April-May, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
154
decided that nothing short of Jesus’ death would satisfy them. In spite of the many proofs He had given them that He was Messiah, the One sent from God, they ob stinately refused to acknowledge His claims. It is passing strange that such should have been the case in the light of the fact that our Lord continually went about do ing good to all that were in trouble. He taught the people as none of the scribes ever did. He was the promised Priest, as those present could not be. But they hated Him and desired His death. The explana tion of this strange attitude lies in the fact that the Christ rejectors were under the dominion of Satan, because of the hardness of their hearts caused by their unbelief. They thought they could set the time of His death, but this was not in their hands, but in His. While the responsibility for the crime of all crimes, His crucifixion, would be upon them, nevertheless He would be delivered by the determinate counsel of God. His accusers could do nothing ex cept that which had been determined from the foundation of the world (Acts 4:23- 30). They were afraid of the people, but were unafraid of their God. Even now, there are those who stand in awe of people, who stand in rebellion against God. But in spite of unbelief and rebellion, the coun sels of God stand sure, and will be ful filled at the exact time and in the precise manner which God has declared. III. T he A ttitude of H is D isciples (14:3-9). 1. The expression of love. This is seen in the broken box of oint ment which was poured upon the Lord Jesus’ head. This ointment was doubtless a special treasure belonging to this woman, the most costly thing she had. It was jiure, or genuine, spikenard, exceedingly precious, and sought for by all who desired the very best.. It probably was something similar to what we would call a “nest egg” for this woman. Evidently both she, her family, and the disciples gathered there consid ered the ointment most expensive. But when she poured it out upon the Lord’s head, she was revealing the thought of her heart as being wholly occupied with Him and not with any material thing. She de sired to give expression to the love which beat within her breast for this One who had saved her and revealed the living God to her heart. 2. The expression of greed. Some of the disciples thought that such a gift to the Lord was too much, and they called it a “waste.” There are always those who are so much concerned with the needs of men, that gifts to the Lord Him self are never given. They are always do ing for men; they are ever utilitarian in their actions. But this leads to forgetful ness of the person of the Lord, and it must be guarded against. We are to_ give and keep on giving to meet the distress all around us, but we are to see to it that our giving is as unto the Lord and out of the love of our hearts toward Himself. The disciples complained that the ointment could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. From another account of this incident, we gather that it was Judas who raised the complaint, and the startling statement is there made that the reason for his objection was that he was the treasurer of the group and_ “he was a thief.” This reminds us that gifts with held from the Lord are just so much stolen property. Let us not condemn Judas too strongly until we have searched our own hearts, lest there be there the same thieving propensity which led to his down fall.
try to discover the time, but some actually set the time, presuming to know more than the angels, more than men, and more than the Son Himself. Let us put our scholars on guard against all date setting in this connection, and fill their minds with the one blessed hope of the Lord’s return and the absolute certainty of that event. 2. The danger of settling down in this present scene. Three times in our lesson the Lord says, “Watch.” And what He said to those be fore Him He says to all, “Watch.” The danger is, as time goes on and the Lord does not come, that the disciples will grad ually lose their expectation of being caught away from the earth, and will settle down here as though this was to be their perma nent abode. But the Lord says, “Watch for My coming; it may occur at any mo ment. Be ready always, and be on the qui vive for this event.” Could we know the exact time of His return, we could wait for Him, but we could not watch for Him. The Lord would have His disciples expect ing His return at any moment. 3. The danger of selfish disloyalty. The Lord would have us engaged in the service whereunto He has _appointed us, until He returns. He has given His com mandment that we “occupy until” He comes again. He is as the man taking a journey, leaving his house and his goods and his affairs in charge of those whom he has appointed and whom he trusts. They are to guard his house, trade with his goods, and protect his affairs. They serve not themselves but Him, and they are to be occupied with his things, not their own. This does not mean that we are to be care less concerning our own affairs, but are to look upon them as being the Lord’s. Thus we will be working for Him, with His in terests uppermost; and this will guard us from dangers arising from the worldly struggle to “get on.” ^ T he H atred of H is E nemies (14:1, 2). The chief priests and the scribes had come to the time when they had definitely
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