The Glenwood post., 1923-08-09
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Su!GldaySchoel q
' Lesson '
,By REV. p. B. FITzwATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright. 1898. Western Newspaper UnisA
LESSON FOR AUGUST IL
MARTHA AND MARY

LESSON TEXT-Luke 10:38-42; John
11:1-46; John 1919
GOLDEN TEXT-"Mary hath chosen
that good part which shall not be taken
away from her."-Luke 1912.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Proverb
81.16-81.
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, 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 10:3S-
| 42.)
In this picture we see Martha en-
gagged in preparing a meal for Jesus
In her effort to make the best prepara-
! 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
cern that communion with the Lord
was more priced by Him than the serv-
ing of a 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 :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 it 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, sht
came to Mary with the message of
call from Jesus. Mary was composed
and remained in the house until Gale,
for. She Immediately responded t
this call and used the identical word
of Martha, but instead of rehuklni
her, He mingled His tears of sympath
with hers of sorrow. The reason sh
had such compOsure in this dark hou
was that she had patiently sat at Hi
feet and listened TO His word so tina
she understood the meaning of tn
tragedy. The difference then in tn
behavior of these two women in thi
dark hour was doubtless due to tn
fact that In the days of sunshine Mnr
had entered fully into fellowship wit
the Lord and that Martha had lost thi
grace through her fretfulness.
III. Jesus Entertained at Bethany
(John :1-9)
, AT this supper appeared Mar!
. Martha and Lazarus, who was raise
from the dead. Doubtless this suppC
was in grateful appreciation of HI
' help and sympathy in the days of the
trial. At this meal Martha was bac
at her old business of serving but
would seem with an unrutIled dispos
ton. Mary took pound of spikenart
very costly, and annointed the feet {
Jesus and wiped them with her hal
} This was IA token of her great love an
devotion. She was back in Ler n
customed place at the feet of Jesu
With the keen intuition OF true lov
she brought her costllest gift rs an ey
. dence of her love. She thus antic
Il pated His death and burial, KNOWN
that she could not minister unto HI
then. The Lord received this act
love ut its full value. Against III
Il foul criticism of Judas, Jesus defendC
, Mary. He declared that 1t was {
more n waste than the ointmel
" placed on the bodies of the dea
e In embalmment. In fact II was II
) doing of this very act beforehand uni
, Him. Only Mary Of all His disciple
{ had really understood Jesus when II
IL said He must be cruclfied and raise
again the third day The announc
l. ment of His crucifixion brought uni
y the others dlsmay. They refused
p believe in the resurrection, but Mar
came to annoint His body for buryln