Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-08-09
LESSON FOR AUGUST IL
MARTHA AND MARY

LESSON TExT-Luke 1o:ss-42; John
11:1-46; John 12:1-e.
GOLDEN TExT-"Mary hath chosen
that good part which shall not be taken
away from her"-Luke 1o:42-
REFERENCE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
s1:10-31.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Two Loyal Friends
Of Jesus.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Martha and Mary
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC--True Friendship Shown by Martha
and Mary.
Home Problems Illustrated by Mar
tina and Mary
In order to properly understand
these two characters, 1t will be neces-
sary to look at the several narratives
In which they are brought to our view.
These are three in number.
!. The Behavior of Martha and Mary
In the Days of Sunshine. duke 10 49,
42.)
In this picture we see Martha en-
gagged in preparing meal for Jesus.
In her effort to make the best prepare
ton for her honored guest, she became
distracted. She not only was cum
bered with much serving but she found
fault with Mary for not helping her.
She even censured the Lord for per-
hitting such neglect Martha has had
her followers in all ages. Every church
knows them. The busy, troubled and
fussy women who are engaged In serv-
ice for the Lord with little patience
for those who sit at the feet Of Jesus.
Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard His
word. She had taken her turn in the
service as the word ''also" would i'm
ply. She did not neglect service, but
had the keenness of perception to dis
Germ that communion with the Lord
was more priced by Him than the serv-
ing Of meal. Both of these women
loved the Lord and 1t is impossible to
say which loved Him more. In the
days Of sunshine in this home, Mary
made the good choice Of communion
with her Lord
II. Mary and Martha In tho Day Of
Great Sorrow. (John IL ;1-46.)
The next scene which occupies our
attention is the occasion Of the resur-
rection of Lazarus. In the time of the
sickness Of Lazarus, these sisters had
sent for Jesus. Jesus loved the mem
bers Of this household, and yet, strange
TO say, He delayed His going unto
them. Martha met Him with rebuke,
saying that If He had been there her
brother had not died. This carried
with 1t the censure for His delay un-
der such trying circumstances. This
act of Martha called forth some mar
velous teachings on the resurrection.
After this interview with Martha, she
came to Mary with the message Of
call from Jesus. Mary was composed
and remained in the house until called
for. She Immediately responded to
this call and used the identical words
Of Martha, but instead of rebuking
her, He mingled His tears Of sympathy
with hers of sorrow. The reason she
had such composure in this dark hour
was that she had patiently sat at His
feet and listened to His word so that
she understood the meaning of the
tragedy. The difference then In the
behavior of these two women in this
dark hour was doubtless due to the
fact that In the days Of sunshine Mary
had entered fully into fellowship with
the Lord and that Martha had lost this
grace through her fretfulness.
III. Jesus Entertained at Bethany.
John :1-9.)
At this supper appeared Mary,
Martha and Lazarus, who was raised
from the dead. Doubtless this supper
was in grateful appreciation of His
help and sympathy in the days Of their
trial. At this meal Martha was back
at her old business Of serving, but 1t
would seem with an unruffled disposi-
ton. Mary took pound Of spikenard.
very costly, and Amounted the feet Of
Jesus and wiped them with her hair.
This was token of her great love and
devotion. She was back In her ac-
customed place at the feet of Jesus
With the keentintuition of true love.
she brought her costliest gift as an evil
dence Of her love. She thus antici-
pated His death and burial, knowing
that she could not minister unto Him
then. The Lord received this act Of
love at its full value. Against the
foul criticism of Judas, Jesus defended
Mary He declared that 1t was no
more a waste than the ointment
placed on the bodies of the dead
In embalmment. In fact it was the
doing Of this very act beforehand unto
Him. Only Mary of all His disciples
had really understood Jesus when He
said He must be crucified and raised
again the third day. The announce
ment Of His crucifxion brought unto
the others dismay. They refused to
believe in the resurrection, but Mary
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