that this might be the last opportunity, she poul'8d the ointment on hie Bl\cred head and feet. LEBBON8. 1. No genuine offering of love to Christ can be a waste. It was not so In this CB.Se. To Mary it was a moat delightful exercise; to tl.10 disciples a most important leSBOn; to Christ a most gratifying deed ; to the world a tnost beneficial teaching. It was only wast.e to him who was the son of waste. 2. Those who manifest self-sacrific- if'lg love to Ohrist mmt ever expect oppositwn, Opposition evon from quarters they would least expect. There is a Judas in most societies, and avarice is eternally opposed to benevolence, and selfishness to love. 8 . .Any ob;'ection to the offerif'lgs of love, however plausible, should ever be regarded with suspicion. Avarice can orten argue better than benevolence. Benevolence is often too timid to defend itself, but is bold enough to break the box of ointment. Let it do this, and Jesus will ultimately and succe8sfnlly defend it. The offerings of love are more than a match for all the objections of avarice; the latter petrify, and are increasingly obnoxious; while the former are increasingly odorous and sweet-they fill the house and the soul of Jesus with their sweet odour. A.V11.rice never yet found an object worthy of its generosity. It is ever shifting. A.n offeriug which bas the preponderating appearance of love, listen to no objection age.inst it. If you cannot heartily commend, let it alone. 4. We can well afford the ob;'ection of others if we have the approval of Jesus. What need had Mary to care after Jesus said," Let her alone," etc.? 5. 'l'hose who are in responsible positwns should be on their guard. Office tests, forms, and reveals character. The "bag" is a tree of life or death to all who have to do with it. How many can trace their ruin to a bag? Judas can do so. He began to take what wns in it; little thinking that what he took from the bag was small compa~ed with what the bag took from him-took his soul. The bag was the greatest thief; Dut Judas was the responsible one. 6. Rather than be too hard upon Judas, let ,u humbly and prayl!IT'jully ezamine ourselves. We are also men. The most courteous opponent Judas ever ruet WIIS Jesus. Instead of meeting his selfish objection in the scathing language it justly deserved, he met it with peculiar mildness. Judas has suffered most from himself and his family. The celebrated Judas of history bas been a scapegoat for many modem ones. Their denunciations of him have been only a cover to do the same, and something even worse.-B. T.
Vers. 9-11.---Jesus and hiB enemies. Note here- L 'l'HE ATI'RACTION OF JESus. "Much people of the Jews," etc. 1. He was attrac- tive in his work. In the sick. he had healed, the blind to whom he had given sight; and the dead be had restored to life, especially in his last miracle oa Le.zar1.111. In this he manifested: (1) His complete mastery over death. Death had done its work com- pletely; decomposition and corruption ha.d set in. Lazarus had been in his grave for four days. The mastery of Jesus over death was complete in the miracle. (2) His complete mastery over life. '!'his was the secret of his mastery over death, because he possessed all the resources and energies of life. A.a the Prince of life alone he could be the Master of death. Death will only yield to almighty life. (3) His unquestionable Divine power and mission. If this would not prove the Divinity of bis Person and mission, no act of power ever could. It had this effect on all who were open to con- viction. 'l'he supernatural and the Divine brought to counteract the forces of nature are ever attractive. They were pre-eminently so in this instance. 2. His work was attractive in him. Lazarus restored to life was his immediate and undeniable work, and Lazarus was attractive, and the people came, "not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see La.zarus a!Mo," etc. Lazarus was attractive: (1) As the sub;'ect of the most wonderful, chaf'lgu. From life to death, and from death back to life a.gain ; and all the changes hai taken place in 11. short period of time. He had only just returned from the land of death. .A. most wonderful phenomenon I (2) A.s the sub;'ect of supposed straf'lgtJ ~ , , e a of life and death and restoration. His experience, perhaps, could not ~e relat.ed. All to him was like a. pleasant dream of flitting beauty-broken mus10 and dt:lightful sensations which -00uld scarcely be reproduced in human language but in very general and indefinite terms. He wu only a babe four days old in the spirit. life. The first thing, probably, he could distinctly remember was to hear the voice of JesW1 ae.y, "Lazarus, come forth I" Many questions were doubtless put to him on the 11ubject of his Btra.nge experiences, but nothing is recorded only as, having experienced mt. xn. 1-50.] 'fHE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 160