The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-18
A SATURDAY SERMON.

A SATURDAY SERMON.
very costly. and anointed Jesus.-John
1913.
There was once a grateful woman,
with even more than ordinary feminine
insight, who did such lavish deed of
love that the story, declared the re-
cipient of the gift, should be told of her
as a memorial wherever the Gospel is
preached. And, although the deed was
considered by the onlookers as rash,
impetuous and extravagant, its sweet
odor now fills the world. The breaking
of the bottle of alabaster, with it's
pound of precious nard or aromatic oil.
and the pouring of the latter over the
head and feet of Christ, was "imprac-
tical," but it has become immortal.
The fragrance of that royal deed has
taken form in beautiful churches, in
spring pictures. great sculptures, wor-
shipful ritual. and a hundred other
forms that uplift mems hearts.
Jesus, drawing near to the scene Of
the final tragedy Of his life, has once
more come to Bethany, to the home
that he loved, where the stout ship Of
his heart found temporary haven from
the turbulent storms of hate and in
trigue that beset it. What it meant to
the harried, homeless Teacher to have
this occasional shelter, only they can
fully understand whose lives are crowd
ed with service which deprives them of
domestic joys.
The loneliness of public men is not
understood by the multitudes whom
they serve. The big crowd thinks it
must be fine to appear before audiences,
to have ones name in the papers, to be
applauded, cheered and admired and
sought after. They little know the
desolateness and heart hunger of the
man who wends his weary way, after
spirit service in their be-
half, to his hotel; nor how he would
gladly exchange all these plaudits and
this lionizing for a few hours with the
ones who care for him for himself
alone. The public is not always unself-
ishly considerate of the human side of
its servants.
One of the mistakes of the Puritan
ical conception of religion for Puritan
ism, being a reaction and a protest,
naturally serving to an extreme) was
in robbing Christianity Of it's aspects
of joy and beauty and sumptuousness.
Tho people are today recovering re-
ligion's right to the best delights of
both worlds. The banquets and social
gatherings of laymen which are be-
a feature of present-day
church life are not only times Of gen.
uine Christian fellowship, but they are
also springs of large service for the
Kingdom of Heaven.
At the Bethany banquet, held in the
home of one Simon, whom Jesus had
healed Of leprosy, there was gathered
a glad and grateful company; for the
occasion seems to have celebrated the
restoration of Lazarus. His sister,
the efficient, proved her love
by her ministry: the success Of the
feast, as a feast, depended upon her.
The disciples we're there, in enjoyment
Of the privilege of keeping close to
their teacher wherever he went. A
great crowd Of friends and onlookers
were present.
Mary was present also, she of the
mystic, devotional temperament, en-
rapt in those whom she loved, and car
Ing for her brothers Deliverer, and her
own teacher, with feminine abandon
ment of affection. She had not Mar
has genius for practical efficiency,
but she had a spiritual insight which
her sister lacked. Only some lavish,
act of devotion and af-
lection could express her hearts graf
tude to the family friend.
How she acquired that costly cruise
Of oil, what sacrifice or sale she made
to possess it, is not known; the precious
offering is estimated to have been
worth, by our reckoning, from $500 to
s600 The manner Of the gift was as
prodigal as the gift itself. While the
guest Of honor reclined at the table she
poured forth the ointment upon his
head. as was the way Of honoring
guests and then, in an excess of self
love, she anointed his feet
also, wiping them with her hair. Hos
pitality these people knew, but such
1egree of lavishness caused them to
wonder, while the fragrance filled all
The house and stole through windows
and door to surprise the crowd gather
ed outside.