AR 14{Verses 1, 2. The circumstances which close the Lord's life on earth are brought before us. It is near the time when the passover should be killed. He was God's passover Lamb, of which the others were but types. The chief priests and scribes sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death; but they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people." They feared the people, there was no fear of God before their eyes. But God's purpose must be fulfilled, and the Lamb of God must be slain on the passover day. They are truly guilty, but they do what God's purpose and counsel had determined before to be done (Acts 2:23; 4:2823Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)
28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. (Acts 4:28)), and at the time He purposed it. His due time had come. (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).) Man's trial is at an end. (Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26).) Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. (1 Cor. 5:77Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7).) And many were present from distant places at the feast. Satan's servants are also ready to do the work of betrayal, false accusation, and murder: and the Gentiles are also willing to join in and imbrue their hands in the guilt of the Jew.
Verse 3. "Being in Bethany (i.e., the house of dates) in the house of Simon, the leper, as He sat at meet, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on His head." It was an act of love; it was Mary who sat at His feet and heard His word. (Luke 10:3939And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. (Luke 10:39).) How sweet it was to the Lord, specially sweet to His spirit at this moment, the storm clouds were gathering over His devoted head. She had read aright the signs about this as well as the words He spoke-He must die. Sitting at His feet gave her spiritual discernment of what suited the occasion.
Verses 4, 5. There were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of ointment made? for it might have been sold for three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor," and they murmured against her. It started with Judas Iscariot's avaricious heart-he was a thief-( John 12:44Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, (John 12:4)), then the others joined in. They appear philanthropic. Judas, a hypocrite, wanted that money into his control; the disciples carnally-minded, put the poor before Christ. Such is man's natural heart even in God's own people, the Lord is depreciated to a lower place. See how a wicked man may influence those who are the Lord's, with a plausible suggestion. If we keep Christ first, the world will not favor us, nor will carnal Christians appreciate our service. Anything done for Christ is called waste, unless it appears to be for man's benefit.
Verses 6-9. And Jesus said, "Let her alone: why trouble ye her? 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. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken for a memorial of her." What a rebuke to the disciples. What a comfort to the woman, the Lord stamps her action with His approval and speaks of her as of one who had more thought for Him than all the rest had. She had entered deeper than they into His mind. He had spoken to them of His death, but she believed it and anointed Him aforehand for the burying. May the Lord help us to ponder this as a lesson for ourselves. If we are to be found in sympathy and fellowship with Him, we must sit at His feet and there feed on His word, and find His love drawing our hearts out to do the things pleasing to Him. It is only thus we could stand to be misunderstood, and be content with the sense of His approval.
Verses 10,11. Judas Iscariot also discerns the hatred to Jesus and purpose of the chief priests to put Him to death, and greedy for gain, is ready to betray Him. What a contrast with Mary's love and sympathy; the one in fellowship with heaven, the other led on by Satan. The forces of good and evil are seen working here, and are accomplished at the cross.
Verses 12-16. The first day of unleavened bread when they killed the passover (it began at dusk), it is the day when the Lord must suffer, the night in which He was betrayed, but He desires greatly to take the passover with His disciples (Luke 22:1515And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (Luke 22:15)), they said unto Him, "Where wilt Thou that we go and prepare that Thou mayest eat the passover?" He sent two of them, and said unto them, "Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him, and wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house. 'The Master (Teacher), saith, where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples?' and he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us." Again we see how the Lord can command the hearts of all, even where rejected and in humiliation. The man freely gives the place furnished and prepared. Here it is a disciple responding to the Teacher's claim. As before, when He wanted the colt, His disciples were to say, "The Lord hath need of him," and the owners 'dent him owning the Creator's claim.
Verse 17. In the evening He cometh with the twelve. Luke 22:14,14And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. (Luke 22:14) says, "When the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him." Is not this a lesson in punctuality that we might profit by, and make an effort to be in our places when the hour is come? The Lord is there, we should not make Him wait on us, but wait on Him. Does our punctuality or want of it not tell how much we respect His presence?
Verses 18-21. As they sat and did eat, Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, one of you which eateth with Me shall betray Me." He felt deeply that one so much with Him, and who had seen His love should be guilty of such a crime. He knew who it was, but gave all their hearts to feel what was within each of them. They believed what He said and began to be sorrowful, distrusting themselves, and say unto Him one by one. "Is it I?" and another said, "Is it I?" He answered and said unto them, "It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with Me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.”
The passover supper was the memorial of Israel's deliverance out of Egypt on that night when the first-born of Egypt were destroyed; but to the Lord it had a deeper significance, and far shadowed what He had to pass through that very day to accomplish an eternal redemption. The suffering and death were His to make atonement for sin and to bring us into His company.
Verses 22-25. Accordingly He now institutes a memorial feast for His own to remember Him in His death, during His absence and thus show His death till He come. (1 Cor. 11:23-2623For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:23‑26).) And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat: this is My body." And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And He said unto them, "This is My blood of the New Testament (covenant), which is shed for many." The bread is the symbol of His body given in death for us: the cup that His blood was shed for us. We know Him now risen from the dead; we remember Him in His death. (Luke 22:1919And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19).)
It is not called in Scripture a sacrament, nor do we find instructions for any to partake except they who know that Christ has cleansed them by His blood. (1 Cor. 10:1616The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16).) None but those who know that their sins are all forgiven are therefore in a fit state to partake of the supper. 1 Cor. 11:27, 2827Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (1 Corinthians 11:27‑28) is spoken to true Christians exhorting them to see that their ways are clean, to put them in a right state to eat the supper. Every Christian is accepted before God, but needs to behave in a worthy manner to have his place at the table.
(To be continued.)
In His Presence
Lord Jesus, there is music,
In every sacred line
Of Thy sweet gospel story
For every child of Thine.
It tells of peace and gladness,
It tells of treasures rare,
It tells that heaven has fullness
Of joy, for Thou art there.
Lord Jesus, there is darkness
Throughout this world of sin,
Which dulls the things around us
And blights the soul within.
The brightness of Thy glory
Shed o'er us everywhere,
For Jesus, e'en the darkness
Is light, if Thou art there.
Lord Jesus, there are dangers
About us and around,
From which the only safeguard
Is in Thy presence found.
In Thy beloved keeping
E'en Satan can't ensnare;
For in the midst of perils
We're safe, if Thou art there.
Lord Jesus, there are troubles
Through which we have to go,
Which give us many a heartache,
And fill our lives with woe.
We need Thee, blessed Savior,
Our pains to help us bear;
E'en paths of grief and sadness
Are bright, if Thou art there.