The Springdale news., 1917-04-20

she could.-Mk. l4:s
 This is lesson of Jesus in the home. It occurred at the beginning of passion week. We have before us the 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 o1 selfishness. Out of this lesson let Us learn to look through unselfish eyes
 l. Unjust Criticism (vv 1-6). It is siE 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
 he chief priests and elders with Jul das, who came to his determination tG 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 (JcEa 4 :54). Jesls oaa Very God of Very God, yet he was very much of real man; therefore he en. joyed the pleasures of home us much as other men, and the joys of kinshiI and brotherhood.
 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 Il safer guide of con. duet than the calculating prudence ot Judas and the other disciples (see Matt. 26 :S1. 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 Vt read that the house was filled witt odor."
 (3) A Standard of Good Deeds (Mark II :S). "She did what she could" and we have also the record of good deeds. Il memorial to her (Mark 14 :9). A large number of peo- pie who never give of their own to the poor nor to the kingdom of God are out of the gratitude of their loving hearts.
 II. Gracious Commentator (vv 7-1D. Jesus praised where his disci- ples and Judas criticized. The poor they always had with them (Mark 14:O. This must have been a chal. lenge that evidently they had not at. 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 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, "1et 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 her?' 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 b, 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 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