The Dolores star., 1923-08-10
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SunrdaySc1oel
' Lesson '
,Bv REV. p. u. FITZwATER. p; D..
rS.,rr.r Of EugIish Bible In the Moody
Biple lnstltute OF Chicago)
copyriEht IbsJ. western Sswspsp-r oh'sA
LESSON FOR AUGUST IL
MARTHA AND MARY

LESSON TFyNT-Luke io;as-i2: JOIN
il.I-l6: John 12.I-9
GOLDEN TEXT-"Mary hath chosen
that good part which shall not be taken
away from hcr."-Lukc lOE2
REFERENCE MATERiAI-Proverh
3ls1O-9t
PRIMARY TOPIC-Two Loyal Friends
OF Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Martha and Mary.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-True Friendship Shown by Martha
and Mary
Young PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Home Problems illustrated by Mar
tina and Mary.
In order to properly understand
these two characters, It will be neces-
sary to look al the several narratives
In which they are brought to our view.
These nre three in plumber.
|. The Behavior Of Martha and Mary
in the Days OF Sunshine. duke 10 :3S-
49,
In this picture we see Martha en-
gagged in preparing n meal for Jesus.
In her effort to make the best prepara-
tlun for her honored guest, she became
~
bercd with much serving but she found
fault with Mary for not helping her.
She even censured the Lord for per
mltting such neglect. Martha has had
her followers in all ages Every church
knows them. The busy, troubled and
fussy women who Hre engaged In serv-
Ice for the Lord with little patience
F4 ,gs1t ct a. "A -
Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard His
word. She had taken her turn in the
service rs the word "also" would i'm
ply, She did not neglect service, but
hud the keenncss Of perception to dis
CcTn thut communion with the Lord
was more priced by Him than the serv-
ing II meal. Both Of these women
loved the Lord and It 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 the Day Of
Great Sorrow. (John II :l-46.)
Tho next scene which occupies our
attention Is the occasion Of the resur-
rcctinn Of Lazarus. In the time of the
sickness Of Lazarus, these sisters had
sent for Jesus. Jesus loved the mem
hers uf this household, and yet. strange
to say, He delayed His going unto
them. Martha met Him with rcbuke,
saying that If He had been there her
brother had not died This carried
with II the censure for His delay un-
der such trying circumstances. This
act of Martha called forth some mar
Yelous teachings on the resurrection.
After this interview with Martha, she
came to Mary with the message of Il
call from Jesus. Mary was composed
ana remained In the house until called
for She Immediately responded to
TINS 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 c-mposure In this dark hour
was that she had patiently sat at His
rect and listened 20 His word so that
she understood the meaning of the
tragedy. The difference then in the
behavior of these two women in this
dnrk hour was doubtless due to the
fact that in the days of sunshine Mary
lnd entered fully into fellowship with
the Lord and that Martha had lost this
grace through her fretfulness.
III. Jesus Entertained at Bethany
tJohn 1:l-9D
Al inns supper appeared Mary,
Martin and Lazarus. who was raised
IRON the dead. Doubtless this sumner
was IN grateful appreciation of His
hclp ana sympathy in the days of their
trlhi AT this meal Martha was back
nj her old business of serving. but n
would seem with an unrufIled disnos,-
'ioh' Mary took pound Of spikenard,
Ner! costly, and annolnted the feet of
Jesus and wiped them with her hair
lhis was token Of her great love and
devotion. She was back I'm her ac.
customed place at the feet OF Jesus
win the keen Intuition of true love
she Drought her costliest gift as an evil
dence Of her love. She thus antic,.
pated His death and burial. knowing
mat she could not minister unto Him
theh' Ihe Lord received this act of
io'e nj Its full value. Against the
foul criticism Of Judas, Jesus defended
Mary. lie declared that 1t was no
more waste than the ointment
placed on the bodies of the dead
In embalnment. In fact 1t was the
ao'hg OF this very act beforehand unto
,i'in' only Mary Of all His dlsc,ples
iau really understood Jesus when He
said He must be cruclfied and raised
"s"i' the third day. The announce
.,leht or Ills crucifixlon brought unto
,he others dismay. They refused to
oe'leSe In the resurrection. but Mary
'"''e 10 nnnoint His body for burying