Evening star., 1928-06-02

but what thou wilt. Mark 1876.
Jesus knew that His enemies were de-
'rmined to put Him to death when He
1T the temple after His controversy
18th His foes, that we have considered
II our lessons for the past two weeks.
he turned to Bethany, where. in the
rying hours through which He was
passing. the Lord knew He would find
sympathy and spiritual understanding
among His friends in the home of Laz-
aruS and his sisters, Mary and Martha.
In the shelter of that home, which was
about two miles away from the temple,
'the Master rested and received tie help,
aid and encouragement from at least
one who recognized her Lords need.
Mary possessed the natural intuition
Of a woman and the spiritual expert
ence that enabled her to grasp the
meaning of the Masters final break
with the ecclesiastical and political
powers. She detected the significance
in His changed attitude toward His dis
ciples and friends in view of His ap-
preaching death, which Jesus knew was
only few hours away It was while
He was being entertained at the eve
ming meal in the home of Simon the
leper that Mary, by her spontaneous
and self-sacrificing act of breaking over
Christs body her most precious possess
sion. an alabaSter box of perfume, re-
vealed her deep personal love for the
Master. MaryS generous act resulted
in her being criticiesd by Judas for
wasting the ointment. The covetous
treasurer could see no good in anything
that did not bring him some personal
gain. Evidently others shared with
Judas in thinking that it should have
been used for the poor. Our Lord rec
ognized the motive of Mary's act and
defended her service, because she had
done Him good work, and prophcsied
that it would 'be spoken OF for a mo-
mortal of her. By doing what she
could Mary did more for the poor than
what her ointment would have done.
Three of the four gospels use this Beth
any experience as a prelude to Christ S
passion, for Judas Immediately went
into the city and agreed to betray the
Lord TO His enemies.
The Passover Observed.
While Jesus had an enemy within the
circle Of His friends whose love for
money caused him to become a traitor.
the Master had some unknown friends
dominated by His enemies. His apostles
evidently did not know anything about
Christ's secret arrangements with an
unknown friend who had placed at His
disposal the choicest room in his home
for our Lord 70 keep the Passover with
His apostles. The appointed meeting
place. the means Of identification and
the carefully selected password reveals
the difficulty that the unknown friend
understood Jesus faced and his willing
ness TO give the Master the use OF his
guest chamber. even IL every other home
was closed against Him 1t was large
upper room. specially arranged for the
Paschal supper-furnished with a table
on which to spread the meal and with
the couches arranged about it upon
which the Lord and His apostles could
recline while they we're eating the Pass
over meal
The preparation Of the supper called
for the purchase Of lamb-a male
a year old and free from blemishes-
and the carrying OF the same 10 the
temple, where 1t was slain and its blood
caught by one of the priests and cast
upon the altar. They had 10 procure
unleayened bread, and bitter herbs and
wine. and the materials for the sauce
<
called the "chsroseth." vas mixture
Of vinegar figs, dates. almonds and
spice. Into it the bitter herbs, the
bread and the meat were dipped when
they ware eating. It took the best part
Of the day 70 roast the lamb. which
was done by thrusting spit Of pome-
granite wood through IT Iengthwise. and
another transyersely, the two forming
a cross. which the early Christians"
supposed prehgured Calvary. When all
was completed Christ and the twelve
partook Of their first and last passover.
Without the unknown friend kept
watch at the door TO protect Jesus and
the twelve. keeping the Lord free from
any disturbance for the time spent
under his roof.
While they were eating Jesus warned
the twelve of His coming betrayal by
member Of the apostolic band. He
tried By warning Judas Of the conse-
quences Of his act 10 keep him from
betraying Him and acting the part Of
a traitor. In the Near East eating
together cemented friendship and was
recognition Of social equality. but
the appeal TO the better side of Judas
failed, although all Of the others feared
lest they might be the one VINO would
betray their Lord asking Him. rs II
II" The safest way for AS all To live
as we ought is To recognize the pos
sibility OF our betraying the Lord.
whose sacrifice Of His body and blood
for our redemption and salvation are
represented in the communion service.
that He instituted that night 10 take
the place Of the passover, which SYM
bolized His death After Judas had
left, determined upon betraying Christ.
and our Lord had instituted the COM
munion service, that through the COM
Ing centuries would recall His Sacri-
fice and prophecy the triumph OF His
cause. Jesus and the eleven sang the
Palms from the il5th 10 il3tn. then
oured the agony OF His Soui In prayer.
The Agony Of Gethsemane.
Within the Enclosure of the garden
under the olive trees Jesus was In the
habit Of spending some time in prayer
leaving the hill of Zion and crossing
over the Kedron Valley, the Master en-
tered. about midnight, within the gar
den, known as GethScmane from its be-
Ing the place where oil Was pressed
from the olives. Jesus and the apostles
prepared ~ spend the night In the open
beneath, the shade Oi the trees that
was destined 10 become sacred because
Of the events that would take place
there that night. Facing the crown
ing trial Of hts life. the Lord sought
privacy protection and conpanionship
Eight we're placed 0u guard and the
three, Peter James and John. were
chosen to share the watch with the
Master during his agony and suffering
He did not take them all the ~ay for
He wanted 10 commune .alone With the
Heavenly Father. He wanted the com