human
Lazarus, you have your life in order to stand upright.
gpt
Such ointment must cost a mint of money! If she had given it to the poor, He would have been better pleased.
human
What is wrong, Peter? She is kind to Me so long as I am here. When I'm no longer with you, you'll still have the poor. She has shown Me a mark of love that will never be forgotten.
gpt
He is right. It often happens that people leave a good deed undone, and say, 'We'll give something, therefore, to the poor.' That's what they say, but they do neither one nor the other. He is right.
human
Martha, how busy you are. Do leave off for a little, and come and sit down. We've had more than enough with all these dainties, and you bring us still more. Copy your sister; she has chosen the better part--spiritual food instead of bodily.
gpt
Everyone is kind in his own way. And He continued to reveal in attractive fashion the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. But Martha always interrupted Him with remarks on the dishes, or with orders to the servants, until Jesus became almost annoyed, and said sharply:
human
Know you not that I will give you food? The soul is the one thing needful.
gpt
Do you call that a victory? asked Jesus.
human
Amon, do you know men so little? They see in Me the Messiah King who will conquer the Empire to-morrow. They, blind creatures, they have no idea of _My_ Kingdom. They are pleased with words that destroy, they do not want to hear words that build up. It's an empty-headed people that can only be roused by need and oppression. But they will be aroused.
gpt
Master, if they knew how deeply you loved them.
human
They ought to know it.
gpt
But they cannot know it from the way in which you speak to them.
human
The way in which I speak to them? said Jesus, and stroked the disciple's soft hair.
gpt
That is just My John all over. He cannot understand that you do not stroke buffaloes with peacocks' feathers. I'm too hard on these hypocrites, these obdurate, indifferent men, am I? When I disappoint those who would extract daily profit from Me in the form of miracles, when I lay bare the carefully-concealed thoughts of their hearts, then I am hard. And when I shatter their childish love of the world, their craving for vanities, then I am hard. And when they strut about with their condemnations and their hard-heartedness, trampling the weak underfoot out of greed and malice, haughty as the heathens who bring human sacrifices to their gods, I would fain chastise them with a lash of scorpions. But when the forsaken come to Me, and penitent sinners trustfully seek refuge with Me, then, John, I am not hard.
human
Martha! You have excellently entertained Me in your house. Will you give Me yet another treat?
gpt
What is it, Master? I would leave no wish of yours ungratified.
human
The little ones--let them come in.
gpt
Ah! my poor boy will cry his eyes out that he wasn't here to-day. Dear lad, he's in Jerusalem.
human
God be his guard! Let those who are playing in the courtyard come up.