New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-04-20

This Is a 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, "How much bet
ter my neighbors' houses look when
have my windows clean" Too much
we are looking through the eyes of
s~elfishness. Out of this lesson let us
learn to look through unselish eyes.
l.. Unjust Criticism wv. 1-6). 1t Is
six days before Jesus last Passover.
The accounts Of Matthew and Mark
suggest it 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.
C) 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 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-
joyed the pleasures of home as much
as other men, and the joys of kinshlp
and brotherhood. To none of the
hearts In this home did he bring
greater JOY than to that of Mary. She,
more than all others, listened to him,
understood him, believed in him,
loved him, and we read ". - that
her m~inistration was Of ointment
very precious" This suggests self
sacrifice, that love gives of its best,
that the results Of love are always
to be manifest not upon self but upon
others.
(2) The Wealth Of Good Deeds. Out
of her love Mary expended SOL, 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 time. We do not think that she
stopped to calculate the cost of this
ointment. Love never estimates value.
Her deed proved n 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 criti-
the actions of others. Envy lay
at the bottom of their criticism, but
good deeds are unconscious, for we
read that the house was filled with
The comment was MARK
400, "She hath done a good work
upon me" (AIatt. 5:4O). On doer
and recipient love did Il good deed.
Her act has also become
(3) A Standard of Good Deeds
Mark 14:S) /; "She did what she
and we have also the record
Of good deeds, Il memorial to her
(Mark II :9). A large number of peo-
pie who never give of their own to the
poor nor to the kingdom of God are
to criticize others who do give
out of the gratitude of their loving
hearts.
u. Gracious Commentator wv.
I-11). Jesus praised where his disci-
)les and Judas criticized. The poor
hey always had with them Mark
10. This must have been a chal-
enge that evidently they had not at
ended to the poor as they should.
Icsus also tells them frankly that
whatever they do for him they must
10 speedily. Jesus judgment upon
Judas is Il rebuke of the disciples; his
Exposure of the sophistry of the crit
cs and of their subtlety is suggestive.
Upon Mary's act he bestowed the
highest possible praise. she hath
what she could" That is all that
$ asked of anyone (II Cor. S:12). Such
piillltiludlloh as oCSuS DtSlON GU uIou
larry he bestowed upon no other, and
lis wonderful predictions concerning
Ier Matt. 26 13) have been literally
UTILIZED. Jesus judgment upon Mary
5 also suggestive. He shielded her,
let her alone;" He approved her
as being good, and he inter-
her innermost purpose in the
ct which she had performed. This
utward act was literally the pouring
orth of her hearts alteration and wor-
hip. Martha was in part taken up !
18th her household service. Lazarus
as in part taken up with his enjoy q,
lent of the presence of Jesus, but a.,
was wholly taken up with Jesus ,
imself. Does the record surprise us: .
Wheresoever this gospel shall he :
throughout the whole world, :
his also which she hath done shall be Z
poken of for a memorial of herr" :
udas, under the judgment of Jesus, 8
as stung Matt. &c :14) and nurries 8
t once to the enemies of Jesus to =
rike a bargain with them for the be- !
dsdi vi his Lulu tiouSn he ulu not [
from these enemies the equiva- t
mt of what she had poured upon him.
hrist will b, no mans debtor. He
Ikes the poor offerings we lay before
m, and crowns them with the rich
It reward. Mary's gift of ointment
words of commentator of |
hich she never dreamed, and a re-
ard far beyond her fondest hope. and c