The Brinkley argus., 1914-10-02
LESSON FOR OCTOBER 4
CHRIST ANolNTED FOR BURIAL

CHRIST ANoINTED FOR BURIAL.
 LESSON TEXT-Mark 4:1-11
 GOLDEN TEXT-She hath done what she could. Mark H:S.
 Event crowds fast upon event dur ing this the worlds most tragic week. Two days before the passover oc- cured, the chief priests and other leaders entered conspiracy how to rid themselves of this troublesome Nazarene This plot mentioned in the first two verses of the lesson prob ably occurred four days later than the amounting. Note the separating para graph mark; also look up carefully 2 good harmony of the Gospels. Follow ing the Olivet discourse Jesus said to his disciples, Tn two days the pass over" At that very time Judas was scheming with the rulers for his ar rest John, in his Gospel, tells us that the feast was six days before, and that 1t was in connection with this that Judas had left the company to go to the priests
 Judas 1scariot was angry at our Lord and this incident led immediate ly to the betrayal. Nowhere else in all history is there blacker picture of the human heart or the length of iniquity to which 1t will go. Every thing at this hour is electric and strange. Events rapidly converge to- wards the cross. For that, grace has been planning and sin is plotting.
 Amazed the Disciples.
 l. Mary Criticized, w. 35. Jesus had his inner circle of friends and his favorite places of abode and none was evidently more precious than that home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. In this supreme hour Jesus came to this home to bring it confirmation Of faith and some further spiritual gift. From that time of Peters confession, several months previous, the Lord has constantly reaff1rmed his statement then made, that he must go to Jeru- salem, die, and be raised the third day. This teaching amazed the disciples and filled them with fear. Jesus did not, however, awaken faith and then quench 1t with fear, or allow 1t to Ian guish and die, John 4:46, 54. Now as the darkest hour approaches there ap- peared this one touch of appreciative sympathy. Bethany was of but little dignity but there lived there man who had been raised from the dead Lazarus. There also resided one who brought comfort to the heart of Jesus Mary. She had listened to him, she understood him. believed and loved. seems to have realized that he was really going to his death. What that meant to the hopes and aspirations she seems to have divined, and re alized. more than all others, his view point. How to tell him was her desire. Out of that love she purchased box of ointment representing in value about fifty dollars, an immense sum and the full extent of her treasure. Ordi- nary action will not suffice. The hour and occasion demanded the extraor- dinary. To 1t she yielded herself, lav- ishly pouring upon him the wealth and fragrance of that sacred ointment in- tended for kings. She had sat at his feet, Luke 1O:39. and was ready for this the proper hour for anointing. John 12:7. It was her all, but love does not have the calculating cunning and prudence of Judas.
 "Memorial of Her."
 II. Mary Commended, w. 6-s. The story is beautiful in the record we have of our Lords words. Mary's 8 compensation for the criticism called for by her conduct was the commenda- tion of her Lord. We do not censure the disciples who did not understand but we are thankful for the words of the Master which their criticism called forth. Jesus realized the true mean ing of the act and he named it when he said. She hath done what she could. she hath anointed my body aforehand for burying." Notice that Jesus received the true meaning of her act as for himself, still 1t was for the world. for he said. this that she hath done shall be spoken of for a mem orial of her" This was not merely a reward for Mary, 1t was that her act should be an Inspiration to incite his followers to like activities and atti- tudes throughout all the ages. This is all that is asked of any disciple QI Cor. S:12). Love forgets self, sur roundings, cost or criticism Love pours out itself to the uttermost and fits fragrance fills not alone the house but the whole of creation.
 lIl. Judas Consplres. w. 10, ii. This tender story ends with the terrible ac- count of Judas. He had no sympathy for Mary, primarily because he was not in sympathetic relations with Jesus.
 Jesus had revealed, called forth, the deepest love of Mary's heart In the case of Judas he revealed heart of treachery. Accepting the adorlng anointing of Mary and also perpetu- ating 1t, he at the same time calls forth revelation of that compelling motive of selfishness in the heart of Judas that led to his own self-destruc- tion Contrast these two pictures. We recall the crushed heart of Mary at the death of Lazarus which brought Mary into the closest fellowship with Jesus In her shadow and sorrow she learned to pccr cut her love in sacrificial anointing