MATTHEW. MARK... LUKE. JOHN. CHA P. XII. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment, of fpikenard, very coftly, and anointed the feet of Jefus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then faith one of his difciples, Judas Iscariot, Simons fon, which fhould betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment fold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he faid, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then faid Jefus, Let her alone against the day of my burying hath fhe kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came, not for Jefus fake only, but that they might fee Lazarus alfo, whom he had raifed from the dead. came behind Jefus with a Box of the richest Ointment made of the true Spikenard, and with it anointed his Feet, and wip'd them with the hair of her Head; and the whole Houfe was fill'd with the odor of it. Judas Iscario, who was to betray him as we fhall afterwards relate, exclaim'd againit this unneceifary profufion, as he pretended, faying that the Ointment might have bin fold for above 300 Denarii [between 9 and 10l. of our mony] and diftributed among the Poor. This he faid, not out of any pity for the Poor, but being intrufted with the common Purfe, which contain'd the Benevolences of well difpos'd perfons, he was wont to embezel part of the mony, and convert it to his own ufe. Then faid Jefs; Disturb her not in this her pious office: She has perform'd this as a fit Ceremony to folemnize my approaching Death, after which men ufe to be embalm'd with Perfumes and Spices. You will have opportunities enough of fhewing your Charity to the Poor, but this was the laft opportunity fhe could have had of exprefling it to me, who am fuddenly to be gone from you. The news of Jesus's arrival at Bethany, and lodging in the houfe of Mary and Martha, being divulg'd throout all the neighboring Country, abundance of People came thither, not only to fee him, but Lazarus alfo whom he had reitor'd to Fff life: MATTHEW.. CHA P. XXI. AND when they drew nigh unto Jerufalem, and were come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then fent Jefus two difciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and ftraightway ye fhall find an afs tied, and a colt with her loofe them, and bring them to me. 3 And if any man fay ought unto you, ye fhall fay, The Lord hath need of them : MARK. 1AND 28 And when he had thus fpoken, he went before, afcend C. HA P. XI. 2 And faith unto 30 Saying, Go ye 3 And if any man 31 And if any man life: of which the Sanhedrim being inform'd, it was debated whether they should caufe Lazarus to be put to death, because many were by the Miracle Jefus wrought upon him, convinc'd that he was indeed fent by God to the Jewish Nation. Jefus having refted at Bethany on the Sabbathday, the next day being the first of the week, he continued his journy towards Ferufalem, and pafs'd over that part of Mount Olivet which belong'd to Bethany and Bethphage. From this place he fent two of his Difciples into the oppofite Village, where he told them at their coming into it they should find an Als tied with its Fole, which had not yet hin back'd; commanding them to loofe them, and bring them to him: and if any man, faid he, ask you the reafon of it, tell him the Mafter has occafion for him, and he will im mediatly. mediatly let them go. Now Jefus determin'd to make his entrance into Jerusalem on this manner, that the Prophecy of Zachariah concerning the Meffiah (ch. 9. 9.) might be fulfild: Say ye to the Daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh, meek, and riding upon an Afs, or the Fole of an Afs. The Difciples according to order went, and found the Afs and the Colt tied by the door without, in a place where two ways met. While they were untying them, fome of the By-ftanders ask'd them the reafon of it, who replied as Jefus had commanded them; upon which they let them go, the owner of them lending them freely upon this occafion, being known to Jefus. They brought them therefore to him, and having caft their Garments on the Colt, he fat upon it. JOHN. CHAP. XII. 12 On the next day, much people that were come to the feaft, when they heard that Jefus was coming to Jerufalem, 13 Took branches of palmtrees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hofanna, bleffed is the king of Ifrael that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jefus when he had found a young afs, fat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold thy king cometh, fitting on an affes colt. 16 These things underflood not his difciples at the firft: but when Jefus was glorified, then remembred they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18 For this caufe the people alfo met him, for that they heard that he had done this. miracle. In the mean time a great many of thofe who were come to Jerufalem to celebrate the approaching Feaft of the Paffover, having notice that Jefus was coming towards the City over Mount Olivet, met him with Branches of Palm-trees in their hands to demonftrate their joy upon this occafion by that outward Ceremony. The Multitude having met him, congratulated his coming with joy ful Acclamations in these or the like words: All hail! Bleffed is he that cometh to us from God, the King of Ifrael! Now Jefus, as we faid, rode upon an Afs to fulfil the Prophecy of Zachariah, but his Difciples knew not why he chofe to make his entrance on that manner, till after his Afcenfion, reflecting upon the Prophecy, it was no hard matter to comprehend the reafon of it. While Jefus was upon his march to the City, accompanied with abundance of people, they inquir'd of one another concerning the Refurrection of Lazarus, which Miracle was attefted by many that were prefent at it and their curiofity to fee one who had given fuch demonftration of the Divine Authority by which he acted, occasion'd a vaft refort to him; and all all the way he went, they ftrewed the ground with the Boughs of Trees, and their Garments, as a mark of their joy on this occafion. Being come to the foot of Mount Olivet, the whole multitude of his Difciples that went before and after, brake forth into joyful Acclamations, giving thanks and praife to God for all the Miracles Jefus had wrought among them, and faying: All hail to the Meffiah of the family of David, who comes to Jerufalem by God's appointment! May his Reign be profperous, which is thus eftablish'd by the autho rity of God and not of Men; and let the Angels join with us in giving thanks and praife to God. God from on high continue to be propitious to us. Some Pharifees in the retinue, heinoully offended with these repeated Acclamations, came to Jefus, and advised him to filence the multitude, and put a stop to thefe Praises which they look'd |
