The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-04-19

| Lesson ZEN I-JOhn lE.l-u.
GOLDEN TEXT-She hath done what
she could.-Mk. N:S
This is lesson of Jesus in the
home. 1t occurred at the beginning OF
passion week. We have before us the
master: the worker Martha the wor
shipper, Mary; the witness, Lazarus
the traitor. Judas. and the people with
| out. An unconscious bit of wisdom
| fell from the lips Of that 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
| selfishncsS. out of this lesson let us
| learn to look through unSeltish eyes
!. Unjust Criticism Wv. 1-6). Ii is
six days before Jesus last Passover
| The accounts of Matthew and Mark
suggest ii to have been within tive
| days. because they mentioned this
| feast after telling of the conspiracy of
he chief priests and elders with Ju
das, who came to his determination td
sell his Master after the reprimand
| given him on this occasion.
% The Value Of Good Deeds. 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 10 their
| home in Bethany. Doubtless he also
| had in mind the desire TO nourish the
faith which had been kindlcd In the
| hearts of all by the resurrection of
Lazarus, just as he returned IL Cana
after having performed his first mir,
acle (John 4 :54). Jesus Was Very
God of Very God. Yet he WIS very
much of real man: therefore he en-.
! ioyed the pleasures Of home rs much
| as other men. and the joys Of kinshiI
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 nlabaSter box. and put
! 1t aside To use ii upon him mt the
| proper time. We do not think that she
! stopped 10 calculate the cost of this
| ointment. Love never estimates value
! Her deed proved II safer guide of con.
| duct than the calculating prudence Of
Judas and the other disciples (see
| Matt. 26 81. Such deeds are always
! looked upon with suspicion. The lSca,
| riots usually ARE the leaders In criti.
| Ching the actions of others. Envy lay
ut the bottom of their criticism. but
| good deeds are unconscious, for We
read that the house WAS filled with
odor."
(3l A Standard OF Good Deeds
! MARK II ~ she did what She
| could" and We have also the record
of good deeds. Il memorial Ia her
| MARK l4:9D. \ large number Of peo-
! pie who never give Of their own Ia the
| poor nor 10 the kingdom of God are
willing 10 criticize others who do give
out of the gratitude of their loving
! hearts.
II. Gracious Commentator wv.
| I'D. Jesus praised where his disci.
| Piles and Judas criticized. The poor
! they always had With them (Mark
IA -. This must have been n chal.
lenge that evidently they had not at
tended TO the poor ms they should,
whatever they do for him they must
do speedily. Jesus Judgment upon
Judas Is a 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
dune what she could" That Is all that
T., 4. a 80 a Il
commentator AS Jesus bestowed upon
Mary he bestowed upon no other. and
| his wonderful predictions concerning
her (Matt. ~ :13) have been literally
fulfilled. Jesus Judgment upon Mary
is also suggestive. He shielded her.
"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
! forth OF her hearts alteration and wor-
| ship. Martha was In part taken up
with her household service. Lazarus
was In part taken up with his enjoy.
ment OF the presence of Jesus. bur
Mary was wholly taken up with Jesus
himself. Does the record surprise us:
wv hcresoever this gospel shall be
preached throughout the whole world,
| this also which she hath done shall he
| spoken of for memorial OF her.
Judas. under the Judgment of Jesus,
was stung (Matt. ii I'D and nurries
ut once Ia the enemies Of Jesus 10
strike "A bargain with them for the be-
trayal OF his Lord though he did not
secure from these enemies the equiya-
| lent of what she. had poured upon him.
| Christ viii b. no mans debtor. He
| takes the poor offerings we lay before
! him. ana crowns them with the rich
| est reward. Mary's gift OF ointment
| received words Of commentator of
Il. IL. a