Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-21
SUNDAY. SCHOOL LESSON.

tolic band. His professed love for the
love expressed in cash that he could
steal. 1t was his love for money that
prompted him, when rebuked by the
Christ. to betray the Master with
kiss. and sell his friend for thirty
pieces of silver.
In the face of the traitors criticism.
that cut the sensitive soul of Mary, the
Lord Jesus could not be silent. He
Judas and commended the generous
gift of Mary. Christ's commentator
of the devotion of the one who had
been wounded by the unjust criticism
as she knelt at the feet of her Lord
ought to serve as warning to men
who are always finding fault with
those who give. as God prompts them
for the advancement of His Kingdom
Her gift had touched His heart. The
Master proposed and His will has been
carried out during the centuries. that
"wheresoever the gospel shall be
preached throughout the whole world
that also which this woman hath done
shall be spoken of as memorial OF
her"
To the traitors suggestion that the
remainder should be used for the bene-
fit of the poor. which they had been &C
customed to assist from their common
Master replied. Let her keep what
she has a. e.. what she still possesses
of perfume) for the day of my burial
Her gift was worth $50 then. or man
worth nearly $500 today. The proceeds
from it's sale would have been quite
sum for Judas to handle.
| The Master desires that the poor
should always be cared for by HIS lol-
lowers, but in His rebuke of Judas.
Jesus indicated forever the most ex-
travagant gifts, which are made In de-
votion to Him. and condemns the spu,
rious philanthropy, that is not animated
by love for Him" He pointed out that
the spirit of Judas. which is lacking In
love and humanitarian principles. Is
responsible for the existence OF pow
ertv and the neglect of the poor
Christ claimed that Mary's gift was
not wasted. It had cheered Him be-
cause it expressed love and sympathy
with Him in His program to save the
world He taught that gifts are to be
, judged not by the standards OF econo.
mics and efficiency, but the motive or
the heart. Many men decry the waste
in the missionary cause and condemn
the gift of money to advance the king
dom of God. They are like those VINO
loved ones so that the principles of de-
mocracy, government of the people,
for the people and by the people shall
not perish from the earth. The cost OF
the war may be great. but 1t Will not pc
a waste IL America can preserve by the
gifts of blood and Of might the princi-
nies that gave. her birth and happi-
ness and the peace which she mas treas
ured" Mary did what she could and IN
this hour every man and woman should
emulate her devotion to the Lord by
doing all that they can for the glory OF
the Christ. refusing to allow the spirit
of the traitor to make them tools
either of the enemies of our country or
Lord for money.
Judas went away mad because he had
been exposed. He Immediately sought
how he might betray the Christ. The
! people were attracted to the Master by
His approval of Mary's gift. Many of
them accepted Him as the Messiah.
Their new life enabled them to appre
ciate the gratitude Of Mary and the
Lords defense of her spiritual precep-
any by curiosity. desiring to see Laz-
arus. who had been raised from the
dead. and the Lord Jesus. These re
joiced at Christs commentator. as did
democracy at President Wilson's cham
pionship of the cause of the people.
pleading for war that would be free
from hatred of the German people and
for sympathy with those loyal citizens
of German birth who have a greater
test to face than that of the native
American.
The present war is being waged, so
far as America is concerned, against
the autocratic power that would crush
mocracy and the freedom of religious
worship. which is Americas gift to
mankind. The autocratic dictatorial
Pharisees as well as the Sadducean
leaders hated Jesus. the worlds great
democrat. They determined in their
anger to destroy not only the Christ.
but Lazarus. who had just been
snatched from the grave because his
presence was testimony to Christ's
power. Judas the evil minded. selfish.
sordid traitor and thief. found the dis
couraged autocratic ecclesiastics and
plotted to deliver the Christ into their
hands. little dreaming that by so doing
he was an instrument that would help
fulfill the Scripture.
No man wants to leave behind a rec
ord so dark as Judas. All would like
to leave record like Mary. Her meth
cd of doing what she could Is possible
for all. In this crucial hour let all fol-
low her example of generous gifts
prompted by love for the Master. If
every Christian makes the sacrifices
they ought to make the needs for the
support of Christs church, the relief
of the poor, the spread Of the gospel
among all nations and the work of the
Red Cross will all be met and the king
dom of God will be fastened among
men.
It matters little what It is that you
t.~&I - AN~vH ut