Matthew 26:6-13 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,… The action of Mary was deeply symbolical. There may often be more in our actions than we imagine. It may be by loving instinct she almost antedated the death of our Lord. It was the gospel in figure; in Mary's offering He saw symbolized the greater offering He was about to make, prompted by a deeper love than hers. I. THE WOMAN'S SUBLIME DEVOTION. 1. She was completely under the sway of devoted love to Christ's person — "Unto Me." The prominent feature of Mary's character was her power of loving. This caught the eye of Christ, and gained His admiration. Here is an ideal of what a follower of Mine should be. Devotion to the Lora's person is the chiefest of Christian virtues. Now in making love the test of excellence Christ differs from all the rest of the world. 2. Her devotion was original and fearless. It was her own way of manifesting her love. It shocked the twelve. Let a person only love and he becomes a genius in manifesting it. Mary was unmindful of criticism. 3. Her devotion was magnificent. She did not think how little she could give. II. CHRIST'S CHIVALROUS CHAMPIONSHIP OF THIS WOMAN Note the resemblances that exist between the action of the woman and our Lord's action in a few hours afterwards. 1. There is a resemblance in motive. Love led to both offerings. He died because He loved. He intercedes because He loves. There is a sweet savour in love. In His body there is an alabaster box that contains the ointment, a salve for every wound. 2. There is a resemblance of self-devotion. She could not have given more. Christ gave all that He could. He emptied Himself. 3. In the broken box Christ saw His end. That was the gospel. 4. The magnificence of Christ's work. It is "plenteous redemption." (A. G. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,WEB: Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, |
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