The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-31
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
For June 2 is Jesus Warns and Com
forts His Friends"-Mark 13:1-14:9.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS

Loves Lavishness.
Wars wonders include the open
purse of the people. Such giving Tor
the great cause as has been witnessed
of late has set an entirely new stano-
ard for all financial transactions. even
in the realm of high finance. Billions
of dollars have been lavishly out
poured by loving and loyal hearts.
There is no cause, touching the well
fare of our sailors and soldiers. that
may not count upon the unstlnted
benevolence of the people. we may
measure the depth of the passions OF
patriotism and purpose that prevail IN
our land by the measureless magn1-
tude of our peoples sacrifices ana
gifts. One r. calls the incident OF long
ago, which IS the present Sunday
school lesson, when Jesus made an
mortal the lavishness of love.
Then an ardent, impetuous. CRATE
full disciple, a woman whose near.
brimmed over, with love, lavished
upon the Restorer of her brother. a
precious ointment that could have been
sold for $50 il gold, as we rate money,
or that was the equivalent OF year s
wages for a workingman of the time.
or that was wor n one-third more than
the sum which he disciple estimated
! to be necessary to feed five thousand.
The treasurer of the college of apos-
ties resented what he called the waste
fulness of the deed; his idea was that
the monetary standard was supreme
and that the most important thing for
the incipient church to consider was
| it's source of financial income.
| 1t is rather. interesting that these
| two we'll known Bible characters,
| Mary and Judas. should each be re-
| membered largely for one incident,
| and that one incident having to do
with an estimate of moneys worth.
r., he, oh he ,-ia frao q c
best spent in pouring it forth as a
| fragrant amounting for the Master she
| loved. Judas thought thirty pieces OF
silver-iar less than the cost of Mary's
alabaster cruise of nard-of more
value than his Lords life, plus his
own honor and fidelity and salava-
ton.
| The Aftermath OF a Miracle.
This incident occurred at at feast
given by Simon, a healed ieper. II
| was a scandal in the eyes of the aus
| tere relgionists of his time that Jesus
came eating and drinking and sharing
the common life of the people; but
this is today His glory. for it has sane
| titled the ordinary relations of mer
and women. their joys as well as then
sorrows. Christianity is as normal and
| appropriate at feast as at a funeral
J The happiest persons at this par.
| ticular festivity were the members OF
| the Bethany home whittier the weary
| Christ was accustomed to resort
whose head, Lazarus, had been raised
from the dead by Him. The presence
of both Jesus and Lazarus at the
feast made the occasion really sensa-
tiona1. What a peeping in at the
doors and windows there must have
| been, and what a curious crowd gath.
cred to see the guests arrive and de.
part. This man who had been dead
and buried four days, and then made
| live again was as much an object OF
| interest as the Miracle-Worker him.
self.
The importance of this particular
miracle is not to be overlooked. Il
| tremendously stimulated interest II
Jesus. 1T increased the number of Hi.
disciples, and it is given as the direcI
cause of the triumphal entry. More.
| over, 1t intensified the bitterness o,
Christ's enemies. They included Laz
arus in their hate. and would have pu
him to death also, because the testi
mony of his resurrection was so pow
erful an argument for the divinity o.
the Nazarene. The price paid fol
Christ's friendship is always the en-.
nifty of His enemies. They who woult
reign with Him must also suffer with
/ Him.
| Contrasts at a Feast.
Life is not as simple as in our youth
1ul we DcileN6 IL 10 De. Edcl
days newspaper contains, side by side
I tragedies and rejoicings, failures ant
successes, sorrows and joys: and it,
marriage and death notices are al
ways grouped together. This Bethan,
feast was picture of life. There wa
the deep and wondering joy over tn,
restoration of Lazarus, chastened b,
memories of the grea- sorrow of hi
death. There was also seen the tran
scending love of Mary who, by tn,
| way, must not be confounded will
Mary Magdalene. nor with the sinfu
woman who anointed Jesus at anothe
feast-and in sharp contrast to thi
was the greed of sordid- minded Ju
das. These were the common run o
people, and the exalted Spirit who wa
incarnate God. All gathered abou
Simon's table, merged into the on,
world. and yet each a world in him
self.
4 1t is suggestive that these divers
interests found their common meet
ing point in the person of Jesus Fo
in Him all the conditions and classe
and races of mankind are discover
ing a common center. The world
|, great point Of agreement is the Ma