ngs that happened before and after
that scene, his friendship for the family of Bethany, his understanding
of the Master's feelings and thoughts, his sense of justice to himself
and to his fellow-disciples, the omission of an important figure in the
grouping, and especially his tender sympathy for the unnamed heroine of
the story--these things demanded in his mind additions and re-touchings
to make the picture complete.

Let us imagine ourselves before him while he is reading the manuscripts
of Matthew and Mark, long after they were written. He tells us of
incidents, unmentioned by them, that enlarge and make clearer our view
of the scene. We note the impressions we may suppose were made on him at
the time of the event, and were still fresh in his old age when he tells
the story.

"I remember distinctly"--so he might say--"this scene in Bethany, both
what these two writers report, and what they do not. The hour was
drawing near when my Lord must die. So He had told me; but somehow I
did not understand that this must be. It seems strange to me now that I
did not, as well as one of my friends did, who realized the nearness of
the sad hour. I had arrived with Him at Bethany 'where Lazarus was which
had been dead, whom He raised from the dead.' It was a great joy to meet
again the friend whom I had welcomed from the tomb."

It is true, as here written by Mark, that Jesus "sat at meat." But this
does not tell the whole story. The people of Bethany wished to unite in
doing Him honor: "So they made Him a supper there." It was fitting that
it should be "in the house of Simon" whom Jesus had healed from leprosy,
and who was probably a relative or special friend of the family loved by
Jesus. I wonder that their names do not appear in the story given by
these two Evangelists: I could not forget them. I remember how "Martha
served" at the table, as if in her own home, seeming more of a hostess
than a guest; and how "Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table
with Him" who had bid him rise from the tomb; and how Mary showed her
gratitude for her brother's restoration, and love for his Restorer. To
me that supper loses half its interest without the mention of these
names, so suggestive of near relation to the Lord. Here I read, "There
came unto Him a woman." That is indeed true; but I find no hint of who
this unknown woman was. Could Matthew probably present, have forgotten
it? Had Mark absent, never been told?

Matthew says s