The Anointment of Jesus by Mary of Bethany [pp. 484-511]

THE ANOINTMENT OF JESUS
ART. V.-'-THE ANOINTMENT OF JESUS BY MARY OF
BETHANY.
By a LAYMAN.*
Math. 26: 6-13; Mlark 14: 3-9; John 12: 1-8.
As this transaction, however unimportant in itself, was recorded by three inspired historians, as our Saviour said it should be
spoken of wherever his gospel should be preached, and as the
actor in it received a distinction never accorded to any other
human being, it must contain some very important instruction,
and is entitled to a careful study.
The still accepted traditional interpretation of this account
is in the highest degree unsatisfactory. It assumes, contrary
to the obvious meaning of Jesus' explanations of Mary's acts,
that she did not expect his approaching death, or intend to
prepare him for burial, fails to account for the prominence given
to the action and the unparalleled honor done to the actor, and
misses whatever great lesson the never-ending world-wide
republications of the account were intended to impress on
mankind.
An independent study of the subject has led us to the conclusion, that what Mary did, as explained by Jesus, indicated her
expectation of his approaching death founded on his own predictions and the prophecies of the Old Testament as interpreted
by him; and that his object in giving the incident such prominence, was to impress upon all generations of Christians the
superlative value in his sight of her simple faith thus implied.
We propose to give the reasons for this conclusion;t and may
on a future occasion to point out how this narrative correctly
* Experience long ago convinced the writer that studies proper foi the Sabbath,
by lifting the mind out of its usual rut, give more relief from the fatigues of the
week than absolute rest. The following investigation is a result of that conviction.
f The great problem of theology being to find the true meaning of Scripture, no
misinterpretation even of an apparently unimportant passage should remain un
corrected; for it may bear on something important, and must be injurious. We
therefore offer no apology for attempting by this long investigation to ascertain the
true significance of what our Saviour recognized as one of the important incidents
in his history,
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