the desire of ages-第117节

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（557）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　62

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Feast　at　Simon's　House


Simon　of　Bethany　was　accounted　a　disciple　of　Jesus。　He　was　one　of　the　few　Pharisees　who　had　openly　joined　Christ's　followers。　He　acknowledged　Jesus　as　a　teacher；　and　hoped　that　He　might　be　the　Messiah；　but　he　had　not　accepted　Him　as　a　Saviour。　His　character　was　not　transformed；　his　principles　were　unchanged。

Simon　had　been　healed　of　the　leprosy；　and　it　was　this　that　had　drawn　him　to　Jesus。　He　desired　to　show　his　gratitude；　and　at　Christ's　last　visit　to　Bethany　he　made　a　feast　for　the　Saviour　and　His　disciples。　This　feast　brought　together　many　of　the　Jews。　There　was　at　this　time　much　excitement　at　Jerusalem。　Christ　and　His　mission　were　attracting　greater　attention　than　ever　before。　Those　who　had　come　to　the　feast　closely　watched　His　movements；　and　some　of　them　with　unfriendly　eyes。

The　Saviour　had　reached　Bethany　only　six　days　before　the　Passover；　and　according　to　His　custom　had　sought　rest　at　the　home　of　Lazarus。　The　crowds　of　travelers　who　passed　on　to　the　city　spread　the　tidings　that　He　was　on　His　way　to　Jerusalem；　and　that　He　would　rest　over　the　Sabbath　at　Bethany。　Among　the　people　there　was　great　enthusiasm。　Many　flocked　to　Bethany；　some　out　of　sympathy　with　Jesus；　and　others　from　curiosity　to　see　one　who　had　been　raised　from　the　dead。

Many　expected　to　hear　from　Lazarus　a　wonderful　account　of　scenes　witnessed　after　death。　They　were　surprised　that　he　told　them　nothing。

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He　had　nothing　of　this　kind　to　tell。　Inspiration　declares；　〃The　dead　know　not　anything。　。　。　。　Their　love；　and　their　hatred；　and　their　envy；　is　now　perished。〃　Eccl。　9：5；　6。　But　Lazarus　did　have　a　wonderful　testimony　to　bear　in　regard　to　the　work　of　Christ。　He　had　been　raised　from　the　dead　for　this　purpose。　With　assurance　and　power　he　declared　that　Jesus　was　the　Son　of　God。

The　reports　carried　back　to　Jerusalem　by　the　visitors　to　Bethany　increased　the　excitement。　The　people　were　eager　to　see　and　hear　Jesus。　There　was　a　general　inquiry　as　to　whether　Lazarus　would　accompany　Him　to　Jerusalem；　and　if　the　prophet　would　be　crowned　king　at　the　Passover。　The　priests　and　rulers　saw　that　their　hold　upon　the　people　was　still　weakening；　and　their　rage　against　Jesus　grew　more　bitter。　They　could　hardly　wait　for　the　opportunity　of　removing　Him　forever　from　their　way。　As　time　passed；　they　began　to　fear　that　after　all　He　might　not　come　to　Jerusalem。　They　remembered　how　often　He　had　baffled　their　murderous　designs；　and　they　were　fearful　that　He　had　now　read　their　purposes　against　Him；　and　would　remain　away。　They　could　ill　conceal　their　anxiety；　and　questioned　among　themselves；　〃What　think　ye；　that　He　will　not　come　to　the　feast？〃

A　council　of　the　priests　and　Pharisees　was　called。　Since　the　raising　of　Lazarus　the　sympathies　of　the　people　were　so　fully　with　Christ　that　it　would　be　dangerous　to　seize　upon　Him　openly。　So　the　authorities　determined　to　take　Him　secretly；　and　carry　on　the　trial　as　quietly　as　possible。　They　hoped　that　when　His　condemnation　became　known；　the　fickle　tide　of　public　opinion　would　set　in　their　favor。

Thus　they　proposed　to　destroy　Jesus。　But　so　long　as　Lazarus　lived；　the　priests　and　rabbis　knew　that　they　were　not　secure。　The　very　existence　of　a　man　who　had　been　four　days　in　the　grave；　and　who　had　been　restored　by　a　word　from　Jesus；　would　sooner　or　later　cause　a　reaction。　The　people　would　be　avenged　on　their　leaders　for　taking　the　life　of　One　who　could　perform　such　a　miracle。　The　Sanhedrin　therefore　decided　that　Lazarus　also　must　die。　To　such　lengths　do　envy　and　prejudice　lead　their　slaves。　The　hatred　and　unbelief　of　the　Jewish　leaders　had　increased　until　they　would　even　take　the　life　of　one　whom　infinite　power　had　rescued　from　the　grave。

While　this　plotting　was　going　on　at　Jerusalem；　Jesus　and　His　friends　were　invited　to　Simon's　feast。　At　the　table　the　Saviour　sat　with　Simon；　whom　He　had　cured　of　a　loathsome　disease；　on　one　side；　and　Lazarus；　whom　He　had　raised　from　the　dead；　on　the　other。　Martha　served　at　the　table；　but　Mary　was　earnestly　listening　to　every　word　from　the　lips　of

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　559

Jesus。　In　His　mercy；　Jesus　had　pardoned　her　sins；　He　had　called　forth　her　beloved　brother　from　the　grave；　and　Mary's　heart　was　filled　with　gratitude。　She　had　heard　Jesus　speak　of　His　approaching　death；　and　in　her　deep　love　and　sorrow　she　had　longed　to　show　Him　honor。　At　great　personal　sacrifice　she　had　purchased　an　alabaster　box　of　〃ointment　of　spikenard；　very　costly；〃　with　which　to　anoint　His　body。　But　now　many　were　declaring　that　He　was　about　to　be　crowned　king。　Her　grief　was　turned　to　joy；　and　she　was　eager　to　be　first　in　honoring　her　Lord。　Breaking　her　box　of　ointment；　she　poured　its　contents　upon　the　head　and　feet　of　Jesus；　then；　as　she　knelt　weeping；　moistening　them　with　her　tears；　she　wiped　His　feet　with　her　long；　flowing　hair。

She　had　sought　to　avoid　observation；　and　her　movements　might　have　passed　unnoticed；　but　the　ointment　filled　the　room　with　its　fragrance；　and　published　her　act　to　all　present。　Judas　looked　upon　this　act　with　great　displeasure。　Instead　of　waiting　to　hear　what　Christ　would　say　of　the　matter；　he　began　to　whisper　his　complaints　to　those　near　him；　throwing　reproach　upon　Christ　for　suffering　such　waste。　Craftily　he　made　suggestions　that　would　be　likely　to　cause　disaffection。

Judas　was　treasurer　for　the　disciples；　and　from　their　little　store　he　had　secretly　drawn　for　his　own　use；　thus　narrowing　down　their　resources　to　a　meager　pittance。　He　was　eager　to　put　into　the　bag　all　that　he　could　obtain。　The　treasure　in　the　bag　was　often　drawn　upon　to　relieve　the　poor；　and　when　something　that　Judas　did　not　think　essential　was　bought；　he　would　say；　Why　is　this　waste？　why　was　not　the　cost　of　this　put　into　the　bag　that　I　carry　for　the　poor？　Now　the　act　of　Mary　was　in　such　marked　contrast　to　his　selfishness　that　he　was　put　to　shame；　and　according　to　his　custom；　he　sought　to　assign　a　worthy　motive　for　his　objection　to　her　gift。　Turning　to　the　disciples；　he　asked；　〃Why　was　not　this　ointment　sold　for　three　hundred　pence；　and　given　to　the　poor？　This　he　said；　not　that　he　cared　for　the　poor；　but　because　he　was　a　thief；　and　had　the　bag；　and　bare　what　was　put　therein。〃　Judas　had　no　heart　for　the　poor。　Had　Mary's　ointment　been　sold；　and　the　proceeds　fallen　into　his　possession；　the　poor　would　have　received　no　benefit。

Judas　had　a　high　opinion　of　his　own　executive　ability。　As　a　financier　he　thought　himself　greatly　superior　to　his　fellow　disciples；　and　he　had　led　them　to　regard　him　in　the　same　light。　He　had　gained　their　confidence；　and　had　a　strong　influence　over　them。　His　professed　sympathy　for　the　poor　deceived　them；　and　his　artful　insinuation　caused　them　to　look

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distrustfully　upon　Mary's　devotion。　The　murmur　passed　round　the　table；　〃To　what　purpose　is　this　waste？　For　this　ointment　might　have　been　sold　for　much；　and　given　to　the　poor。〃

Mary　heard　the　words　of　criticism。　Her　heart　trembled　within　her。　She　feared　that　her　sister　would　reproach　her　for　extravagance。　The　Master；　too；　might　think　her　improvident。　Without　apology　or　excuse　she　was　about　to　shrink　away；　when　the　voice　of　her　Lord　was　heard；　〃Let　her　alone；　why　trouble　ye　her？〃　He　saw　that　she　was　embarrassed　and　distressed。　He　knew　that　in　this　act　of　service　she　had　expressed　her　gratitude　for　the　forgiveness　of　her　sins；　and　He　brought　relief　to　her　mind。　Lifting　His　voice　above　the　murmur　of　criticism；　He　said；　〃She　hath　wrought　a　good　work　on　Me。　For　ye　have　the　poor　with　you　always；　and　whensoever　ye　will　ye　may　do　them　good：　but　Me　ye　have　not　always。　She　hath　done　what　she　could：　she　is　come　aforehand　to　anoint　My　body　to　the　burying。〃

The　fragrant　gift　which　Mary　had　thought　to　lavish　upon　the　dead　body　of　the　Saviour　she　poured　upon　His　living　form。　At　the　burial　its　sweetness　could　only　have　pervaded　the　tomb；　now　it　gladdened　His　heart　with　the　assurance　of　her　faith　and　love。　Joseph　of　Arimathaea　and　Nicodemus　offered　not　their　gift　of　love　to　Jesus　in　His　life。　With　bitter　tears　they　brought　their　costly　spices　for　His　cold；　unconscious　form。　The　women　who　bore　spices　to　the　tomb　found　their　errand　in　vain；　for　He　had　risen。　But　Mary；　pouring　out　her　love　upon　the　Saviour　while　He　was　conscious　of　her　devotion；　was　anointing　Him　for　the　burial。　And　as　He　went　down　into　the　darkness　of　His　great　trial；　He　carried　with　Him　the　memory　of　that　deed；　an　earnest　of　the　love　that　would　be　His　from　His　redeemed　ones　forever。

Many　there　are　who　bring　their　precious　gifts　for　the　dead。　As　they　stand　about　the　cold；　silent　form；　words　of　love　are　freely　spoken。　Tenderness；　appreciation；　devotion；　all　are　lavished　upon　one　who　sees　not　nor　hears。　Had　these　words　been　spoken　when　the　weary　spirit　needed　them　so　much；　when　the　ear　could　hear　and　the　heart　could　feel；　how　precious　would　have　been　their　fragrance！

Mary　knew　not　the　full　significance　of　her　deed　of　love。　She　could　not　answer　her　accusers。　She　could　not　explain　why　she　had　chosen　that　occasion　for　anointing　Jesus。　The　Holy　Spirit　had　planned　for　h