SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 5, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 14.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

LESSON 3.—APRIL 16.—THE SUPPER AT BETHANY.

Lesson Scripture, John 12:1-11, A. R. V. (1) "JESUS therefore six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. (2) So they made Him a supper there; and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with Him. (3) Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. (4) But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, that should betray Him, saith, (5) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor? (6) Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein. (7) Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of My burying. (8) For the poor ye have always with you; but Me ye have not always. (9) "The common people therefore of the Jews learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead. (10) But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death; (11) because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus." Golden Text.—"She hath done what she could." Mark 14:8.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) To what place did Jesus come six days before the Passover? What special friend of Jesus lived at Bethany? Verse 1. (2) What was done there in honor of Jesus? Who are mentioned as being present? At whose house was the supper? Verse 2. Note 1. (3) Who bestowed special honor upon Jesus at this feast? In what manner? What especially called attention to the deed? Verse 3. Note 2. (4) Which of the disciples of Jesus first remarked upon Mary's act? Verse 4. (5) What did he say? Verse 5. Note 3. (6) Why did Judas make this remark? Verse 6. Note 4. (7) What did Jesus say in defense of Mary's action? Verse 7. Note 5. (8) What did he say regarding the poor? Verse 8. Note 6. (9) What class of people heard that Jesus was at Bethany? For what other reason did they come to that place? Verse 9. (10) Then what did the chief priests seek to do? Verse 10. (11) Why were they so prejudiced against Lazarus? Verse 11. Note 7.

NOTES.

1. This supper, according to Matt. 26:6 and Mark 14:3, was given by one Simon, a wealthy man whom Jesus had previously healed of leprosy. Martha, the practical helper where taking hold with the hands was necessary, was there to serve. Lazarus was honored with Christ because of their known friendship, and his notoriety from having been raised from the dead. Simon had been also virtually raised from the dead in having been healed from the deadly leprosy.

2. Mary would, of course, be near to Jesus, when He was accessible. She, too, had been the object of great mercy; seven fold Jesus had released her from demoniacal possession, and she had been saving means with which to do Him honor. For this purpose she had purchased the fragrant ointment. It was common to anoint the head of one whom it was designed to honor; and this Mary at first did (as stated by Matthew and Mark). But she did more; she anointed His feet, and wiped them with her hair—her crown of glory.

3. "Three hundred shillings" would be a year's wages of a laboring man of that time, at a "penny" (sixteen cents) a day. A note on John 6:7 (A. R. V.) says: "The word in the Greek denotes a coin worth about eight pence half penny, or nearly seventeen cents."

4. Judas was acting under false pretense as well as a spirit of covetousness. The hypocrite always makes a pretense of virtue, and the covetous man always wants to appear liberal. The scripture plainly says that Judas was "a thief," and stole from the funds entrusted to his care as treasurer of the company.

5. The precious ointment had been procured by self-denial, for a testimonial of love at the death of Jesus. It is said to have been a custom to prepare tokens of affection to be bestowed upon loved ones at death. Of course Mary did not know when His death should take place, but she had the offering in readiness. All of the disciples expected Him to establish the throne in Israel, but, being a man, they had no idea that He would live forever. But the Spirit of the Lord moved Mary to bestow the honor while He was alive, the time of His death being nearer at hand than she supposed. We have here an illustration of the fact that it is better to do our contemplated good deeds to people while they are living than after they are dead.

6. No sacrifice for Christ is a "waste," nor will it ever take anything from the poor. Mary's opportunity for making such an expression directly to Jesus would not occur again. But, after He was gone, the poor would be left, and, so far as our benevolence goes, they are His representatives for its reception. The greater the disposition to give to Christ, the greater will be the inclination to give to the poor. Should the love of Christ increase in the hearts of men, the better it would be for the poor, and the fewer poor there would be in the world. The fact that pauperism increases as fast or faster than wealth increases, is incontrovertible proof that the love of Christ in the earth is waning.

7. The envy of the priests was greatly increased by the fact that Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead, was moving about among the people in perfect health and strength. His appearance and testimony added much to the praise and influence of Jesus among the people. Instead of being convinced by this great miracle, the rulers hardened their hearts all the more, because of their own loss of prestige. "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"