he had "an alabaster cruse of precious ointment," which
Mark explains was "spikenard very costly." This also is truly said, for
I learned that "Mary ... took a _pound_ of ointment of spikenard very
precious." This she could well afford. Some have suggested that perhaps,
like oriental girls of fashion, she had bought it in her pride, but
after coming under the influence of Jesus, had left it unused. But I am
more inclined to believe she intended it from the first as an expression
of overflowing love.

Mark says "she broke the cruse." I remember, as she crushed the neck of
it, all eyes were turned upon her, watching her movements. Lazarus,
reclining at the table, gazed upon her with brotherly interest; and
Martha, moving around it glanced at her with sisterly affection. There
was one man whose expression was something more than curiosity. In it
there was a shade of displeasure.

These two Evangelists tell that Mary "poured the ointment upon" and
"over" the "head" of Jesus. This was a common custom in rendering honor
and adoration. But it did not satisfy Mary, if the Lord could only say
with David, "Thou anointest my _head_." Her anointing was so profuse
that He could say,--as Matthew testifies that He did--"She poured this
ointment upon My body." But I would testify to another act, fuller yet
of meaning. She "anointed the _feet_ of Jesus." This meant far more than
the washing of feet, as an humble act of hospitality and honor. It was
an unusual act of adoration. I saw bathed in spikenard what I have since
seen bathed in blood. But that was not all. Making of her long tresses a
fine but unwoven towel, "she wiped His feet with her hair"; kneeling in
devotion where she had loved to sit in learning.

I noticed the glowing rapture in her face, and an occasional glance into
that of her Lord, unmindful of the presence of all others, while He
looked kindly upon her. It was then that I discovered that "the house
was filled with the odor of the ointment." But, alas, not so with the
perfume of her deed. "There were some that had indignation among
themselves, ... and they murmured against her": so says Mark. "When the
disciples" saw Mary's deed "they had indignation": so says Matthew. It
is true that signs of dissatisfaction came from the group of the
disciples, but it is the voice of one of them that has ever since rung
in my ears, to whom "the unworthy grumbling should be assigned." In
justice to the disciples he should not be un