The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 173

trulh thnt it was manifested in Christ Jesus, and brought to light in the gospel. "Th1J life wns manifested, and we have seen it." APPLICATION. Now, this great lesson of Christ's appearance amon" us is one which Christians are never done with in thi~ world. 1. Beware of forgetting it in th~ day of prosperity. When projects succeed, and riches increase, "and mrn are praising thee becnuse thou doest well unto thyself," remember that your true life consists not in the abundanco of the things that you possess, but in receiving Christ's fulness and bein~ inspired by his Spirit. How shall you be preserved from abusin;:?; the kinc\nP,P~ of Provi- dence, nnd from wasting and spoiling God's common gifts and mercies? Where shall you find n perpetual motive to being rich in good works, patient in service, unwearied iu well-doing? 'fhink of your Master and of what he has done for you. N0 doubt you are softened into gratitude and love when you meet with others at his table, and take into your bands tbe memorials of his body and blood. But these emotions, if they are true, will ripen into deep principles within you. Think what an example he has left, that you should follow in his steps. He was cerlainly no ascetic like John the Baptist, dwelling in a lone wilderness estrnuged from social life and the companionship of friends. But "even Christ pleased not himself." Wherever be went some blessing fell. 'l'be aim he kept in view was not his own ease nor his own glory, but the will of him that sent him. Oh I put on the Lord Jesus Christ if you would spend and be spent in the service of God and man. 2. Remember this lesson in the day of sifting trial. You are by no means called to invent crosses for yourselves, or perversely over- step God's providential path in quest of them. But there are times in the life of every disciple when the plain path of obedience is hard. Christ may call you to forego for his sake some friendship, some advantageous opening, and you may think this a cruel sacrifice. His voice may summon you to leave your quiet nest of coveted repose, and spend time and sympathy on ungrateful people and amidst uncongenial scenes. Unbe- lief whispers that you will only labour in vain, and spend your strength for nought. Why impoverish your life for such uncertain returns? Why scatter precious seed in such unpromising,soil? Yet think agajn what a world it was to which he came, and how poor you would b_e without him; and listen to bis own words, " If any man serve me, let him follow me, .and where I am there also shall my servant be."-G. B. Ver. 3.-A sist~•s .expression of gratitude. What a remarkable company was here gathered together I 1. Jesus, within about a week of his death, and distinctly appre- hending what was before him. 2. His host, Sil!lon the leper, not mentioned here, but mentioned by Matthew and Mark-a man who, in all probability, had his own occasion of gratitude to Jesus. 3. Lazarus, just brought back from the grave, and in company with Jesus, who wa~ going down to it. 4. Martha and Mary. 5. The disciples. So the company was neither a small nor a commonplace one, and in its midst there was cione a deed which Jesus said should be told as a memorial of the doer wherever the gospel was preached. I. MARY BAD THE VERY STRONGEST REASON FOR DOING SOMETHING. NO doubt Mary had done all she could in the way of words. But just because words are so easy and inadequate, tb, real grateful heart wants to do something in addition. Araunah offered David a plaOl!I for an altar, and oxen for burnt offerings; but the king replied in a way that was kingly and right: "I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing." And so Mary seems to have said," I will not offer to my Master _and Benefactor thank offerings which cost me nothing." The occasion, the raising of a brother from the dead, certainly was not beyond the deed. And we too have occasion for. something great in the way of thank offering to Jesus. Doing nothing, or next to nothing, for Jesus, we give a pretty clear proof that Jesus has not been allowed to do his great work for us. Mary had yet a richer thank offering to make for a greater service. Jesus had to bring back Mary herself from another death, even her own death in trespasses and sins, and in due time she would learn to present her own self a living sacrifice, a reasonable service. II. 'l',HE FAULT FOUND WITl;I MARY'S THANKSGIVING, Judas, it is very plain, looked upon Mary's act as one that had robbed him of a fine chance of thievish gain. But at this time the disciples had not found him out. We read in Matthew, that the other disciples had indignation, and said, "To what purpose is this waste?'' Judas was  THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOIIN. [on. xn. 1-50.