The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-04-19
INTERNATIONAL,
,SUNl6YSC[lOOL,
LESSON
<9y E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union }
LESSON FOR APRIL 22
JESUS AMOUNTED At BETHANY.

! LESSON TEXT--John 12:1-11
/ GOLDEN TEXr--She hath done what
, Bhe could.--Mk. 1873
! This is Il lesson of Jesus In the
home. 1t occurred ut the beginning OF
! passion week. We have before us the
master; the worker, Martha; the wor-
shipper, Mary; the witness, Lazarus;
I the traitor, Judas, and the people with
out. An unconscious bit OF wisdom
fell from the lips Of thut good house
wife who exclaimed, "Iiow much bet
| ter my neighbOrs' houses look when
have my windows clean" Too much
we are looking through the eyes Of
! Selfishness. Out of this lesson let us
learn to look through unselflSh eyes.
!. Unjust Crticism wv. 1-G). 1t Is
six days before Jesus last Passover.
The accounts OF Matthew and Mark
suggest 1t to have been within two
days, because they mentioned this
feast after telling of the conspiracy OF
the chief priests and elders with Ju-
das, who came to his determination to
sell his Master after the repriInnnd
given him on this occasion.
(D The Value Of Good Deeds. Je-
hour Of his life, the friends whom he
loved. TO bring them some further
spiritual gifts, he had come to their
home In Bethany. Doubtless he also
had In mind the desire to nourish the
faith which had been kindled in the
hearts of all by the resurrection of
Lazarus, just as he returned to Cana
after having performed his first mir
acle (John 4:54). Jesus was Very
God Of Very God, yet he was very
much Of a real man; therefore he en-
toyed the pleasures Of home as much
as other men, and the joys Of klnship
and brotherhood.
(2) The Wealth Of Good Deeds. Out
Of her love Mary expended SOL, prob
ably her whole treasure, In the pur-
chase Of this alubaster box, and put
it aside to use it upon him ut the
!, proper time. We do not think that she
stopped TO calculate the cost Of this
ointment. Love never estimates value.
. Her deed proved safer guide of con-
duct than the calculating prudence Of
Judas and the other disciples (see
Matt. 2G:S). Such deeds are always
{ looked upon with suspicion. The Isca.
riots usually are the leaders in crlti
ciZing the actions Of others. Envy la,
> Mt the bottom of their criticism, but
good deeds are unconscious, for we
read that "the house was filled with
odor."
, (3) A Standard Of Good Deeds
, mark 14:8); "She did what she
could" and we have also the record
or good deeds, a memorial to her
(Mark 4:O. A large number Of peo-
pie who never give Of their own to the
poor nor to the kingdom of God are
willing to criticize others who do give
out OF the gratitude Of their loving
hearts.
u. Gracious Commendation wv.
I-ll). Jesus praised where his disci-
pies and Judas criticized. The poor
they always had with them Mark
l4:O. This must have been q chnl-
lenge that evidently they had not at.
tended to the poor as they should.
Jesus also tells them frankly that
Whatever they do for him they must
40 speedily. jesus Judgment upon
Judas Is rebuke of the disciples his
exposure Of the sophistry of the crit
les and of their subtlety is suggestive.
Upon Mary's act he bestowed the
highest possible praise. "She hath
done what She could" That is all thut
IS asked OF anyone UI Cor. 8 :12). Such
commentator as Jesus bestowed upon
Mary he bestowed upon no other, and
his wonderful predictions concerning
her (Matt. 26:13) have been literally
fulfilled. Jesus Judgment upon Mary
L. IL.
let her alone;" He approved her
works as being good, and he inter
preted her innermost purpose in the
act which She had performed. This
outward act was literally the pouring
Iorth or her hearts alteration and wor-
snip. Martha was in part taken uD
| with her household service. Lazarus
was IN part taken up with his enjoy
lhent or the presence Of Jesus, but
mary was wholly taken up with Jesus
himself. Does the record surprise us:
| NheresoeVer this gospel Shall be
preached throughout the whole world,
this also which she hath done shall be
spoken OF for a memorial OF hcr?"
Judas, under the judgment OF Jesus,
was stung (Nfatt. ZG :14) and hurries
Mt once to the enemies of Jesus to
strike bargain with them for the be-
trayal Of his Lord though he did not
secure from these enemies the cuuiva.
lent of what she had poured upon him.
Christ Will b, no mans debtor. He
takes the poor offerings we lay before
him, and crowns them with the rich
est reward. Mary's gift Of ointment
received words Of commendation Of
which she never dreamed, and re-
ward far beyond her fondest hope, and
has been the fount of countless deeda