478
The Desire of Ages
directly to the palace of the high priest, where he found the council
[564]
assembled, and he offered to betray Jesus into their hands.
The priests were greatly rejoiced. These leaders of Israel had been
given the privilege of receiving Christ as their Saviour, without money
and without price. But they refused the precious gift offered them in
the most tender spirit of constraining love. They refused to accept that
salvation which is of more value than gold, and bought their Lord for
thirty pieces of silver.
Judas had indulged avarice until it overpowered every good trait of
his character. He grudged the offering made to Jesus. His heart burned
with envy that the Saviour should be the recipient of a gift suitable for
the monarchs of the earth. For a sum far less than the box of ointment
cost, he betrayed his Lord.
The disciples were not like Judas. They loved the Saviour. But
they did not rightly appreciate His exalted character. Had they realized
what He had done for them, they would have felt that nothing bestowed
upon Him was wasted. The wise men from the East, who knew so little
of Jesus, had shown a truer appreciation of the honor due Him. They
brought precious gifts to the Saviour, and bowed in homage before
Him when He was but a babe, and cradled in a manger.
Christ values acts of heartfelt courtesy. When anyone did Him a
favor, with heavenly politeness He blessed the actor. He did not refuse
the simplest flower plucked by the hand of a child, and offered to Him
in love. He accepted the offerings of children, and blessed the givers,
inscribing their names in the book of life. In the Scriptures, Mary’s
anointing of Jesus is mentioned as distinguishing her from the other
Marys. Acts of love and reverence for Jesus are an evidence of faith in
Him as the Son of God. And the Holy Spirit mentions, as evidences of
woman’s loyalty to Christ: “If she have washed the saints’ feet, if she
have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good
work.”
1 Timothy 5:10
.
Christ delighted in the earnest desire of Mary to do the will of her
Lord. He accepted the wealth of pure affection which His disciples
did not, would not, understand. The desire that Mary had to do this
service for her Lord was of more value to Christ than all the precious
ointment in the world, because it expressed her appreciation of the
world’s Redeemer. It was the love of Christ that constrained her. The
matchless excellence of the character of Christ filled her soul. That