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

THE ANOINTMENT OF JESUS
at first, then distinctly. Sometimes he explained the object,
. e., to atone for the sins of mankind, as we shall point out on a
future occasion; sometimes he mentioned his death for some
other purpose. Immediately after Peter's confession that he
was the Christ, "Jesus began to show unto his disciples", that
he should die by persecution, "and from that time forward" b
habitually, so far as we can judge from these and other expressions, "He spake that saying openly," not only to the apostles
but apparently to all his hearers.
Several of these probably numerous references to his death
are recorded, not (as will be apparent on examining the references in detail) for the purpose of repeating what had already
been fully stated, or of/enumerating the predictions,* but to
show how by them some caution was given or some error corrected, as occasion called for it.
A week after his death was first distinctly announced, it was
the subject of conversation at the transfiguration.d Jesus referred to it again as they came down from the mountain.e Just
after that he impressed it on his disciples when they were
amazed at his cure of the demoniac boy.f Afterwards during
a journey through Galilee, Mark tells us "he taught this to his
disciples,"> literally was teaching, "not at any one time, but
throughout this visitation," as IDr. Alexander explains the expression. Matthew tells us that "while they abode in Galilee,"
rather, "while they were travelling up and down in Galilee,
i. e., not only during the particular journey mentioned by Mark,
but during their other jourineys, he made the same predictions,
to prevent their premature announcement of his claims, and to
discountenance their worldly expectations. During a journey
through Samaria and Galilee the subject he was speaking of
called for an allusion to it.' He spoke of it also before leaving
Galilee the last time, or "while yet in Galilee."j He solemnly
zMlatt. 9: 15; 12: 40; 16: 4; 20: 28. Mlark2: 20; 10: 45; Luke
5 35. JohD 2: 19 22; 3: 14-17; Comp. 8: 28 and 12 34; 6: 35, 51-58;
10: 11, 17, 18. aMatt. 16: 21. Mark 8: 31. Luke 9: 22. bMatt.16: 21.
MKark 8: 32.
* The attemnpt sometimes made to enumerate these predictions is calculatod to
m ke us underrate their frequency and ignore their ihmmediate purpose. One
might as well attempt to enumerate the suppers Jesus ate.
dLuke 9: 31 e Matt. 71: 9-12. Mark 9: 10, 12. f Luke 9: 44. E Mark
9: 30, 31. d Matt. 17: 22, 23. i Lke 17: 25. J L'ake 21: 6-8.
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[July,