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S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 5
No High Priest
—With Caiaphas the Jewish high priesthood
ended. The service had become base and corrupt. It had no longer
[1101]
any connection with God. Truth and righteousness were hateful in
the eyes of the priests. They were tyrannical and deceptive, full of
selfish, ambitious schemes. Such ministration could make nothing
perfect; for it was itself utterly corrupt. The grace of God had naught
to do with it.
Virtually Caiaphas was no high priest. He wore the priestly robes,
but he had no vital connection with God. He was uncircumcised in
heart. Proud and overbearing, he proved his unworthiness ever to
have worn the garments of the high priest. He had no authority from
heaven for occupying the position. He had not one ray of light from
God to show him what the work of the priest was, or for what the
office was instituted (
The Review and Herald, June 12, 1900
).
6-13 (
Mark 14:3-9
;
John 12:1-8
). An Illustration of God’s
Methods
—There are gifts that we rightly proportion to the character
and necessities of the ones upon whom we bestow them. Not many
of the poor would appreciate Mary’s offering, or our Lord’s sacrifice
of Himself, which gift was the highest that could be given. That
ointment was a symbol of the overflowing heart of the giver. It was
an outward demonstration of a love fed by heavenly streams until it
overflowed. And that ointment of Mary, which the disciples called
waste, is repeating itself a thousand times in the susceptible hearts
of others.
The Lord God is profuse in His gifts to our world. The question
may be asked, Why does the Lord show such waste, such extrava-
gance in the multitude of His gifts that cannot be enumerated? The
Lord would be so bountiful toward His human family that it cannot
be said of Him that He could do more. When He gave Jesus to our
world, He gave all heaven. His love is without a parallel. It did not
stop short of anything....
To human reasoning the whole plan of salvation is a waste of
mercies and resources. They are provided to accomplish the restora-
tion of the moral image of God in man. The atonement is abundantly
able to secure to all who will receive it, mansions in heaven. The
supposed prodigality of Mary is an illustration of the methods of
God in the plan of salvation; for nature and grace, related to each