II ounces observation-disclosures
Greek rest.
The estimate Of Judas ". 81 was
800 drnnrii, "A day lab0rcr's wage Tor
one year, Expos. Greek Test, Equal
10 500 or $500 # our money, Altar
Of roses sells for 81 200 a pound.
!, was Kept in II cruise or flask Of ala
basi"r INarkI, called IAN alabasi"f,
lust as we call "A drinking vessel made
OF PliSS u Rldtn. ~ ""p "a hi"' ~
rruct, having Il cylindrical form at the
top. Pllny compares these vessels TO
a closed rOgrbud."--PrOf Marin X.
Vincent.
The tables were low, sometimes not
more than a foo, high, and the guests
rcclincd around ,hcm, leaning ON their
elbows. their feet stretched out away
from The table. we recall the Ideal
picture Of Aaron when anOinted TO
the priesthood n'Sa. l33 p, to marx
here the fulhllm"nt ~ the type when
the great High PRIEST was anointcd
for the sacrifice. She who had so
often sat at his feet, 10Y anoints
them, and alike for love, reverence,
aud fellow hip If his suifrrinRs, VIII
not wipe them but with her hair
I!dcrshcim. "rh!s simple act pro.
claimed the self humiliation Of her IN
bounded love, seeing that the loosen
ing Of a wuInnn's hair "na IA mark ~
unusual sci abandOIm" - Pulpit
Commentary.
This deed Of Mary bocam" 80 IA
nous, as Christ proph'sicd 1t would
CMatt, 2G:l3J. because,
/ !, vas a beautiful example Of that
IiHe virtue, gratitude.
9. n was II beautiful example Uf the
sacrifices gladly made by love.
3 II was "A beautiful oyampl" OF
ipyc's courage. Mary was willing to
face MISUNDERSTANDING, 8n"crs, cap.
tious criticism, and smllcs 81 ridiculc
Her great love brushed thcso aside
IKE cObw"bs. Most service Of Christ
calls for similar cUuraS., from the
first stammcring attempt Of the young
convert 10 speak for Jesus, to the
large tasks II the missionary and the
rciormcr, But love for Christ makes
II all easy.
4. II was a beautiful fore glimpse u
Christ's great sacrifice. This decd
wa the dying Of Jesus. In "A figure
Christ found In II the N"5y spirit that
was leading him so steadily TO Cal
vary. For Jesus, Ike Mary. IayishCd
everything In saving men."-Rev. G.
". Morrison.
g.. II furnished n beautiful ~illustra
ton Of Christ's ready reception Of
loving service. The disciples chidcd
but Jesus praised.
6. But. fine AZ II was, Mary's spir
itual devotion TO Christ would have
been just An fine II II had been ac
companicd by household administrations
to his needs. "A kinanan of mine
was once entertained By II gifted WON
an, who was 30 much absorbed In hi
interesting Onversation that she To-.
got 10 inspect the spare room II
which he slept, ard In which he passc(
the night I'm eXi sUcratiny collision,