Mary's Choice

BY BERNHARD PLOCKHORST, THE MODERN GERMAN

MASTER, BORN 1825.

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"Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."-Luke, 10, 42.

J

ESUS now set out on a final journey through Pales

tine, following where the seventy had been.

cannot exactly trace His movements. For a moment He showed Himself in Jerusalem again, but was again driven thence with stones. One day we know that He came to the home of Mary and Martha, two sisters who dwelled in the little town of Bethany, near Jerusalem. Mary and Martha had long been Jesus' followers, His devoted friends; and they and their brother Lazarus were much loved by the Master, who often visited them. On this occasion it chanced that He came unexpectedly, perhaps, and there was much to do in preparing Him accommodation. Yet Mary, the younger sister, did naught but sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His speaking.

The simple incident is best told in St. Luke's own brief words: "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: "But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her."

JOHN XII-JESUS COMETH IN TRIUMPH

1 Jesus excuseth Mary anointing his feet. kill him. 12 Christ rideth into Jerusalem.

Chapter 12

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9 The people flock to see Lazarus. 10 The high priests consult to 20 Greeks desire to see Jesus. 23 He foretelleth his death. 37 The Jews are generally blinded: 42 yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him: 44 therefore Jesus calleth earnestly for confession of faith.

HEN Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.1

7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

10 ¶ But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

The Revised Version changes "bare" to "took away."