Gem for Thursday
May 12
"Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and have been given to the poor." (Mark 14:4,5)
The supper at Bethany gave occasion to the first conception of the treachery of Judas. Satan put it into his heart. It was a scene of love, but such a scene draws quickly out the hatred of those that have no love. Mary's worshipping affection for the person of the Lord and her sense of His danger led her on till the house of Bethany was filled with the sweet odour of the ointment she poured forth. But Judas roused the carnal mind of the other disciples; he had no communion with her: Jesus was not precious in his eyes. He, therefore, was carping where Jesus was the adored object of Mary. It was so much taken from his own ill-gotten gains. He only pleaded the cause of the poor, and stirred up the other disciples about it; so that "there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?" But love, while it would lavish all, never wastes anything; self does, idle folly does, but love never. (W. Kelly - Exposition of Mark's Gospel)
N.J. Hiebert # 2245
Nadine