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T HE K I N G ' S BUS I NE S S , wrath. Calvary carries to the other extreme and we are looking upon a bleeding' victim—God’s Lamb, a sacri ficial offering for sin. But Bethany awakens heavenly thoughts of friend ship, devotion, loving sisters, the resur rected brother, a home where Jesus was a welcome guest, where He found what His human heart craved—fellow ship. (Psa. 133:1). “ Behold, how good and h ow pleasant it Is fo r brethren to dw ell togrether in u nity.” How blessed to have Christ in the home, to have Him as the center of all the p(ans, His glory the motive of all the plans and purposes; Christ as the abiding, distinguished guest and also as the. beloved friend! There was a woman there (Matthew does not call hear by name, but John does. Her name was Mary); Simon the leper, supposed to be the host; Martha, the busy housewife; Lazarus, the brother raised from the dead. Mary was the one who found her place al ways at the feet of Jesus; first, learn ing, (Luke 10:42): “ B u t one thing? is needful; and M ary hath chosen th at good part, w hich sh all not be tak en a w a y from her.” second, entreating, .(John 11:32); “ Then when M ary w a s come w h ere Je su s w a s, and sa w him , she fe ll down at H is feet, sa y in g unto Him , Lord, if thou hadst been here, m y brother had not died.” and her«,, worshipping. This is the place she chose and it cannot be taken from her. And the place we choose will be ours and will be reflected ,in etern ity. Her offering was costly and comfort ing. Love moved Mary. There is an intuition in love. She sensed the com ing crisis. She knew His time was near and her time for ministry was short. What her hands found to do, she did. She did not sing, “How I love Jesus.” Actions speak louder than words. She finds a way to express her love and love always finds a way. Love is inventive. It makes a way—its own way. She is not tithing now. Her- heart
wended their way into the quiet village of Bethany! (1) THE CONSPIRACY, vs. 1-5. . The Passover Feast was one of the principal feasts of the Jews, commem orating Israel’s departure from Egypt. It occurred in the month Nisan, at the full of the moon, our March or April. We observe Easter at the same season. On the Passover night, the Angel of Death, who with darning sword slew the first born in every home, passed over the homes of the Israelites who had been commanded,to slay a lamb according to their families and sprinkle the blood upon the door posts and lin tels of the house. Blood was the shel ter from death then, even as it is now. Then, of a lamb; now, of the Lamb of God. The assembly of Jewish leaders in this conspiracy against Jesus consisted of the Sanhedrin, the authoritative council of the Jews, and included Caia- phas, the High Priest; his predeces sors; the heads of the twenty-four courses of priests; and elders who were heads of families. They took counsel to murder Jesus. The manner by which He was to be put out of the way way a serious question. They had no scruples about it, but for feiar of the people they desired to do it in such a way that there would be no upToar or uprising of .the people. These ecclesi- asts were a smooth lot of politicians greatly resembling many of our own day. They do things subtilely. Thou sands of Jews would be present at the Feast and the murder must be per formed in as decent a manner as pos sible. (2) THE COSTLY SACRIFICE, vs. 6-7. Here is a beautiful home picture, a communion of friends. Bethany! How significant and suggestive is a single word. Memory is stirred and a flood of thoughts come sweeping in. Sinai suggests the thunders and lightnings of God’s holiness and God’s righteous
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