The Green Forest tribune., 1917-04-20

passion week. We have before us the master; the worker, Martha; the wor. shiper, 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 selfshness. Out of this lesson let us learn to look through unselfish eyes.
 l. Unjust Criticism (vv. 1-6). It 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 Jul das, who came to his determination to sell his Master after the reprimand given him on this occasion.
 CD 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 :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 as other men, and the joys of kinship 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 (y. 3 that her ministration 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 S51, prob ably her whole treasure, in the pur- chase of this alabaster box, and put 1t 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 a safer guide of con- duct than the calculating prudence of Judas and the other disciples (See Matt. 26:S :S). 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 "the house was filled with odor." The comment was (Mark 4:6), "She hath done good work upon me" (Matt. 25 :40). On doer and recipient love did good deed. Her act has also become
 (3) A Standard Of Good Deeds (Mark 14:8); "She did what she could" and we have also the record of good deeds, memorial to her (Mark IA :9). 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.
 II. Gracious Commentator (vv. 7-11). Jesus praised where his disci- pies and Judas criticized. The poor they always had with them (Mark 14;D. This must have been a chal- tended to the poor as they should. Jesus also tells them frankly that whatever they do for him they must do speedily. Jesus judgment upon Judas is rebuke of the disciples; his exposure of the sophistry of the crit ics 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 that is asked of anyone UI Cor. 8 :12). Such commendation 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 is also suggestive. He shielded her, s"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 adoration 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, 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 memorial of herr" Judas, under the judgment of Jesus, was stung (Matt. 26:14) and hurries at once to the enemies of Jesus to strike a bargain with them for the be- trayal of his Lord though he did not secure from these enemies the equiva- lent of what she had poured upon him. Christ will bN 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 a re- ward far beyond her fondest hope, and has been the fount of countless deeds rich with love. Many people had gath cred, not only for Jesus sake, but that they might see Lazarus also. He | drew people because of what Jesus had done for him, yet he drew them to Jesus. This brought him also under