October 22

John xii.—1. Then Jesus, six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2. There they made him a supper; and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

3. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, 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. Then saith one of his disciples (Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him).

5. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6. 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.

7. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

8. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

9. Much people of the Jews, therefore, knew 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 consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

The two sisters, Martha and Mary, here exhibit the same opposite characteristics which our Lord once commented upon when visiting at their house. — Martha told of energy to serve, and testifying her regard for Jesus by providing for his comfort; Mary full of loving devotion, waiting upon his every word and look, and forgetting every thing else in the desire to honor him as her Teacher and her Lord. The quick instinct of her affection taught her that this might be the last opportunity of showing her regard; and she poured forth the most costly ointment upon the feet of Jesus. This lavish gift (the ointment was worth fifty dollars) our Lord accepted as for his burial, and, in reply to the carpings of avarice predicted

11. Because that, by reason of him, many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

12. On the next day, much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13. Took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord!

14. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15. Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16. These things understood not his disciples at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

17. The people, therefore, that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

18. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

19. The Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him.

that "wheresoever this gospel shall be preached, in the whole world, there shall also this that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her." Thus did Jesus honor the affections of our nature, and the tribute of love to sorrow. The odor of that offering yet fills the wide sphere of human sympathy and of Christian devotion.

The return of Jesus to Bethany quickened again the enthusiasm which the raising of Lazarus had excited. The people, expecting nothing less than the manifestation of their royal Messiah in one who could do such mighty works, would have borne him in triumph to Jerusalem as their King: meantime hypocrisy and avarice were plotting his death.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 121, 157, 173.

Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification, grant, we humbly pray thee, that we may so truly partake of his death and resurrection as ourselves to be dead unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

May this holy day witness to us the grace of Christ in our redemption! and may thine Holy Spirit witness and seal within us the pardon and peace which that redemption brings! Grant us the comforts of thy gospel, O Lord! the joy of thy salvation, the spirit of prayer and praise, the communion of thy saints, and, above all, communion with thyself.

Bless thy Church, her worship and sacraments, her ministers and members: may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon her! Bless the Sunday school, and guide teachers and scholars in thy Word.

Have compassion upon those who disregard thy day, and upon all who know thee not; and incline thy people to seek and save the lost. Be with the missionaries of the cross, according to thy promise, O Lord! and make known thy way among the heathen. Hasten the coming of thy kingdom in universal peace and knowledge and righteousness. [We commend unto thy grace the children of this family; praying that, in the morning of life, they may love the Saviour who died for them, and may know the joy of serving thee.]

We humbly thank thee for the mercies of another week and the blessings of the past night. We commit to thy loving care this family, and all dear to us at home or abroad; and pray thee to bring us all together unto thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.