For Young Believers

by CECIL BELTON | Category: For Young Believers | Mar 1956

II.

"Jesus... came to Bethany.. . So they made Him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus ... sat at meat with Him"

(Johnl2.1,2).

This last glad feast does it presume, His own

Believe their Lord will soon assume His crown?

Have they foreseen the jubilating throng

With waving palms; and sensed the mighty song,

So soon to make the streets of Zion ring?

"HOSANNA! BLESSINGS BE ON ISRAEL's KING!"

Do they behold Messiah's glorious Day,

So long expected, dawning now ?-They may:

But are there any there who look ahead

And see their HOPE hang all forsaken-DEAD?

If that glad company could but foresee

The clam'ring, mocking mob, the fatal tree,

The weeping cavalcade, the guarded tomb;

Joy would succumb to deep desponding gloom.

Had not their Lord declared the hour was nigh

When He, betrayed and crucified, must die?

And was there none of those who, having heard,

Had understood the meaning of His word?

Yes! one at least their import had discerned;

Twos she who at His feet had sat and learned.

Communion thus to Mary's soul was bliss;

Nor did her Lord regard it as amiss.

The Teacher knew what profit had been gained

What knowledge of His purposes attained:

For He, who read the yearnings of her heart,

Pronounced her choice as being "that good part,"

And gave her this assurance of His grace,

None should deprive her of that blessed place.

"Mary therefore took a pound of ointment ... ,very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment."

Ah! Mary, has thy gratitude out-run

Propriety, that thou this thing hast done?

Will He, who scorns luxurious display,

Look on thy deed of love as thrown away?

Never! for from His lips no censure fell;

He made it clear that thou hadst pleased Him well.

For, o'er the nard's aroma thus exhaled,

(Surpassing that thy critic-friends inhaled),

Sweet incense from thy service rose around,

That no perfumer's art could e'er compound.

"The odour filled the house"; but higher went

The fragrance of more exquisite a scent:

And God in heaven marked the honour done

In tribute to His well-beloved Son.

Was it the costly perfume, sweet and rare,

Delightfully pervading all the air,

That caused the deed of Mary to impart

Such pleasure to her Lord and Master's heart?

Was it those glorious tresses, all unbound,

That in their lowly service swept the ground,

Brought forth the smile of approbation on

The bended head of that low-kneeling one?

Was it the lavish sum expended so,

That earned her His appreciation ?-No!

'Twas none of these, for in His eyes this stood

Of highest worth, "SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD."

"When the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this might have been sold for much and given to the poor" (Matthew 26.8, 9).

"And they murmured against her. But Jesus said ... 'She hath done what she could: she hath anointed My body aforehand for the burying'" (Mark 14.5, 8).

"What waste! " the disapproving murm'rers said,

"More worthy 'twould have been if thou, instead

Of this extravagant, uncalled-for deed,

Hadst kept in view the poor in all their need:

A goodly sum for them this might have brought,

Which thou hast recklessly dispersed for nought."

Full well the Master knew what lay behind

That false solicitude-the traitor's mind.

"Let her alone! Why trouble her; for she

Hath wrought a meritorious deed on Me.

The poor are always here, and when ye will,

Your obligations ye may there fulfil;