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

BY MIARY OF BETHANY.
If Mary's act only expressed reverence and humility like the
penitent in Luke, the referenct to his death would have been
irrelevant, or if made it would have been in a very different
way.
If Mary expected Jesus' death because his life was threatened,
or for any other reason short of faith in his word, though it
might have justified her before the disciples, it would not account
for the unparalleled distinction conferred on her, nor the extraordinary order Jesus gave. We therefore infer such faith which
accounts for everything.
As in other cases Jesus' approbation was in proportion to faith,
the presumption is that his extraordinary approbation here
implies extraordinary faith. As that was shown by preparing him
for burial, and therefore by expectation of his death, it must have
been faith in predictions of his death. Jesus, as we shall point
out hereafter, was in the habit of announcing the object as well
as the fact of his death, i. e. to atone for sin. Mary must have
been familiar with such announcements. Their acceptance must
have given a more spiritual quality to her faith and heightened
our Saviour's approbation. Not improbably this was "his word"
which she heard when she sat at his feet and so accepting
" chose the good part."*
Three inspired historians quote each an explanation by our
Saviour of Mary's conduct differing from the others. Each of
the three explanations, taken in its obvious sense, implies that
she expected his death, and expresses her intention to prepare
him for burial, and each justifies her on that account. Each
refers to a difflrent time, and a different part and phase of her
plan, and a different step in its execution, from either of the
others. One refers to the preparation made long before, one to
the anticipation of the ordinary time for the action, the other
to its actual performance. These three explanations, each com plete as to some points, and each sufficient to justify her on
account of her intentions, form together one complete and har monious statement, each part agreeing with, sometimes imply ing the others, and on our theory all are accounted for by the
history. The numerous separate probabilities thus arising in
favor of our view strengthen each other in geometrical propor
* Luke 10; 38-42.
1874.]
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