The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-04-20
LESSON FOR APRIL e
JESUS AssoINrEO At sETHAssv.

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LESSON TExT-John l11-f1
GOLDEN rExr-0he bath done what
she could-Mk. 1A:2
This h . lesson Of Jesus In ths
home. II occurred at the beginning Of
passion week. We have before M the
master; the worker. Martha the wor-
shipper, Mary; tho witness, lazarus;
the treitor, Judas. and the people with
out. An unconscious bit Of wisdom
fell from the lips OF that good house
wife who exclaimed, "How much bet
ter my neighbour houses look when I
have my windows clean, Too much
We are looking through the eyes Of
selnshness. Out of this lesson let MS
learn to look through unselfish eyes.
!. Unjust Criticism wv. 1-6). It IN
six days before Jesus last Passover.
The accounts Of Matthew and Marx
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 reprimand
given him ON this occasion.
~ The Value Of Good pesds. Je-
sus did not forget, in the supreme
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 nourfsh 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
acie (John 4:54). Jesus was Very
God of Very God. yet he was very
much Of q real man; therefore he en-
joyed the pleasures Of home as much
az other men. and the Joys Of kinship
and brotherhood.
(2) The Wealth Of Good Decide. Out
Of her love Mary expended $51, prob
ably her whole treasure, in the pur-
chase Of this alabaster box, and put
It aside to use It upon him at the
proper dime. 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. 20 ~. Such deeds are always
looked upon with suspicion. The Isca-
riots usually are the leaders in criti-
cizing the actions Of others. Envy lay
at the bottom OF their criticism, but
good deeds are unconscious, for we
read that 'tthe house was filled with
odoe..
(S) a Standard Of Coed Dssds
OZARK 14:6); "She did what she
could" and we have also the record
Of good deeds. memorial to her
Mark 14:0). A large number OF peo-
pie who never give Of their own to the
poor nor to the kingdom Of God are
Hilling to criticize others who do give
out Of the gratitude Of their loving
hearts.
u. Gracious cemmsndatlon wv.
lily. Jesus praised where his disci-
pies and Judas criticised. The poor
they always had with them OZARK
1z:7). This must have been q chal-
lenge that evidently they had not at
tended to the poor AZ they should.
Jesus also tells them frankly that
whatever they do for him they must
do speedily. Jesus judgment upon
Judas IL a rebuke of the disciples: his
exposure Of the sophlstry Of the crit
ics and Of their subtlety II suggestive.
Upon Mary's act he bestowed the
highest possible praise. "She hath
done what she could" That Is all that
il asked Of anyone III Cor. :12). Such
commendation az Jesus bestowed upon
Mary he bestowed upon no other, and
his wonderful predictions concerning
her (Afatt. % :13) have been literally
fulfilled. Jesus judgment upon Mary
is also suggestive. He shielded her,
.Iet 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
forth Of her hearts alteration and wor-
ship. Martha wins In part taken up
with her household service. Lazarus
was In part taken up with his enjoy
ment Of the presence of Jesus, but
Mary was wholly taken up with Jesus
himself. Does the record surprise us :
''Wheresoever this gospel shall be
preached throughout the whole world,
this also which she hath done shall be
spoken Of for a memorial OF herT'