The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 161

Ver~. 3---8.-Tlie immortal, box of ointment. We have here- I. THE. OFFE~ING OF LOVE. " Then took Mary,:• etc. 1. This oJering of love u rna<k to ,tii Object. Jesus W&S the Object of Mary s supreme love, and him she now anoints. We may look at her e.ct AS: (1) An expression of her profound personal esteem. Esteem for bis character, bis life, and bis Person. (2) An expression of her profound gratitude. Gratitude for many nets of kindness, for many words of Divine wisdom, comfort, and gnidanco, and especially for his matchless miracle of po:wer and friendship in the restoration to life of e. dear brother, (3) An expression of her pro- found homage and submission. She anoints Jesus e.s the Sovereign of her heart, the King of her soul, the Lord of her life, the Messiah of the nation, and the Saviour of men. Inward love v,ill ever find an outward expression. 2. This offering of love some- what corresponds with the love it rxpresses. Think of this ointment, the offering of Mary's love. (1) Think of its quality. It was most precious and genuine; the best that could be found even in the East, the land of delightful perfumes. (2) Think of its rostliness. It WAS very cosily. According to Judas's valuation (and who k11ew better?) it was worth "three hundred pence "-about £10 of our money. (3) Think of its quantity. " A pound." A pound of many things would not be much, but a pound of thi8 genuine and costly ointment was a large quantity. But it was not too genuine in quality, too costly in value, and not too much in quantity, to satisfy the loving impulses of Mary's heart. Doubtless there was a tear of love trembling in her eyo at the time, because the offering was not worthy of her affections, and especially not worthy of their supreme Object, 3. TJ,is offering of love was made in a very suitable and i1deresting manner. (1) It was deliberately made. Whether the ointment. was originally bought for the purpose of anointing Jesus or for private use cannot be clecided. The latter supposition adds value to the offering. In any way, it "l"AS either deliberately bought, or preserved and appropriated as an offering of love to Jesus. It wa,s not an accident or an impulse of the moment. (2) It was most heartily made. "She took a pound," etc., or, according to another account, "she brake the box." Some think that all was not used. If so, it is strange that Judas did not propose to sell the remainder. This supposition is rather against the na.rratives, and certainly against the genius of genuine and burning love. A heart broken with love for its object naturally breaks the box over his head. (3) It was most ,elf-obliviously and gracefuUy made. ," .Sh.e wiped his feet with her hair." Self-oblivions, forgetful of the laws of etiquette, unmind- ful of the presence of those around her, and not having a towel at hand, not one at least in her esteem worthy of the occasion, she so wiped those feet, at which she so often, 1111t, with the long tresses of her hair-n act of ltender womanly kindness, unsurpassed in the richest records of romance and the finest fancies of poetry, Love often rises, above the rules of social etiquette, and dares to be origine.J. and. natural, and conse- q uently most pleasing and attractive. What a picture we have here of the offering of simple and ardent love I Never feet had a softer towel, and never a towel had worthier feet to wipe than those of him who went about doing good. II. 'l'.aE OBJECTION OF A vA.BICE. 1. It came from an 'IJITl,~pected quarter. " Then saith one of his disciples," etc. One would think that any token of love to the Master would be hailed by the disciples with satisfaction and joy;'. but it was not so. It came from one of them, but onr surprise is lessened when we are told that. this disciple waa no other than the betrayer. 2. It was most indignant. (1) It commenced within. The soul of J udaa took fire, his passions were all ablaze, and this was to some extent oontagious. (2) It eoon/wm,d, otdWMd ezptetJBW/1,. In angry looks, in disapprovinl' gestures, in condemnatory whispers, and at last it thundered forth in the betrayer'~ question," Why," etc.? (3) The r,vAJ,thpi,e.ce of the question waa its originator. J udae was the originator 118 well as the mouth},iece of this foul objection. The 'breaking of th11 box: broke his heart. The sweet perfume of the ointment stank in. his nostrils, and burnt in his soul, and brp.k:e out iJ;i burning i.ndignation. The other disciples were but his innocent victims. 3. It waa most pJ,011uiJJl,e. (1) It was apparently an, fl'll:1Yl'OfitabltJ act. Christ wa.,; not better alter th.aJ;t he was before it was performed. (2) ~n unpro- fitalJle act at a great .uperuie. Three hundred pence were wasted to no purpose. (3) There was a 'IIJOrlhy caU11e for whi,ch the 1/UJTJ,ey mi,ght have been appropriated-the ever worthy and crying caUBe of the needy poor. What cravings of hunger might be satis- tl·cd with what we.e spent merely to please a woman's whim I What a. glaring and an on. xu. 1-60.J '£HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 1137