A Gift of Love

Simon of Bethany was accounted a disciple of Jesus. He was one of the few Pharisees who had openly joined Christ’s followers. He acknowledged Jesus as a teacher, and hoped that He might be the Messiah, but he had not accepted Him as a Saviour. His character was not transformed; his principles were unchanged.

Simon had been healed of the leprosy, and it was this that had drawn him to Jesus. He desired to show his gratitude, and at Christ’s last visit to Bethany he made a feast for the Saviour and His disciples…. At the table the Saviour sat with Simon … on one side, and Lazarus … on the other. Martha served at the table, but Mary was earnestly listening to every word from the lips of Jesus. In His mercy, Jesus had pardoned her sins, He had called forth her beloved brother from the grave, and Mary’s heart was filled with gratitude. She had heard Jesus speak of His approaching death, and in her deep love and sorrow she had longed to show Him honor. At great personal sacrifice she had purchased an alabaster box of “ointment of spikenard, very costly,” with which to anoint His body. But now many were declaring that He was about to be crowned king. Her grief was turned to joy, and she was eager to be first in honoring her Lord. Breaking her box of ointment, she poured its contents upon the head and feet of Jesus; then, as she knelt weeping, moistening them with her tears, she wiped His feet with her long, flowing hair….

Judas looked upon this act with great displeasure…. He asked, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” … The murmur passed round the table, “To what purpose is this waste? …” Mary heard the words of criticism…. She was about to shrink away, when the voice of her Lord was heard, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her?” … Lifting His voice above the murmur of criticism, He said, “She hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.” 45The Desire of Ages, 557-560
Conflict and Courage p. 305
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers for my wife Maria, please. We have her at the ER right now. Trying to figure out what’s going on. They did a CAT scan of her head. Waiting for results right now. Joe
—-Please pray that God will supply all of Esther’s and her children’s needs. Rose
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Dear Friends,

The late 1940’s and early 1950’s were such a lovely time to be a child. Few people had TV. There were no computers or video games to overstimulate the mind. There was little crime, so it was safe to play outside and even walk to the store alone at a young age. It took little to entertain youngsters in those far off days. I spent my childhood playing outside, listening to my grandfather’s stories, or singing to him the old songs he loved. As a special treat on long winter evenings, my grandmother would unpack her stereoscope. How I looked forward to that! It was very old and had to be handled with the greatest of care. Each card had two identical photographs printed side by side. When placed in the stereoscope’s slot and viewed through the eyepiece, a three-dimensional picture would appear. It was such a wonderment for me to view far off places and people in old-fashioned clothes doing old-fashioned things. I would look at these wonders with awe. I knew that I had to handle these objects with the utmost care, as they were irreplaceable.

God’s Holy Word is like that stereoscope. It, too, is irreplaceable and should be handled with reverence and awe. Moreover, as we compare what each of the Bible writers had to say upon a certain subject, we get the depth of meaning just as surely as my grandmother and I got a three-dimensional picture when we put the card into the stereoscope. Isaiah tells us that in studying it, “precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Isa 28:10 The Holy Spirit revealed to patriarchs and prophets great messages for those around them. These great messages were not only for them but for us as well.

What a treasure the Scriptures are! Although they are very old, we can be assured that they are the same as when written by “holy men of God [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21 When we compare them with the Dead Sea Scrolls, there is no noticeable difference. Think of it! Throughout the millennia, God has watched over His Word. Indeed, the Scriptures are more reliable than what we see around us, surer than what we hear, more solid than what we feel, more real than the experiences of our life. They “are able to make [us] wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” 2 Tim 3:15-17; Rom 10:17; Heb 4:12

How important it is, therefore, that we diligently study God’s Great Love Letter to us. It is the “sword of the Spirit.” Eph 6:17 By it, our Dear Saviour defeated the devil during the wilderness temptations. Over and over again He answered, “It is written.” (Matt 4:1-11) How His Great Heart of Love longs for us to follow His example of using the Scriptures to defeat the foe. He tells us, “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:28 David sang, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Ps 19:7-10

May we meditate upon the Scriptures and “give [ourselves] wholly to them; that [our] profiting may appear to all, [taking] heed unto [ourselves], and unto the doctrine; [continuing] in them: for in doing this [we] shall both save [ourselves,] and them that hear [us.]” 1 Tim 4:15,16

Rose