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She was deeply affected by it. And under the influence of her feelings, she came to him, as he sat at supper, with an alabaster box of precious perfume of spikenard, and poured it upon his head. John says, that she also poured it on his feet, and wiped them with her hair. This, according to the notions of that part of the world, was doing him a high and peculiar honor. It was the second time that it had been offered him in the course of his ministry. But there were some present now, who felt, as the Pharisee did on the former occasion,* no sympathy with the deep reverence and affection which prompted the act. Judas, with others of the company, exclaimed against the extravagance and wastefulness of the deed. "It might have been sold," said they," for three hundred denarii” [about forty-five dollars]," and given to the poor." Their pretended regard for the poor was ill-timed. No one had more of it than Jesus; but he felt, that, in this instance, the expenditure was virtuous; it was the offering of sacred and reverential affection, excited by the approach of his death, and the feeling that the opportunity of showing him honor would soon be past. He therefore defended her

* See page 128.

against the attack of the cavillers; not only justifying, but applauding her; and assured them, that wherever his gospel should be preached, this deed of love should be celebrated.

Judas appears to have felt the rebuke keenly. He was probably at once mortified and angered. He knew how false were his own motives. He had not spoken from any charitable purpose, but for reasons simply selfish and criminal. He was

the keeper of the common purse, and would have been glad to fill it with this goodly sum, that he might take from it what his dishonest hand desired. Perceiving himself detected, and the more angry at the reproof, as bad men are apt to be, because aware that he deserved it, he went immediately to the chief priests, and offered to betray his Master into their hands.

This was not the only instigating cause; others were unquestionably working in his evil mind; but this furnished the occasion. He was probably instigated to the treachery in part by cupidity, and the desire to secure the pecuniary reward. He had already, if we may judge from John's calling him a thief, robbed the purse of the little band, and doubtless, on this account, felt uneasy in their company, and ill-disposed toward them;

Matthew xxvi. 14. Mark xiv. 10. Luke xxii. 3.

as one is apt to do toward those whom he has wronged. His base and selfish mind, too, could have little sympathy with the severe and exalted character of his Master. He was disappointed in the ambitious expectations he had cherished. He could not readily exchange the honors at which he had been grasping, for the defeat and disgrace which were now threatening him. And as the time drew near, when even his Master had assured him there was hope no longer, he resolved to secure safety to himself, at any cost, and not lose every thing in the inevitable ruin. It is not easy perhaps to enter fully into the motives which impelled him. Selfish, coarse, and dishonest habits of mind and life are sufficient to account for his conduct. If he had resisted the influence of his Lord's society and character to change them, it is not strange that he was capable of any baseness. If he could live with Jesus, and not be transformed, he was just the man to betray him. And if he had been revolving it in his mind, the offence he received at Simon's table was just the thing to goad him to the act.

Nothing could be more acceptable to the ruling powers, probably nothing more unexpected, than this offer of one of the familiar adherents of Jesus, to aid them in their designs. Their chief ob

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stacle was thus removed. They had long resolved to take him and put an end to his course. They had issued a proclamation for information respecting him. They had attempted to seize him. But they had always found him during the day surrounded by crowds of admiring listeners, and had not dared to lay their hands on the venerated prophet. They feared the people." Again and again, also, they had tried to circumvent him in his conversation, and lay hold of some words for which he might be brought to prosecution. But these attempts had resulted in their own shame. They were thus wholly at a loss how to proceed. More than one meeting of the great council seems to have been held; and "they consulted how they might take Jesus by craft, and put him to death. But they effected nothing till Judas appeared before them, and proposed to lead them to him in his retirement; that is, as Luke expresses it, "in the absence of the multitude." This was precisely what they desired; and they contracted with him to do it for thirty pieces of silver, probably shekels, and equal in value, therefore, to about fourteen dollars and seventy cents. For this paltry reward did the miserable man blacken himself with infamy and guilt.

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CHAPTER XVIII.

THE PASSOVER THE LORD'S SUPPER INSTITUT

ED-JESUS CONVERSES AND PRAYS WITH THE APOSTLES.

THE feast of the Passover began on Thursday. On the morning of that day, the disciples inquired of Jesus, where they should prepare for the evening festival. As none of them were in-, habitants of Jerusalem, they must depend on the hospitality of some of the citizens for accommodation; and as, at this season, the houses were freely thrown open to the visitors from the country, there could be no difficulty in finding a place. Jesus directed them to the house of a person whom he pointed out, probably one of his followers, who had a large upper room ready furnished; and directed Peter and John to go thither, and make ready for the evening.

Their principal duty was to prepare the paschal lamb.

This it was necessary for them to take to the Temple, and slay before the altar with their own hands. One of the priests received the blood in a vessel, and it was poured out at the bottom of the altar. The fat was consumed on the altar.

Matthew xxvi. 17. Mark xiv. 12. Luke xxii. 7.

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