Vers. 1—9.— The alabaster cruse. A scene of great interest and beauty is described in these words and in the supplement supplied by St. Matthew and St. John. On the last sabbath eve before his crucifixion, Jesus came to Bethany. In the house of Simon the leper a feast was made in his honour. The disciples were there, and, of necessity, Martha and her sister Mary, and Lazarus, What a representative group! Simon, the type of suffering, healed, and restored human nature. Lazarus, a living testimony to the Lord’s power over life and death—a blossom from the tree of life plucked in that early spring-time, promising a final fruitfulness in richness and beauty. Martha, who in her true character served, type of all faithful, diligent, practical, hardworking disciples. Mary, who also served in her way, with her heart full of meditative love ; the incarnation of pure, rapt, fervent devotion, and the sanctity of deep thought. And the disciples were there. ‘Those wonderful men, who have led and will continue to lead the world, as the pillar of cloud of old time led the hosts of God through the desert, And the Master was there, sanctifying all life, as he was the Spring of all. Jesus was there, about whom we cannot say too much. They had met in his honour, for he received honour and hospitality from lowly men. They were met in his Name, and he was “in the midst.” Around, outside, were the assailants, the Pharisees and the multi- tude, the powers of the world, surrounding as with a black drapery ; while all within was
ure and white and heavenly, save the stream of hot breath from one earthly spirit,
imself set on fire of hell. Judas was there. Our thoughts must fix themselves, first, on the silent deed of Mary ; then on the open word of Judas ; then we must hear the words of Jesus, who, on this occasion at least, made himself a Judge and a Divider over them.
I, THE DEED oF Mary, (Ver. 3.) No reason for the act is assigned. Is one needed? Was it the offering of gratitude, or duty, or love? Was there goodness enough in that heart to lead it to do a kind action spontaneously, without respect to any previous per- sonal obligation? Was there a sufficiently clear discernment of the true character of the distinguished Guest to compel her to offer her best gifts? We know not. One thing we know—Lazarus was there, “ whom Jesus raised from the dead.” Then upon that head so hot, and upon those feet so weary, she pours her costly perfume ; pours it freely, so “ that the house was filled with the odour.”
Il. Could any one have suspected a spot couid be found in this almost heavenly feast ? Alas! so is it with all things and all times of earth. Though all the college of the apostles was there; though there was one who had been raised from the dead, and one whose body had been purified and made anew ; though all had seen the miracles which he did; though there were renewed and chastened spirits present, types of perfect love and faithful service; and though the Master himself was in the midst, on that sweet last sabbath eve ;—yet even in this Eden of blessing was the trail of the serpent to be seen. Hearken (vers. 4—6), poor human nature! Though Heaven itself come down to us, we tarnish it with some earthly foul breath.
III. Jesus, by his words, passes judgment on Mary’s deed and on Judas’s pronounce- ment upon it, He appears for her defence. “ Why trouble ye her?” (vers. 6, 8, 9). He may have been troubled, but in self-forgetfulness he thinks of her as she did of him. ‘lhe work was a good one. “She hath anointed my body aforenand for the burying.” Did she really know the meaning of her act? Did she really know that he would so soon be taken away? ‘Then, to her quick apprehensive grief, he was dead already. Did she unconsciously predict his burial, or was love quick-witted here? We
268 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [on. xtv. 1—72.
know not; but who can tell what she learnt at his feet? Probably she knew not on this quiet sabbath evening that on the next he would be in the tomb, or her heart would have been broken as well as her alabaster box. But if her gift of grateful love meant more than she supposed, it was only as all gifts of love do. They go beyond the discernments of intellect and judgment ; they reach further; they mean more. So is it with all works done to Jesus. When we comfort the sorrowful, or minister to the sick or destitute, or do any “good work” in him and for him, he makes them symbolize himseif. They show forth his praise. They reveal his spirit. As to the poor and our help of them, who, to our disgrace, are always with us. Let us see how Jesus honours even their lot by placing himself in the position of a receiver of doles of charity and human kindness, And let us, undeterred by the misuse which some make of our gifts, still break our alabaster boxes. Let us pour over the world the fragrance of a godly life, the sweetness of our Christian temper, the labour of our Christian zeal, the gifts of our Christian love.—G.
Vers. 10, 11, 17—21, 48—52.— Betrayal. We now approach the darkest of all the dark hours through which our Redeemer passed in this world, so overcast with clouds. “The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of men.” It was by “one of the twelve,” and “ unto the chief priests,” and for “ money ”!
I. What lessons on THE FRAILTY OF THE POOR HUMAN HEART! ‘The hand that received “ the sop,” that dipped into the same dish with Jesus, received into its hardened palm the miserable pittance—a slave's dette Ab! even in the presence of the holy One could he plot and scheme for his delivery. Let us, when we decry the deed, bow our heads lowly, remembering that we share the same frail nature. How barefaced the lie—walking, reclining, talking with the little band, carrying their common purse, and so trusted by them all, yet stealing away in the darkness to meet his enemies and plot with them how, “in the absence of the multitude,” he could deliver him unto them! And going so far as to choose the symbol of brotherly affection—a kiss—to be the sign by which in the darkness they should distinguish him! ‘‘ Woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.” ‘Truly so; for what theory or process of restoration could prevent the name Judas from being for ever the symbol of treachery and base desertion and sordid misery. ‘“ Woe,” indeed! “And he went away and hanged himself.” It is impossible to contemplate the heights from which men have fallen into deep abysses, without a feeling of shame and humiliation. But it would be wrong to think of them without being warned by them of the sad possibilities to which we are all ex