Mary's anointing of Jesus is presented as a profound act of devotion and gratitude, demonstrating a selfless love that anticipates his burial. The sermon clarifies potential confusion regarding the timing and location of anointings, specifically highlighting this event as occurring six days before Passover in Bethany, distinct from an earlier anointing in Luke 7. It emphasizes that Mary's costly alabaster ointment, though criticized by Judas, was a precious gift to Jesus, reflecting a deep understanding of his impending death and a desire to honor him. The message draws parallels between Mary's act and the Christian's response to God's grace, urging believers to offer their best to the Lord as an expression of worship, communion, and service, rather than allowing their lives and resources to be wasted.
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Now, once again, it's going to be our joy to turn to the Gospel of John and read portion of another chapter. This morning, our portion will be found in John's Gospel, Chapter Twelve, and the well-known story of Mary's anointing the Lord Jesus will be our subject. This morning, when we were studying it, after breakfast, before coming here, we decided that we would best take it up in two parts. This is a beautiful picture of what we describe, and some of you will appreciate the expression, the breaking of bread meeting. The breaking of bread meeting, we Christians will appreciate it as we do.
Consider it the worship meeting. We will explain all that this evening, if the Lord will, and use this picture as a background to suggest what we believe would be a help towards a good worship at the breaking of bread. This morning we'll take it up in little detail with practical applications here and there. Then I might say that the little book that we had written on chastening was sold out, the supply that we gave our dear sister, but we had a few more over in the cabin and we brought them to us this morning and she has some there. And this is a little book. I wish someone else had written it so that I could be free of any embarrassment in speaking about it.
But they didn't, so I just have to say what I'd like to say. And that is, this is a little book that I think Christians should have, not just for their own reading. But if you are trying to visit any of the Lord's people, they decide they're sick. This is a little book that I believe would be deeply appreciated. They say again and again, how often we send a card to someone who's sick. It costs thirty, thirty-five. Third sentence, forty, forty-five cents, and eventually it reaches the weight they would have to give. This little book sells for thirty-five cents, and I'm sure your sister wouldn't mind giving you three for a dollar, and you would have a little supply on the hand.
Now shall we read John's Gospel, chapter twelve, and read verse one. Then Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper, and Martha served. But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound appointment of Spiteinar, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odor of the orphan. Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, would you betray him? Why was not this orphan sold for three hundred pensions given to the poor?
This, he said, not to be cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had devised and to bear what was to bear in. Then, said Jesus, let her alone, against the day of my bearing, as she kept this, for the poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always. And God will bless his good word to allah. Now, in this story of the anointing of the Lord Jesus, some confusion has arisen. in the minds of the many Christians and they have asked how many anointings were there so let me try and clear that up if we may in so far as the Lord being anointed by a Roman is concerned that according to the divine record we have two occasions and only two occasions when we think of it being anointed we have in mind that he was washed and his head and his feet were anointed.
And the first one is recorded for us in the Gospel of Luke chapter seven. And this one, as you've seen, is recorded by John and other of the Gospel writers. Now then, the first one took place in the beginning of his ministry. And this one is taken place as you appreciate at the end of his ministry. The first one was in a city. This one is in a town. And that city was named, and this town is bettened. And then we notice that when the Lord Jesus was invited, the comparison between the two or the link might be that it was a Simon who had invited him on both occasions.
But the first Simon's apparisy, this Simon is called a leper, meaning to say, they, he was the host. It was in Simon's house. pharisee in one instance, and the lepers who called in the other. Now, there was a complaint made on both occasions, and the complaint in the first instance was made by the host. It was Simon himself, and he made it within his own heart. But Jesus knew what he was thinking. This complaint is not made by the host. This complaint is made by the guest, particularly Judas and the Then, when we come to the criticism that's made under the criticism in both the pages, and the criticism in the first one is a criticism of Jesus.
You receive always from a preacher like this. But the criticism in this case is a criticism of Mary. Why would you raise that one? Now, having cleared that up, and I think that should clear it up for you, in so far as the two anointings are concerned that we've mentioned, There is still some doubt in the minds of some of the Lord's people regarding this having taken place on two occasions shortly before he died. And that is because there seems to be a discrepancy in the number of days mentioned. And when we look at Matthew and Mark, they tell us there were two days. Whereas John tells us there were six.
So it has been assumed that he was anointed in Simon the leper's home, and then again he was anointed in Mary's home. Now the anointment took place not in the home of Mary and Martha. The anointing took place in the home of Simon, who I suppose must have been a nurse while leper having been cleansed, we would expect. Now then the discrepancy disappears when you read closely what the Scripture says. So that John is telling us When he uses the six-day period, he arrives in the town or in the place. But when Matthew and Mark tell us the story, they mention two days.
It's two days before the feast of the Passover, and it was the anointing. So John's days relate to the arrival of the Lord. Matthew and Mark relate to the anointing, the story of the supper. Now, if you check me on that, I think you'll find that's exactly what we have. Mary, Martha, and Les, this little trio, and on this occasion, I think, present to us a beautiful little picture of a post-lapture scene. There was one who had been dead, but who was raised again, and reunited with loved ones whom he had been taken from.
So when our Lord Jesus Christ comes, and were gathered around them in the glory, there'll be the Mary and the Martha, those who lived to see and how. There'll be the Lazarus, those whom they've laid away. But what a gathering that will be when we meet to gather in the air. Then as to our occupation in the glory, and we might take it right forward into the eternal state, I think we could appreciate that. In this three-year person's mention, we would have our occupation fully come. First of all, there will be Mary, and Mary tells the story.
Then there is Martha, and she tells us of service. And then there is Lazarus, and he speaks of communion. And so during the eternal state, And I suppose we shouldn't use the word during, as though it would come to an end, forever and ever, with our beloved Lord, there be service, there be communion, and then I believe at the high water mark when we worship. And that's what I have in my mind for the meeting tonight. When you think of the gatherings of the Lord's people, if it's properly and intelligently understood, there's no meeting to compare. for the breaking of bread, they think, when we come not to get, but when we come to get.
You know what? It's interesting to find that there are instances in Scripture when I think we can tie these three occupations in. Worship, communion, and service, going from the top to the bottom. Service, communion, and worship, going from the bottom to the top. Let's look at the scene in Isaiah chapter two from the Bible. Just look at the scene in your memory for you all to know it. The scene when they have our Lord Jesus on the throne surrounded by the Spirit of them and they each have six wings. I wonder why the Spirit of God would tell us they have six wings.
And when he tells us they have six wings, I wonder why he tells us how to use their six wings. However, we find that two cover the feet, and we find that two cover the face, and we two are stretched to fly with, and notice what is mentioned first is the covered face. I think that's fresh. And then there is the covered feet, and I think that's warm, that's communion. And then there are the outstretched Indians, and they suggest that they fly disturbed. Is that just a coincidence? Oh, I'm sure. For over in the epistles of the Hebrews, God charters for his table of heroes.
And he starts with, number one is Abel. Number two is Enoch, and number three is Noah. Noah, what are you doing? He says, I'm serving God and filling an ark. Enoch, what are you doing? He says, I'm walking in communion with my brother. Mabel, what are you doing? And as he bows at his altar, he says, I am worshiping you. You know, in this story of Mary and Martha, I think we have a lovely suggestion that when Mary brought that box of appointment, it was an expression of the gratitude.
And I'd like to talk a little bit this morning at this point. in connection with our responsibility in a matter of gratitude to our Lord. That was an anointment and I just couldn't tell you what the value of it would be in our currency today. Maybe I could give you a figure, but I don't think that really would convey what it meant to me. In other words, when she gave that ointment, she gave something, scripture said. It was custom. And Scripture's not careless about its adjutants. They are very, very carefully chosen. And Scripture says with an astray appointment.
And so when she gave that, would you allow me to suggest her heart was written to the occasion there as pastors? Only a little while ago it seemed rewrapped in. And as we covered that whole wretch and wretch, we thought we'd looked into it for the last time done to you. We laid them away with the truth, so they would go to the floor, and we returned with bleeding hearts, and we did not. And then in all shape, when Jesus came, and what a time when those two sisters, no doubt they anticipated him, Jesus would sit down at the table, Lazarus would sit with them, mirroring his story.
They didn't want to give him what they had. Master, maybe not. having made facility, but he's going to serve them for the best of her ability. It's their advantage. You think he appreciated it? You know, friends, I think sometimes we do not understand our own. I think sometimes we fail to appreciate some little incidents in the scriptures that index his character in a beautiful way. One I'm thinking of is when he cleansed ten lepers. And after he cleansed ten, one came back to say in the parlance of today, thank you. And he turned around and said to the disciples at then, ten, where are the others?
Where's the nine? None returned but this one to say thanks. He gave love to all of them. He appreciates. He appreciates. Mary's appointment, friend, it wouldn't have been a What's the expression I could use to describe the minimal value of it in relation to Christ? The Creator of all things. If it cost a million dollars, what was that for him? But he points to it. He points to it and he draws our attention to it. Letter alone. And he sternly says to the sight, Letter alone.
is giving me something. Friend and sister, when did you last give the Lord something? Oh, I was meeting last Lord's day morning and I dropped something in the box. Why? Well, I do whatever should be my master of sorts. Master of sorts. Now, if the box hadn't been passed, what would you do? If there's no collection taken, what would you do? Oh, you sometimes have to go. You see, beloved, say that morning when we that occasion, when we drop something in that pot, could be just simply a habit? No real exercise in what they're given to you.
I sometimes minister on the breaking of bread, and I like to spread it over a week, and the last meeting is taken up with a subject. What if the Lord should come in? In other words, that morning when we came in, what kind of a meeting would they have? And I view it from different viewpoints. And one of my viewpoints is, supposing he sat through the meeting with us, and then when one of or two of her friends would rise, he would lift the basket with the bag, and incidentally I like the bag, I don't think the basket or... something that's opened and exposed like that.
I think, I like the five ideas, dropping it in, exposed. And when the brother would lift that bag to take to the strength, the Lord would say, thank you, John, thank you, Sam. Let's take the seat and we'll run. That sample is fine. And he would leave the bag there and then he'd come with hands and he would walk round and There's a wound. There's a nail-pierced hand. What would I give him? What would I give him? You see, we purposely give to him, even though it passes through the hands of another.
However, beloved saints, let me make this clear. I'm not saying that all the expressions of our gratitude should be packed into our offering on Lord's Day morning. I'm not saying that. For there are some of us and we wouldn't change. On a Lord's day morning, even though some might think on that occasion we give ten times, no, because we give it in our way. But there are some of the Lord's dear things, and that's the only occasion in which they practically express a gratitude to the Lord. What can we give? Mary gave her possible. David, you know, he had an experience, a hand of the Lord.
And I was reading about him in Psalm hundred and sixteen, verses seventeen and eighteen, and he speaks of praising the Lord and giving him thanks with the sacrifice of thanksgiving. The sacrifice of thanksgiving. And then there's another man in the Bible called Hezekiah, and he was sick. God heard his cry. He gave him fifteen years. Surely God records he returned not. for the benefit given to him. Notice when Mary came, one of the Gospels said, she came aforehand.
She came aforehand. Why? There were some of your sisters and they came to give them something. On Lord's Day morning, the morning he wrote, can you see those dear sisters? walking along the road, maybe wiping the still wiping the tear from their eyes as they thought going to the grave. Hopefully someone there will be able to take away the stone from it so that we'll be able to go in the mountain. Though the joy in the same time must have been filling their hearts as they would think of putting the ointments, the perfumes, the incense, and when they arrive the stones rolled away.
But the grave shouts? He's gone. Too late, isn't it? Too late. Too late. You came, but you were too late. One day we'll see him. One day we'll see him. And when we see him, what can I do? What can I do? It's too late now. It's too late now. Sure, beloved saint of God, you'll come a full time. Be sure you'll come on that. In the building of the cabinet, and I'm a mindless act, walking four years, seeing myself as a little teenager, sitting in a big YMCA auditorium in my native city, crowds unable to get in, night after night, and for three solid weeks, William John McClure, a giant in the world, is ministering on the tabernacle.
Again and again I took up, I looked up the little notebook, and I looked at it. There it is, nineteen hundred and twenty-seven. This notebook filled my pride to the bank. I remembered the night he spoke on the building of the tabernacle. I know how the people were often adjoined, adjoined to give. Bring it up. Bring it. And they came and they brought, and they brought, and they brought. And finally the two dear men who were to be in charge of the operation of the building said, Sir, we can't take any more stuff. We've more than we can handle. All I just know to go take care of that.
And so he sounds throughout the camp, bring some more stuff. bring no more stuff we have borne than we need. And this mature and this vivid imagination described, some of them called him John and Mary. And John hears the cry, and he remembers that when he left Egypt, he carried a lump of gold, and it put us safely away. But when God told Moses to build a tabernacle, he said, Mary, I'm going to give that gold. Let John, she would say, and do you know that linen I got out of Egypt? I'm going to take it, too. We'll do that, won't we? We'll give your linen, and I'll give my boat a few occasions to the home.
Mary gets that linen, and he grabs his boat. Let's get down to the gate quickly. Why? Moses is crying for no more stuff. Maybe we'll get under the wire. And they hurry down. And when they hurry down, breathlessly, he described them, handing their portions or gifts to Moses. Oh, no, no, no, he'll take it all. Donate it. There's an oil we need. Take it home and take it home. Oh, please. Can't do it. Too late. Too late. And the tabernacle thirteen months later is erected. Mary and John stand in the room. And Mary says to John, There it is.
He didn't use my linen. John says to Mary, there it is. And I didn't use my linen. Oh, beloved saints, when you'll see them, you'll lay your laurels. Don't wait till they see you. I've said before, be sure, that they're true. You're not talking for the sisters. Now, you've read it and you've just said and listened, but sister, sister, are you going to talk? Sister, be thankful you're a sister. Be thankful you're a sister. Why, when you read a story like this, and this isn't the only isolated story, there were two women crossed the Savior's path. just before he went to Calvary. And I don't know if they knew each other.
We know the name of Mary, but we don't know the name of the other except she was a widow. And both came into the gaze of the Lord Jesus both cross and tie. Mary gives us a gift that was valued approximately by Judas. He had a clever mind for analyzing gifts as opposed to money. And I can't tell you the ratio, but I never tried to take the trouble, because what the middle gave was so small that it had to be very difficult to really put it in relation to the other percentage of what Mary gave. They tell me that the night you could put three or four of them on your fingernails, and it was made of brass, not silver or gold.
Now, can you value that? You would think of a sense you'd be too high if you thought even of our American sense. What's she got to do? This is the point. The Lord said she gave all. Mary sees with our Lord Jesus Christ. She knows he'll be buried. But when the day, the free day, the Lord's day comes, the day after the Sabbath, there'll be no need to be there. He'll be ready. She came beforehand, and as she anoints him, she's saying, Without a word, Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus, she's saying, You're right again.
And the death is about a day to pass through. You're right again. I wonder, do the angel, does the angel in glory ever talk to Mary today? What angel? The angel has strangled him in a child. Perhaps Mary and the widow will have a fortune that none of us will ever share. She gave it all. Lord Jesus Christ, he bowed head of the cross, and he gave him peace. God graciously ordered that the widow woman and Mary should cross its pathway, and like the angel in his heavenly strengthened his hand for what land he I draw on my imagination.
I think it's you, friends. But actually, I'm not the reason I enjoy my Bible so much. I put myself right there. And I learn my mind from work. And I seek Mary to keep her hair from the diseases that today couldn't do it. But, oh, I'm just saying that in passing. But Mary took her hair and took that on the same. I don't know what she did with her hair after that. What I'd be writing changed just like you rolled it up in a bun or something. But wait a minute. She left that house. And as she would walk down the street to go to her own home. And she would brush my people's nostrils with twist. What did you...
What did it... Oh, there's a perfume in her hair. I didn't get there. She gave it to the Lord and she got it back. She gave it to him but it returned. It returned in her hand. It returned in her hair. Brethren and sisters, I am called, giving what we gave to him immediately. Now that Mary is enriched, Mary is enriched. She has the wishes that she has given to our Lord Jesus Christ. Now Mary is enriched as a result of it. I say, well, vigorously and literally, when we come to the Lord the same morning, thank God for the privilege of worshiping and as we give to him, he gives to us in return.
Give us a chance and you know what real worship is. Do you ever spend a few minutes on your knees alone with the Lord thinking of Calvary? You're thinking of him as a person. You're thinking of him dying on that cross. Then leaving the cross and going to the throne. And just dwell on that for a few minutes. You rise to your knees. You're not even beyond your knees. You're sitting in a chair. There's a strange feeling, Switzerland. A holiness. It's hard to describe. What has happened? What has happened? He worships him. And in some peculiar way, what he gave him has returned to you.
But then literally, I'm thinking of it now. When she gave to him, she received again. My friends, I'll never give the Lord a literal kiss. but you'll get it back. In the city of Kingston, Ontario, you know, when I tell my little stories, friends and friends with him, I like to name people sometimes, I know it won't hurt them, and I like to name their places so that no one will ever say, he makes those up. Sometimes I listen to some of my fellow preachers, and I wonder if they're not made up. So it's Kingston. I don't mind telling you, it's actually McDonald's. I said to Archie, Archie, I hope you don't mind, but I tell you a story in any place.
He said, but does anybody know who? Archie Bob MacDonald is a Scotch man. He left the islands of northern Scotland, abbelled with the Orkney. He came to this country many years ago, so he's in the twenties, and now saved him. And as he was leaving the whole farmhouse, his old father said, Archie Bob, He gave him a soul of name. He said, Archibald, in that big country, if you run short, son, you're in need. Let me know. I'll bring you home. I'll send your text. Like your father, he said, to himself, he said, that's the real day.
And he came to Canada, located in Kingston, and he got saved. God wonderfully saved her. He found his way into the local assembly there, but then he lost his work. Unmarried, he was live-holding in the home of one of the folks of the town, and he went, what? What in the streets were black? And his little supply was dripping, dripping. Finally, he handed his boarding mistress two weeks' board, and he had this large sum of twelve cents then had died. to death.
Sunday morning he made a decision that that afternoon he would write his father a letter and two cents would pay for a stamp. The letter would be father or not. The same thing. The day, well he just would have it for his father. If you know a scotchman, you like to leave, not just a scotchman, but particularly the scotchman, doesn't like to be without a pencil. So he went to the Great Nevada. As he went to the meeting, he was thinking of the collection. He said, well, there'll be none this morning, please. I can't do anything this morning. I need the two cents for the stamp. I just couldn't bear the thought of living two weeks without a nickel or a penny in the pocket.
So there'll be nothing to eat. But he didn't have to go out there by that. He said, I ought to give the two pennies, even though it means breaking the dime. And so I'll give the two pennies. thought again, too panic, too little sense to the Lord. Oh, give him the time. I've got to forgive him the time. And the other person stopped at nothing. Give him the time. And there he was. He said afterwards, I don't think really I remembered the Lord that morning, but too occupied so much with the collection. And finally the thigh came right. He dropped the thigh. There you go. All he's left is two seats.
And he's making for the door. When one of the leading servants who was a surgeon who was a surgeon lived up until a few years ago, this brother was also the driver. And he came back and he said, Archie, just a moment. I've not got a job yet. No, sir. I can't find a job anywhere. Well, now, don't be too discouraged. The parents have asked me to do this. What? And he gave him ten or ten hours. Oh, he couldn't. For example, He's dead. One dollar still. I gave a dime. And he said, look, would you take a job in the laundry if I got you one at the hospital?
Oh, sir. He said, do anything. You come down tomorrow and see me. He rose to the head of the, I don't know what you described that department as, but he had charge of all the linen of that great big hospital. He retired a few years ago, a few months ago. I sat down in his home and I said, that's him. You know, I never forget that. Oh, you do. And I tell it, everywhere I go, he came. He not only came in time, but in giving to the Lord. The Lord richly rewarded him. Now, I want to think for a little while of Mary and her glory. Mary had a glory, as we've mentioned, Mary's glory was her hair.
Jesus has a glory, and his glory is a step. God forbid that I should glory save in the dead. For Lord Jesus Christ. And Mary takes her here, and as she takes her here, she places the thing at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ. To say any fact, I bow myself at thy feet and place my glory there. Oh, I would love to ask Mary, what do you think of a hymn that we sing today? in our believers' hymn book, and it's also in the other hymn books, when I should pay the wonders for us, Mary had a son.
Now, friends, I could be foolish and talk about what we're doing to get to heaven, and please forgive me. I know I could be all wrong, but I like to indulge in this thought. It's just that we want a nice and frisbee. And I see myself talking to Mary and the children, and saying, Mary, you know, we used to sing a lovely hymn at the great grand meeting. And I said, do you like me to tell you the words of it? And why would the people's words be nearly all? She said, I had known that him at the summit that day, couldn't I? You certainly could. Then I surveyed the ones of the cross, on which the prince of glory died. My riches gain I comforted, Lord, and poured intent on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, not a few books, save in the death of Christ my Lord. All the vain things, a charming book. sacrificing to his bosom, see from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love for many a time. That ere such love and sorrow meet, of yours composed so rich a crown, where the whole realm of nature lies, that were an offering part and small, love so amazing, so divine, the earth and the man, the heart of my life, my father, the greatest glory of all, with the glory of the thorns and the nails of heaven.
She is a prince of glory to God. Now this is what they said. That ointment was wasted. She could have taken that and abused it, that ointment was wasted. Well, brethren, maybe it was. But you say you couldn't waste anything more. But let me assume just for a moment The use of that word wasted. I read in the prodigal story that he wasted his substance as I was living. Now, I was saved as a child, as I am. So, you see, you can appreciate my saying. I can't think of a lot of my life being wasted and saved. I would surprise some of you when I say that a cigarette never crossed my lips.
A blasphemous word has never crossed my lips. I've been saved here, and of course I might mention drink, but it has never crossed my lips. I'm not boasting, friend. I'm not boasting anymore. Just God save me from now. Now I wouldn't like to think then that my life is being wasted. But oh how some of the Lord dear people, I'm afraid so much of what we spend is wasted. in ratio to what we did to the Lord and spend themselves. And anything which spend themselves is wasted.
Now, I can't determine what you would call waste and what you would call white spending. You would have to determine that. But the principle underlying, are we wasting? Are we wasting? Are we wasting? A thing of all the years that have gone by is there something stands out in my life when I felt I honored the Lord. Beloved saints of God, I know you're not a preacher and can point to this one and that one saved through your ministry. I know you're not a minister of the word and can point to this occasion and that occasion where the saints were blessed. I'm just thinking of our lives, not necessarily in an official capacity, but just simply our lives are set upon me. Thank God for any measure of which there's been in our lives, that which is glorified by God.
There was a missionary called Dan Crawford. Everybody who is in our assemblies has heard that name. And then it was another brother. He was the missionary. He was the editor of the Believers Magazine. And this dear man who edited Believers Magazine, J. Charles and Steve was a bosom friend of Dan Crawford, as boys that grew up together in the same assembly in Scotland. Then, Dan Crawford sailed for Africa. And Charlie still, Steve remained in Britain. and both were used to God in their different fields. Years later, after their parting, they made a reunion, and they slept together in the same place, I suppose, just because of the occasion.
And in the morning when they waken, it seemed that the sleeve of Mr. Dan Crawford's arm had rolled away up, and there the big arm was flying on the bed of Rose, and tripping him, Charlton Steen lifted it up. And he pointed to his arm. He says, look down at mine, and look at yours. The chardens are well preserved, being strongly healthy, if you will, and this person. And he said, Ed, Mr. Copper, said to the chardens, hey, chardens, he said, let me tell you, every sinew and every muscle and every drop of the blood that's drawn has been wasted here.
beloved. Never said, friend, never mind the wish. For remember, the candle shines as a face. And the candle may look beautiful, and you don't have such a match to it. Oh, it's still its original beauty. And here's one that has grown like that of a scum. But this one shed a light. This one never did a thing. So while the light burns, the candle wakes. But God is blessed in the wake of the light of the Christian. that has lived for our Lord Jesus Christ. Shall we pray? Oh God, our Father, we know we've said this before on this platform.
As we close the meeting, we thank you for the privilege of serving the Lord Jesus, but we say it again. We feel, Father, we can say it with a brief sense of sincerity and meaning. We do thank you for the privilege of serving our Lord Jesus Christ, and on this Then, Father, again we thank you for thy beloved saints. If they didn't have an appetite for these divine things, they would break our hearts. And they would break ours, how much would it break the hearts of a man of sorrows and glory. But beside they that we have before us a number of thy beloved people. And no matter what might be said against us, we can say, Thank God, that they do love to hear God's words.
And we ask thy blessing upon it today in our And again we take the opportunity to pray by blessing upon the conference rounds. When we're thinking of the crowd, we're thinking of those who take responsibility and those servants of the Lord who come and what we need. So we are with us now through the day and as we come together this evening, we pray that the hand of the Lord will be upon us and God will speak the glory upon himself and encourage the saints. We'll pray in the Lord Jesus Christ's name. Amen.