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ter' cruse of ointment and put it aside to use upon Him when the proper moment came. She had understood what none of the rest had, that He was actually to die and be buried, and had kept this ointment for that time (v. 7). She had not sat at His feet in vain (Luke 10:39). In pre paring the feet of Jesus for the outpouring of the precious ointment she “wiped His feet with her hair.” There is no reason whatever for confusing this incident with the other record in the seventh chapter of Luke about the woman who was a sinner who washed the Saviour’s feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. They were two entirely differ ent incidents in an entirely different set ting, by entirely different people. The other woman’s act was prompted by her love which had arisen from the fact that Jesus had forgiven so great a sinner as she. This woman’s act was prompted by a love that came through sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to the words that He spoke, and having the deepest longings of her soul satisfied by His word. “The house was filled with the odour of the ointment,” afid the whole earth has been filled with the fragrance of this act of love. I vs. 4, 5. “Then said one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray Him. (But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, which should betray Him, saith), Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” Mary had not stopped to calculate the cost of the ointment and whether she had not better save part of her money for future needs. Love never calculates, it gives all. Mary’s uncalculating love of Jesus proved a safer guide to conduct than the calculating prudence of Judas and the rest of the disciples (cf. Matt. 26:8). and some very wise criticisms were made upon it. Judas Iscariot was the leader in the harsh criticism. The Iscariots usually are the leaders in criticising the acts of others. But the whole apostolic company were carried away by the bad spirit of Judas (cf. Matt. 26:8): censorious criti-
times of communion with them. To bring them some further spiritual gift He “came to Bethany.” There is something- inex pressibly touching in those evenings at Bethany during the last week of our Lord’s life on earth. But He came to Bethany not only for this purpose, but also to nur ture the flame of faith that had been kindled in the hearts of many by the resur rection of Lazarus. We see in the begin ning of His ministry how having per formed Hi? first miracle at Cana, and faith having been awakened by that miracle, He afterwards came back to Cana to quicken and nourish and strengthen that faith (ch. 4:54). So here Jesus comes back to Bethany for a similar purpose. Jesus did not awaken faith and then leave it to languish and die. But the principal pur pose of this visit was communion with Martha and Mary and Lazarus. Jesus Christ, while He was “very God of very jjGod,” was also a very real man, He was in every respect our brother. The way in which Bethany is spoken of by,John here is worthy of note, “where Lazarus was whom Jesus raised from the dead.” Bethany was a little village, but it had a title of dignity: there was a resurrected man there. vs. 2, 3. “There they made Him a sup per, (So they made Him a supper there:) and Martha served: (;) hut Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table (at meat) with Him. Then took Mary (Mary there fore took) a pound of ointment of spike nard, very costly (precious), and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” There was no one else at the gathering that brought such joy to the aching heart of Jesus as did Mary. She above all others had listened to Him, understood Him, believed Him, and loved Him. “Martha served” it is true, but Mary served in a higher way. She by her service met the deeper longings of His heart. Out of the wealth of her love she had purchased at a cost of fifty-one dollars (a large sum in those days, her whole treasure) an alabas
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