White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-08-10
Lesson for August IL.

Lesson text: Luke 10:38-42; Mark
1889. Read also John I'LL to 1873.
Time-A. D. 20. Place-A village,
Bethany, on the east slope of Olivet,
2 miles southeast of Jerusalem.
Golden text: Mary hath chosen the
good part, which shall not be taken
away from her" Luke 10:42.
The study today, taken from the
Perean ministry Of our Lord, presents
the two great women characters,
Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus
1.-THE TWO SISTERS AND JESUS.
Luke 1O:38-42. Among His discipes
was one, whom Jesus loved. Here is
the home that Jesus loved. Doubtless
He spent many happy hours with
these disciples. No home Is rightly
constituted without Christ. His pres
ence reveals great lacks and corrects
unhappy relationships.
Martha evidently was the older Sis
ter. Martha received Him into her
SRSAA
to Him. Jesus said once, "The foxes
have holes, and the birds of the air
live nests but the Son Of man hath
not where to lay His head" The re-
eeiving of the homeless one into her
house" changed it into home.
.Who Also Sat at the Lords Feed"
Mary as a learner took the lowly
position of pupil. Five Marys are
mentioned in the New Testament:
The mother of Jesus, Magdalene, the
wife of Cleopas, the mother Of Mark,
and Mary the sister of Lazarus, named
in this lesson. Christ had been
preaching throughout Galilee and
perea He now breaches in the home.
Family religion is the heart of Chris
tianity.
The "also" intimates that Mary had
assisted in the preparations for suit
ably entertaining Jesus This is fur
Their implied in Martha's words, my
sister did leave me to serve alone"
Mary rightly felt that Jesus would
rather feed her with the bread Of
life, than feast Himeslf on temporal
dainties. We know He forgot His own
hunger in talking to the woman OF
Samaria. Mary instinctiyely under
stood Jesus Paul "sat" at GamaliePs
feet (Acts 22:3).
"And heard" "Was listening" indi-
eating her spiritual attitude towards
the great teacher. When Jesus teach
es, we should "be swift to hear" GAS.
i:19). Mary made the most OF pres
emit opportunities. Heard His word" "
To hear Christ's word means life.
"To hear" the worlds teachers means
death. The greatest teachers Of his
tory have "sat at Jesus feet" In her
sorrow, MARY fell down at Jesus
feet" John 11:32). Had she not
learned previously the way to the
Source of Life, she would have been
helpless and hopeless, confronted by
death
"Cumbered." The literal Greek is
distracted" Martha was distracted
with Notwithstanding anxieties. On
account of being numbered about
much serving" Martha did not hear
the word Yet the Son of God was
speaking it. The outward service Of
God distracts the mind of many a
loving Christian. Martha was work
ing for Jesus; Mary was having fell
Iowship with Jesus. Martha was con-
cerned about things; Mary was con-
cerned about one person, Jesus.
Martha evidently had her heart set
on having fine meal; but for once
she was serving man, who could
not be reached through his stomach"
Jesus was not the only such man. The
popular proverb is a lie. Love
prompted Martha's service. Pride
guided her in it. Envy of her sisters
enjoyment destroyed even the love
i'm it. Vanity defeated the purpose OF
lit all. Martha was in contact with
Christ, but Mary was in communion
with Him. CHRIST naQ COME 10 COIL
mune with them Trifles may become
tragedies. Let us meet divinely ap-
pointed trouble in the path of duty
bravely and trustfully, but let us not
create troubles for ourselves and
others. Millions are pining in want,
while Christians are seeking after
dainties.
Lord, dost Thou not care?" Martha
begins reyerently, but becomes dis
courteous. Those in the wrong are
sometimes the first to appeal to God
Sometimes we, like Martha, get vexed
at God, when distracted with our
much serving. At that very moment
Mary was serving Jesus in a better
way than Martha. Martha's words i'm
piled rebuke to Jesus, as we'll as ar
unkind criticism of her sister. She as
sumes that Jesus is to charge Him
self with the right behaviour of the
family and that He would be as much