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an apparent serious discrepancy among three of the Gospel writers. Both Matthew and Mark agree, in placing the date "two days” before the Passover (Matt. 26:2 ; Mk. 14:1). But John seems to place the incident “six days” before the feast (John 12:1 ).._‘And the difficulty is heightened by the fact that John puts, in his record, the anointing be fore! the triumphal entry (John 12:1-15). The best solution of the problem is to re gard verses 2 to 8 as a parenthetical state ment inserted by John to tell us what hap pened at Bethany, without any attempt to fix the date of the anointing. The reader will notice that verses 1 and 9 can be brought together without any apparent break in the narrative. 2 ¿ "There were some that had indigna tion” (Mk. 14:4). Matthew makes the protest rather general: “ His disciples . . . had in dignation” (26:8). But we may be sure that such ideas do not jump independently into the minds of twelve men at exactly the same time. Some one, as a rule, starts the train of thought. And John tells us who started it: “Judas Iscariot . . . which should betray him” (12:4). Perhaps this is the reason that the Lesson Committee included Mark 14:10, 11 in this week’s study. In the anointing incident and in the betrayal, it is the same man who thinks of money first. And is it too much to suggest that the man who protests loudest against “wasting” money on pure devotion to Christ, may end by betraying Him? 3. “ Why was this wastef .■(£>” The eco nomics of the kingdom of God cannot be figured out on an adding machine in mere dollars and cents. An act of unselfish devo tion to the Lord of Glory, no matter what it costs, is never wasted. I knew a man who literally threw away his life on the mission field, not to make a great name for himself, but just because he loved his Lord with a reckless abandon. I wonder whether some times we do not become too calculating. 4. "Might have been sold . . . given to the poor” (v. 5). Yes, it might. But the question is, Would it have been? Christian charity ’ is born and sustained by devotion to Christ. If we forget Him, we shall prob ably forget the poor at last. ' 5. “She hath wrought a good work on me” (v. 6). Only God could accept such an act of devotion. If Jesus had been only a man, this acceptance would have been an ineffaceable blot. No mere man can accept that which belongs to God alone. And Mary knew she was dealing with God. A man -went into a flower shop one day and selected a few flowers, saying, “ They are my w ife’s favorites.” The young woman expressed sympathy at the illness of his wife. “ 111!” he exclaimed. “ M?y wife is as well as you are, thank you.” The assistant apologized saying, “ I beg your pardon for my mistake, but to tell you the truth, husbands don’t usually buy flowers for their wives unless the wives are ill or dead.” > It is a poor, foolish thoughtlessness which leaves the expression of love until the day of sickness or death.—J. A. C lark . Golden Text Illustration M ark 14:8
Mary’s Present to Jesns M ark 14:3-9 Memory Verse: “W e love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Approach: Our story last week told about Daniel who lived many years before Christ but who loved God and served Him. He
was a young man filled with courage, and he dared to dis obey a king’s com m an d b e ca u se he wanted to show his love for God. That meant more to him than anything else. Today our story tells of an oth er person who loved God and
great waste of money. But Jesus knew that she did it to show the great love in her heart, and He praised her for it. When we love a person we want to show it. Nothing is too precious to give to the one we love. Object Lesson T alk and W alk Objects: A phonograph record and a compass. Lesson: Did you ever hear any one say, “Talk is cheap” ? When people say this, they mean that the one who is talking probably will not do much else. I hold in my hand a phonograph record. It is easy for it to talk, but it never does anything else. This record reminds me of Peter when he said to Christ on the eve ning before the crucifixion: “ Although all shall be offended, yet will not I . . . If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise” (Mk. 14:29, 31). Peter doubtless believed that he would be true to Christ, but he did not realize what it would cost him to be true to his Lord. Christ knew better than he what would happen, and true to Christ’s words, Peter denied his Mjaster, saying that he did not even know Christ. However, the time came when Peter was a changed man. He was no longer like this record, but instead he went straight, as a traveler would go, guided by this compass. Peter was no longer controlled by fear. On the contrary, he was controlled by the Spirit of God. It cost Peter something to go straight for Christ. In Acts 5:40 we are told that the apostles were beaten because they had been true to Christ. Peter was placed in prison because he believed in doing something be sides just talking for Christ. And there came the time, later in life, when Peter, the man who had denied his Lord, had the opportunity of dying for Christ. The Lord Jesus is looking for people to day who not only will talk for Him, but also will walk straight for Him, no matter what it may cost them.
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who wanted to show it. Lesson Story: You remember that our last story about the Lord Jesus told of how His enemies came tempting Him to say some thing against the Roman government. They wanted very much to find something against Jesus,, for they wanted Him to be taken prisoner by the Romans and put to death. They would not believe that He was the promised Saviour. They did not want to be told that they were sinners and that the only way back to God was to come by believing in the One whom God had sent to suffer and die in their place. They wanted some one Sent to free them from the Roman government, some one who would set Himself up as their earthly king. But the Lord Jesus had riot come to do that. He had come to make a way for them to go to heaven. He knew that very soon He was to»suffer and die. He knew that one of His very own disciples was to be the one who should betray Him. He knew that soon crowds who had been following Him would turn away in unbelief. How sad this must have made Him! But there were still some faithful fol lowers. One of them was Mary of Bethany. She and her sister and brother were Jesus’ good friends. Many times He had stopped at their house in Bethany. He had been with them in their great sorrow. He had brought them great joy when He raised the brother, Lazarus, from the dead. Now it was Mary’s turn to show her love for Jesus. As Jesus sat eating in a home in Bethany, Mary came with a box of very precious ointment and anointed Jesus’ head. She did this just to show her great love. Some of those present complained to Jesus that this was a
JUNE 12, 1938 FACING THE SUPREME TEST OF SERVICE M ark 14:32-46
Mark 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt. 37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. 40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. 43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from
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