King of the Jews | Page 8

to thee as it is to these, my friends! But thou are stricken with
blindness."
"Yes, Lord," remarked Lazarus; "O best of masters, dangers threaten
thee. The Pharisees are anxiously wondering whether thou wilt come
up to the Passover. They are eagerly watching for thy destruction."
Simon said, "Stay here, Lord; here thou art safe."
Then Peter interposed with an entreaty, "Lord, it is good to be here.
Remain here, in the seclusion of this house, served by faithful love, till
the gathering storm be passed."
But Jesus rebuked him sternly, saying: "Get thee behind me, tempter.
Thou savorest not of the things that are of God, but those that be of
men. Can the reaper tarry in the shade while the ripe harvest awaits him?
The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to
give his life a ransom for many."
Then the dark-browed Judas spoke, uttering this time the thought of all.
"But, master, what will become of us if thou givest up thy life?"
A chorus of approval burst from all the disciples, "Ah, all our hopes
would then be destroyed."
"Trouble not yourselves," said Jesus, "I have power to lay down my life
and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I
received of my Father."
And lo, while they were yet speaking, Mary Magdalene silently
approached Jesus, carrying in her hand a bottle of ointment of
spikenard, very precious, which she poured over his head as she
murmured but one word, "Rabbi." And Jesus also said but one word,
"Mary," but his tone was full of tenderness and love.
As the perfume of the ointment filled the room the disciples spoke
among themselves. "What an exquisite odor!" said Thomas, leaning
past the others to look.

"It is real oil of spikenard, very costly," said Bartholomew.
Thaddeus added, "Such an honor has never been shown to our master."
But Judas could not contain himself. He growled from his distant seat,
"To what purpose is this waste? The money might have been much
better expended."
"Yes," said Thomas, "I almost think so, too."
Then Magdalene, heedless of the murmurs of the disciples, knelt down
and anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her long black tresses.
Jesus, after a little while, noticing the muttering down the table, asked,
"What are you saying to each other? Why do you condemn that which
is done only from grateful love."
[Illustration: "Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet."]
The Magdalene knelt back, sheltering herself as it were behind her
Lord.
Judas blurted out impetuously his dissatisfaction. "To pour out so much
costly ointment, what wasteful extravagance!"
"Friend Judas," said Jesus, "look at me. Is what is done for me, thy
master, waste?"
Judas said, "I know that thou lovest not useless expense; the ointment
might have been sold and the poor helped with the money!" Hearing
Judas' answer he half turned away and looked wearily upward, folding
his hands.
"Judas," said Jesus somewhat sternly, "hand upon thy heart now. Is it
only pity for the poor which moves thee so much?"
Judas replied, "At least three hundred pence could have been got for it.
What a loss both for the poor and for us."
Then Jesus answered and said, "The poor you have always with you,

but me ye have not always." Then he said, "Let her alone, she has
wrought a good work on me, for in that she has poured out the ointment
upon me, she has anointed me for my burial. Verily I say unto you,
wheresoever the gospel will be preached through the whole world,
there shall also this which she hath done be told for a memorial of her."
He then said to the disciples, "Let us arise"--and then turning to Simon,
his host, he said, "I thank thee, benevolent man, for thy hospitality, the
Father will repay it unto thee."
"Say nothing of thanks, master," said Simon; "I know what I owe to
thee."
Then Jesus arose and said, "It is time to go hence. Farewell all ye
dwellers in this hospitable house. My disciples, follow me."
Peter said unto him, "Lord, wherever thou wilt, only not to Jerusalem."
Jesus answered, "I go where my Father calls me. If it please thee to
remain here, Peter, do so." Then Peter declared, "Lord, where thou
abidest there will I also abide; whither thou goest there go I also."
Jesus said, "Come then."
The disciples arose and clasping their staffs were ready to depart. Then
Jesus turned to Mary Magdalene and Martha and said, "Remain here,
beloved! Once more, fare ye well. Dear, peaceful Bethany, never more
shall I tarry in thy quiet vale."
Simon, sore troubled in speech as he heard these words, said unto him,
"Then wilt