3. The darkness of that hour begins to creep over Him with its exceeding sorrow. He looks upon the disciples and sighs — they all are to be offended because of Him. There is Peter, who shall deny his Lord thrice. There is Judas, counting up how much he can make out of his Master. And Jesus with all His sensitiveness, shrinking from that awful lonehness, looks into the deep dark gulf that yawned at His feet. Is there no love that discerns His grief; no tender^syiiipathy that makes haste to minister to it ? The disciples are stunned and bewildered by His words ; and they are afraid to ask Him what they mean. Martha is busy about the housework ; so large a company arriving from Jerusalem needs much providing for. She wishes Mary were more handy and usefuL And Mary sits and sees it all with the clear sight of her great love. Her Lord must go to be betrayed ! He must die ! And she, what can she do ?
One thing she has — it had been a treasure, but her great love sees it now as poor indeed — an alabaster box of very precious unguent. And now she comes hiding her gift, and hastens to the side of her Lord, and ventures reverently to pour it on His head.
Judas frowned, and said what others thought, "What waste ! " To these simple fishermen it was a fortune, enough to keep a poor man's household for a year. And, adds St. Mark, " they were angry with her," and their murmurings broke out on every side. Poor Mary ! condemned by these indignant looks and words, she sank down beside her Lord and hid her face afraid. Was He angry with her ? Was her love so clumsy that it but added to His grief ? No, indeed. His hand is lovingly laid upon her. He saw her meaning. "Let her alone," said He ; " why trouble ye her ? she hath wrought a good work on me. She hath done what she could : she hath anointed my body aforehand for the burying." ^
^ She hath done what she could. She never preached ; she never wrought any wonderful work ; she never built a church, or
^ Mark Guy Pearse.
ST. MARK 373
endowed a hospital, or founded a mission. What then hath she done? She hath loved her Lord with a deep, tender devotion that gladdened and strengthened and comforted Him. He who is love sets most store by love. Love that delights in Him ; love that communes with Him; love that is ever seeking to bring Him its best and richest; love that finds its heaven in His pleasure, its hell in His grief, its all in His service; love that blesses Him with adoring joy for His great love; that rests triumphantly in His presence, and wanders restlessly if He be gone — this is to Him earth's richest gift.^
The subject is a Ministering Woman and a Grateful Saviour. The text contains these three topics : — I. Our Lord's Recognition of Manjs Service ; IL The Character of Mary's Service ; III. The Perfected Service of the Future Life.
Our Lord's Recognition of Mary's Service.
1. This saying, with the occasion of it, stands out as one of the most noticeable among the few instances, each of them strongly and distinctly marked, on which our Lord vouchsafed to utter words of pCTSonal praise to individuals in their own hearing. Inhere are some len or twelve such instances, five of which relate to women, and two of the five to Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus. Of her, in her hearing, Christ had said some time before, " Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Now He says : " She hath wrought a good work on me. She hath done what she could. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached through- out the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." O blessed woman ! To be so spoken of by Him who shall come to be her Judge, the Judge of us all ! To be assured out of His own mouth that she was not deceiving herself, that the part which she was professing to have chosen was really the good part ! That she had really chosen it, and that it should never be taken away from her !
1 Mark Guy Pearse.
374 THE GREAT TEXTS OF THE BIBLE
What would any one of us poor uncertain backsliders give to be quite sure of having pleased our Lord in but one action of our lives ; as sure as Mary of Bethany was in pouring the ointment on His head ?
Could I have sung one Song that should survive The singer's voice, and in my country's heart Find loving echo — evermore a part
Of all her sweetest memories; could 1 give
One great Thought to the People, that should prove The spring of noble action in their hour Of darkness, or control their headlong power
With the firm reins of Justice and of Love ;
Could I have traced one Form that should express The sacred mystery that underlies All Beauty; and through man's enraptured eyes