The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-04-14

I John 4:10-Commit Verse 81
Commentary on the Lesson.
TIME. Friday evening, March 81,
80 A. D. PLACE.-House of Simon
the leper, Bethany.
EXPOSITION. Mary Of Beth.
any Unjustly Criticised by Jesus Dis.
ciples, 10. We are now within six
days of Jesus last passover. IL might
appear from the account in Matthew
that this supper was two days before
the passover. but Matthew and Mark
bring this feast in after mentioning
the conspiracy of the chief priests
and elders, because the incident OF
the feast led Judas to his, final deter
.minatibn to sell his Master to His
enemies and is thus connected with
the plots of the Jewish leaders This
lesson throws holy light upon home
life and the way in which Christ re-
CARDS it. Jesus does not forget in
these supreme hours of His life the
friends He loved, Martha and Mary
and Lazarus. He will have for His
own hearts joy, and still more for
the confirmation of their faith, few
more times of communion with them
To bring them some further sDirituaI
gift He came to Bethany. There is
something inexpressibly touching in
those evenings at Bethany during
during the last week of our Saviour
life on earth He came for another
purpose also, to nurture that fame of
faith that had been kind1ed in the
hearts of many by the resurrection
Of Lazarus. We read in the beginning
Of Jesus ministry, how, having per-
formed His first miracle at Cana and
faith being awakened, He afterward
came back to Cana to quicken and
'nourish and strengthen that faith
(ch. 4:54) So here jesus comes
back to Bethany for similar pur-
pose. Jesus did not awaken fifth and
then leave it to languish and die.
But the principal purpose of this visit
was communion with Martha and
Mary and Lazarus Jesus Christ
while He was Every God of very
God, was also very real man. He
was our brother. The way in which
Bethany is spoken of by John is
worthy of note Where Lazarus
was, whom Jesus raised from the
dead Bethany was a little village,
but it had title of dignity; there was
a resurrected man there There was
no one else at the gathering who
brought such joy to the aching heart
of Jesus as did Mary. She above all
others had listened to Him, under.
stood Him, believed and loved Out
of the wealth of her love she had
purchased at a cost of fifty-one dol
lars ia large sum in those days, her
whole treasure) an alabastel cruise of
ointment and put 1t aside to use it
upon Him when the proper moment
came. She had understood what none
of the rest had, that He was actually
to die and be buried. She had not
sat at His feet in vain (Luke 10.39).
Mary had not stopped to calculate the
cost of the ointment and whether she.
might not better save part of her
money for future needs. Love never
calculates, it gives ALL Mary's uncal-
culating love of Jesus proved safer
guide to conduct than the calculating
prudence of Judas and the rest of the.
disciples tcf. Matt. 26:8).
III. Mary of Bethany Commended
by Jesus Himself, TIL. Jesus praised
when His disciples criticised He
told the critics that they had the poor
always with them and whatsoever
they will they could do them good
mark 14:7). There was prick in
this for their consciences. He told
them further that what was to be
done for Him must be done at once
So it must be to-day Upon Marys
act He bestowed the highest possible
praise, "She hath done what she
could (Mk. 14:8) That is all Christ
asks of any one g Cor. S:12). Mary
was not looking for fame when she
performed this act, but she got fame
immortal Jesus bestowed such COM
mendation upon her as He bestowed
upon no other, and His wonderful
prediction concerning her Matt.
26:13) has been literally fulfilled.
Martha was takenup with her service.
Lazarus was in part taken up with his
enjoyment, but Mary was wholly
taken up with Jesus Himself; And
she is the one of whom the Lord
said, 'wheresoever this Gospel shall
be preached throughout the whole
world, this also that she hath done
shall be spoken of for a memorial of
Lord if we, in this busy, busting age,
we're more taken up with Himself
than with our services. or our expert
ences. Mary's love Vas utterly for
getful of itself, forgetful Of surround
ings, uncalculating of cost, regardless
Of criticism. 1t poured itself out ut
terly. The fragrance OF it has filed
the world as even the fragrance of
der ointment filled the house. Whence
his love? Mary had understood a
message that apparently no one else
or,so al S1lu ~