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ruer appreciation of the honor due Him。 They brought precious gifts to the Saviour； and bowed in homage before Him when He was but a babe； and cradled in a manger。
Christ values acts of heartfelt courtesy。 When anyone did Him a favor； with heavenly politeness He blessed the actor。 He did not refuse the simplest flower plucked by the hand of a child； and offered to Him in love。 He accepted the offerings of children； and blessed the givers； inscribing their names in the book of life。 In the Scriptures； Mary's anointing of Jesus is mentioned as distinguishing her from the other Marys。 Acts of love and reverence for Jesus are an evidence of faith in Him as the Son of God。 And the Holy Spirit mentions； as evidences of woman's loyalty to Christ： 〃If she have washed the saints' feet； if she have relieved the afflicted； if she have diligently followed every good work。〃 1 Tim。 5：10。
Christ delighted in the earnest desire of Mary to do the will of her Lord。 He accepted the wealth of pure affection which His disciples did not； would not； understand。 The desire that Mary had to do this service for her Lord was of more value to Christ than all the precious ointment in the world； because it expressed her appreciation of the world's Redeemer。 It was the love of Christ that constrained her。 The matchless excellence of the character of Christ filled her soul。 That ointment was a symbol of the heart of the giver。 It was the outward demonstration of a love fed by heavenly streams until it overflowed。
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The work of Mary was just the lesson the disciples needed to show them that the expression of their love for Him would be pleasing to Christ。 He had been everything to them； and they did not realize that soon they would be deprived of His presence； that soon they could offer Him no token of their gratitude for His great love。 The loneliness of Christ； separated from the heavenly courts； living the life of humanity； was never understood or appreciated by the disciples as it should have been。 He was often grieved because His disciples did not give Him that which He should have received from them。 He knew that if they were under the influence of the heavenly angels that accompanied Him； they too would think no offering of sufficient value to declare the heart's spiritual affection。
Their afterknowledge gave them a true sense of the many things they might have done for Jesus expressive of the love and gratitude of their hearts； while they were near Him。 When Jesus was no longer with them； and they felt indeed as sheep without a shepherd； they began to see how they might have shown Him attentions that would have brought gladness to His heart。 They no longer cast blame upon Mary； but upon themselves。 Oh； if they could have taken back their censuring； their presenting the poor as more worthy of the gift than was Christ！ They felt the reproof keenly as they took from the cross the bruised body of their Lord。
The same want is evident in our world today。 But few appreciate all that Christ is to them。 If they did； the great love of Mary would be expressed； the anointing would be freely bestowed。 The expensive ointment would not be called a waste。 Nothing would be thought too costly to give for Christ； no self…denial or self…sacrifice too great to be endured for His sake。
The words spoken in indignation； 〃To what purpose is this waste？〃 brought vividly before Christ the greatest sacrifice ever made；the gift of Himself as the propitiation for a lost world。 The Lord would be so bountiful to His human family that it could not be said of Him that He could do more。 In the gift of Jesus； God gave all heaven。 From a human point of view； such a sacrifice was a wanton waste。 To human reasoning the whole plan of salvation is a waste of mercies and resources。 Self…denial and wholehearted sacrifice meet us everywhere。 Well may the heavenly host look with amazement upon the human family who refuse to be uplifted and enriched with the boundless love expressed in Christ。 Well may they exclaim； Why this great waste？
But the atonement for a lost world was to be full； abundant； and
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complete。 Christ's offering was exceedingly abundant to reach every soul that God had created。 It could not be restricted so as not to exceed the number who would accept the great Gift。 All men are not saved； yet the plan of redemption is not a waste because it does not accomplish all that its liberality has provided for。 There must be enough and to spare。
Simon the host had been influenced by the criticism of Judas upon Mary's gift； and he was surprised at the conduct of Jesus。 His Pharisaic pride was offended。 He knew that many of his guests were looking upon Christ with distrust and displeasure。 Simon said in his heart； 〃This Man； if He were a prophet； would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him： for she is a sinner。〃
By curing Simon of leprosy； Christ had saved him from a living death。 But now Simon questioned whether the Saviour were a prophet。 Because Christ allowed this woman to approach Him； because He did not indignantly spurn her as one whose sins were too great to be forgiven； because He did not show that He realized she had fallen； Simon was tempted to think that He was not a prophet。 Jesus knows nothing of this woman who is so free in her demonstrations； he thought； or He would not allow her to touch Him。
But it was Simon's ignorance of God and of Christ that led him to think as he did。 He did not realize that God's Son must act in God's way； with compassion； tenderness； and mercy。 Simon's way was to take no notice of Mary's penitent service。 Her act of kissing Christ's feet and anointing them with ointment was exasperating to his hardheartedness。 He thought that if Christ were a prophet； He would recognize sinners and rebuke them。
To this unspoken thought the Saviour answered： 〃Simon； I have somewhat to say unto thee。 。 。 。 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors： the one owed five hundred pence； and the other fifty。 And when they had nothing to pay； he frankly forgave them both。 Tell Me therefore； which of them will love him most？ Simon answered and said； I suppose that he； to whom he forgave most。 And He said unto him； Thou hast rightly judged。〃
As did Nathan with David； Christ concealed His home thrust under the veil of a parable。 He threw upon His host the burden of pronouncing sentence upon himself。 Simon had led into sin the woman he now despised。 She had been deeply wronged by him。 By the two debtors of the parable； Simon and the woman were represented。 Jesus did not design to teach that different degrees of obligation should be felt by the
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two persons； for each owed a debt of gratitude that never could be repaid。 But Simon felt himself more righteous than Mary； and Jesus desired him to see how great his guilt really was。 He would show him that his sin was greater than hers； as much greater as a debt of five hundred pence exceeds a debt of fifty pence。
Simon now began to see himself in a new light。 He saw how Mary was regarded by One who was