ir feet and arranged their hair as was the custom, and were
also heartily welcomed by Simon. When Jesus came He had no such
service or welcome given Him, for Simon did not love Him; he was only
curious about Him.

While they were at the tables a beautiful young woman came in through
the open door and passed swiftly by the couches on which the guests
were reclining until she came to the place where Jesus was. No one
spoke to her or about her, for they all knew that she had been a sinful
woman. But soon they saw that she bent weeping over the feet of Jesus
where He lay upon the couch, and soon they knew by the odor of costly
perfume that she was anointing His feet. As her tears fell she wiped
His feet with her long hair, and kissed them again and again.

Simon looked at her severely, but said nothing, though he wondered in
his heart why Jesus did not know that a sinful woman was touching Him.
Then said Jesus,

"Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee." And Simon replied, "Master,
say on."

Then Jesus told a little story of a man who had two debtors; one owed
him five hundred pence, and the other fifty; and when they had nothing
to pay he frankly forgave them both. Then he asked which of them will
love Him most?

"I suppose that he to whom he forgave most," said Simon, and Jesus told
him that he was right.

Then He turned and pointed to the woman, saying,

"See'st thou this woman?" and the eyes of all were fixed on the weeping
Mary of Magdala.

When Jesus had told Simon that he had failed to bring water for His
feet, though she had washed them with her tears, and wiped them with
her hair; that he had given Him no kiss of welcome, and she had not
ceased to kiss His feet; that he had not anointed His head with oil,
but she had anointed His feet with costly ointment, He added,

"Her sins which are many are forgiven; for she loved much; but to whom
little is forgiven the same loveth little." And turning to the woman
He said,

"Thy sins are forgiven; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

As Jesus went through the villages of Galilee He found many friends and
many enemies. The twelve were with Him, learning daily the wonderful
lessons He taught, and preparing to be preachers of the glad tidings
also.

Not only Mary of Magdala, but Susanna, and Joanna, the wife of King
Herod's steward who had been cured by Him, were His grateful friends.
Some priests came down from Jerusalem to watch Him, and to tell the