Jesus was a man of poise

JESUS WAS A MAN OF POISE
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
'Poise' in the Bible
Psa 75:3
When the earth totters, and all the inhabitants of it, it is I Who will poise and keepsteady
its pillars. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
Job 37:16
Do you know how the clouds are balanced [and poised in the heavens], the wonderful
works of Him Who is perfect in knowledge?
Ecclesiastes8:1 (Poise and Joy)
I'm awedby the famous womenof the former decades -- Grace Kelly, Audrey
Hepburn, and the like. They seemto radiate beauty and confidence and
femininity in a way that makes me say, yeah, it's goodto be a woman. Or how
about the stories of heroes who seemto just know what they should do in a
moment of crisis and do it without a secondthought? All of these people
possessone same, amiable quality: poise.
Poise is defined as 'a dignified, self-confident manner or steadiness.' Don't
you wish you could have a dignified, self-confidentmanner and steadiness no
matter what comes your way?

Heavy, wall-to-wallrush hour traffic when you're already late for your
cousin's surprise party? No biggie, I've gotpoise.
Berating from your co-workeraboutthe projectyou screwedup when he was
out golfing with a client for the fifth time this week? Just shrugginthe
shoulders, I've gotpoise.
One kid screaming in her high chair with pureed peas all over her face while
the other one is clinging to your left ankle begging you not to make her take a
nap, and then the dog poops on the floor? Ain't no thing, I've got poise.
Or perhaps it's something even bigger:a diagnosis, a visit from the police, a
pink slip as the bills are piling up. How do we maintain poise in the midst of
the life-altering moments?
Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person’s wisdom brightens their face
and changes its hard appearance.
The thing is, we don't want poise just for high-society's sake andlooking put-
together;rather, poise, for a Christian, is a sign of wisdom.
Do you have joy today? Well, do you have a Bible in your hand? The Word
integrated into our life, and the Biblical wisdomit produces brings joy and
poise, no matter the circumstances.

Wisdom brings poise because a personwho has Biblical wisdom is assuredof
what is right. They understand who they are, where they came from, where
they are going, how their sin is and canbe removed, and what the will of God
is for their life. There is no greaterjoy than to know the answers to these
greatlife questions, and there is no other place to go for the answers than the
Bible.
My husband, Josh, usedto make fun of me, but I hold to this: many times, you
can tell if a person is a Christian just by looking at them.
I'm not talking about the "I go to church with my wife because she makes
me" kind of Christian (though good for you for going at all), but I'm talking
about the kind of Christian who has askedGodsome tough questions in the
midst of dark times and saw that God doesn't leave when we ask questions,
who cried alone in her bed in the middle of the night only to be comfortedby
Scripture, who thinks often of Jesus throughout eachday and tries to live for
Him in obedience. There is something about their faces. Itdoesn't happen
often, but I will run into them in a grocerystore only to start talking later
about church, or chat with them in the coffee line at a bookstore onlyto find
them in the Christian book aisle a few minutes later, or hear an interview on
the news of what kind thing someone did only to hear them reference Christ a
few minutes later. There is just a gentleness and tenderness in their eyes, a
brightness.
This does not happen often, but it does happen. And Joshbelieves me now
after just having had this experience with a co-workerwho he always thought
was a nice, stand-up woman...turns out, she loves Jesus, too! I'm telling you,
there's a "brightness of their face" as these verses reference,and it's real. It's
hope. It's truth. It's a security in uncertain times.

Studying the Word gives wisdom, and wisdom will make you poised and full
of joy.
As Clairee says in SteelMagnolias, "Smile! It increases your face value!"
You don't need a face lift, my friends, just read Scripture!
https://psalm1walk.blogspot.com/2013/05/ecclesiastes-81-poise-and-joy.html
Mark 14:3-9 3Whilehe was in Bethany, recliningat
the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman
came with an alabasterjar of very expensive perfume,
made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the
perfume on his head. 4Some of those present were
saying indignantlyto one another, "Why this waste of
perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a
year's wages and the money given to the poor." And
they rebuked her harshly. 6"Leaveher alone,"said
Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a
beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have
with you, and you can help them any time you want.
But you will not always have me. 8She did what she
could. She poured perfume on my body beforehandto

prepare for my burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the
gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has
done will also be told, in memory of her."
Mark 14:3-9 (take 3): While people rattled Jesus had poise
I will callthis Mark 14:3-9 take 3 because I have alreadywritten a “take 1” on
no backhanded compliments and a “take 2” on Mary of Bethany as a great
listener. There are so many things that can be taken from this event and but a
few of them I will concentrate upon. Take 3 is about the poise of Jesus. I have
included two verses on both sides of this passagebecausethere we see the
plotting Pharisees andthe disciple who goes rogue to help them.
Our Passage
1 It was now two days before the Passoverand the Feastof Unleavened Bread.
And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arresthim by stealth
and kill him, 2 for they said, “Notduring the feast, lestthere be an uproar
from the people.” (Mark 14:1-2–ESV)
Pharisees:
Plotting
Jesus:
Reclining
Woman:
Loving
Disciples:
Judging

Judas:
Going rogue
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,1 as he was
reclining at table, a woman came with an alabasterflask of ointment of pure
nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There
were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted
like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three
hundred denarii2 and given to the poor.” And they scoldedher. 6 But Jesus
said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful
thing to me. 7 Foryou always have the poor with you, and whenever you
want, you can do goodfor them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has
done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And
truly, I sayto you, whereverthe gospelis proclaimed in the whole world, what
she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9–ESV)
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in
order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and
promised to give him money. And he soughtan opportunity to betray him.
(Mark 14:10-11–ESV)
Jerusalemwas the Pharisees home court (it would seemthey had the
advantage)
Pharisees plotting
The home court of the religious elite was Jerusalemand Jesus had come to
play ball. The scribes and chief priests were playing a vicious game. Winning
was killing and that killing was to be wrapped in secrecy. It is useful to see
that there was not a spirit of equivocating among them. They were decided in
the course they were to take. This does not rule out contradictoryvoices
among the group, but such voices held too little force to better steerthe
course.

The chief concernamong the priests was how to keepthe people from rioting.
The big to-do in Jerusalemat that time was the Passoverfeast. It was for that
that so many had gathered. For that Jesus had come, but he was to be the
sacrificiallamb.
Satanwould not have been far from Jerusalemthen either. Presumably Satan
knew the significance ofan execution at the Passover. The symbolism hinted
at in the Garden of Eden would move beyond symbolism and into reality.
There had been a point to the blood on the doorposts back in Egypt. It had
had a foretelling and its annual celebrationhad been prophetic, training of the
Jewishculture even. Perhaps Satanwas steering the thoughts of the priests
and the teachers of the law. Such is not said, but Satanwas not far.
No matter how one considers the situation it had high stakes. Jesusseemedto
be at the greatestrisk, but we will see that he had poise.
Jesus reclining
I love the word reclining here for it suggests rest. Whena person is in great
stress overa thing in their life they do not usually recline. They rattle. Here,
though, Jesus is among his friends (mostly) and acquaintances. Theyare
having a meal. The greatesteventof Jesus’life is but a couple of days away
and here he is going about the ordinary things of life. He had poise and was
able to be about those things. Soona new feature would be introduced into the
room where the people had gathered.
Woman loving
While Jesus was there a womanapproachedhim. It is consideredto be Mary
of Bethany, Martha’s sister. In the “Take 2” page ofthis sectionI have
pointed out that Mary was a listener and Mary was a watcher. That listening
and watching had led her to understand that Jesus’days were numbered. She
had been seeing him go in to Jerusalemin the morning and return to Bethany
in the evenings. Jesus had not been closedmouthed about his coming
executionand Mary would have remembered it. Probably every morning
when Jesus left she wonderedif he would return that evening.

At the table in Simon’s house Jesus had made it back. He had not been
arrestedin Jerusalemthat day. Mary who loved Jesus so much realized her
opportunities must be drawing short. What could she do? She had a flask of
very expensive perfume. Nard it was. That is a spice from India that would be
used to make perfume and that perfume stayed sealedin a container. It seems
like it was a single use vial for it had to be broken to be used (like us? like
Jesus?). Marybroke this and poured this costlyperfume upon Jesus.
She took serious grieffrom the disciples for that action, but I do not think she
was too concernedover that. She had such regardfor Jesus that knowing her
time with him was short did was she could.
Disciples judging
The room would have soonbeen filled with the blessing of the pleasing odor.
The perfume was of excellence andsurely the people there would have been
alerted by it. Sometimes one or the other of my daughters will spray their
strong perfume from Bath & Body Works. We smell it and sometimes like it.
Occasionallyit will be too strong. Occasionallythe siblings will fuss.
The reactionin Simon’s house was not pleasure at the actof the woman or the
blessing of a pleasing aroma. It was scornand derision. The disciples smelled,
lookedand observed what had just happened and were shocked. No pleasure
they took in the extravagantworship, but only judgment over what they
perceivedas a greatwaste.
Jesus sticks up for Mary–I’ll come back to this one
Judas goes rogue
The Pharisees were notsure how they were going to arrestJesus, but they
were sure that it should not be during the feast. The arrival of Judas with his
offer to betray Jesus changeda lot of things. That was the break they thought
they needed, and it was a thing that would break so many. Judas would
eventually be among those who broke. Jerusalemand Israelas a nation would
also break. Any attempt that Satan may have had to delay the demise of
Christ pastthe Passoverwas made all the more difficult.

Jesus stuck up for Mary and showedhis poise
Jesus exaltedwhat Mary did. He said that she did what she could. The act of
Mary was an act of worship that had a fragrance far beyond that of the
perfume poured out that day. Jesus redeemedthat act raising it above the
grumbles of the disciples.
There are some crucial things we should see in the manner of Christ. First, he
had command of himself and the situation. He interrupted the complaints of
his disciples and he also put a goodlight upon their words. See “Take1” for
more on the goodlight Jesus put upon their disparagements. Jesus brought
the situation back into control. He was not too pre-occupied with her worship,
with the disciples’s bad motives, or his own coming crucifixion. He took
control of the conversationsthroughout that whole room.
Second, he was aware ofhis pending execution. In verse 8 he spoke ofhis
coming burial. He knew he was soonto die. His death on the cross was part of
the eternalplan and he was there to carry through with it. Jesus was living on
purpose. His life was not a thing to be rushed through or to be gottenout of
the way. He was going about the daily duties with mental engagementand
resolve. He was poisedon the way to the cross.
Third, he was aware of the preaching of the gospelthat would result. Usually
verse 9 is taught in light of the honor bestowedupon her memory by Jesus.
The disciples grumbled to her disadvantage while Jesus redeemedthe moment
to her perpetual advantage. What I would like us to see, though, is that Jesus
was also clearlyaware of the coming church age. A reader of the scripture is
not naive to that for Jesus had been about the training of the twelve. It is good
to see that same theme being part of the poise of Christ as he approachedhis
death. Jesus knew he would soonleave the world. He knew the Holy Spirit
would be sent and that the gospelwould be preached.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES

Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
"she Hath Wrought A GoodWork On Me."
Mark 14:6
A. Rowland
Describe the feastin the house of Simon the leper, and distinguish the incident
from that which is recorded in Luke 7. Indicate Mary's reasons forloving the
Lord, with all her heart and soul and strength, and show that this actof
exquisite self-abandonment was the natural expressionof her love. Learn
from the subjectthe following lessons:-
I. THAT AN ACT WHICH IS PLEASING TO OUR LORD MAY BE
MISCONSTRUED AND CONDEMNED BYHIS DISCIPLES. All the
disciples were guilty of murmuring againstMary, but John points out that
Judas Iscariotbegan it. Entrusted with the bag in which the common fund
was kept, he had carriedon for some time past a system of petty thievery. It
has been suggestedthat, as our Lord knew his besetting sin of avarice, it
would have been kinder not to have put this temptation in his way. There is,
however, another aspectofthis question. Evil habits are sometimes conquered
by a tacit appeal to honor and generosity. An outward habit may be gotrid of
by removal of temptation, but absence oftemptation does not root out the sin.
In effect our Lord said to Judas, "I know your sin, but yet I put this money in
your charge;for surely you would not rob the poor, defraud your brethren,
and dishonor me!" This appeal might have savedJudas; but he yielded to his
sin till it damned him. Such a man would be likely to feel aggrievedatthis
generous actof Mary's. He felt as if he had been personally defrauded. He
knew that if this spikenard, which had vanished in a few minutes of refreshing
fragrance, had been sold he would have had the manipulation of the proceeds.
Therefore he was angry with Mary, and angry with the Lord, who had not
rejectedher offering. We caneasily understand the feeling of Judas. But how
was it the disciples re-echoedhis complaint? They sided with him, although
they certainly were not actuatedby his base motive. Well, we all know that if a

word of censure be uttered in the Church it swiftly spreads, and is like leaven,
which soonleavens the whole lump. Suspicionand slander find easieraccess
to men's hearts than stories of heroism and generosity. Weeds seedthemselves
more rapidly than flowers. The disciples had more to justify their fault-
finding than we sometimes have. They were plain peasants, who had never
known the profusion of modern life, and they were aghastat the idea of such a
prodigality of luxury as this. From all they knew of their Lord they supposed
that he would have preferred the relief of the poor to any indulgence for
himself, and that he himself would have been disposedto say, "To what
purpose is this waste?"Manynow imagine that they caninfallibly decide
what will please or displease their Lord, yet in their condemnation of others
they are often mistaken. Mary, no doubt, was discouragedand disappointed.
Her gift had been the subjectof thought and prayer, and now that her
opportunity had come for presenting it she eagerlyseizedit. She was prepared
for the sneers of the Pharisees;but surely the disciples would be gladto see
their Lord honored. At their rebuke her heart was troubled; her eyes filled
with tears as she thought, "Perhaps they are right. I ought to have sold it."
Then Jesus lookedonher with loving approval, and threw over her the shield
of his defense.
II. THAT ANY SERVICE WHICH IS THE OFFSPRING OF LOVE TO
THE LORD IS ACCEPTABLE TO HIM. He perfectly understood and
approved her motive, and therefore was pleasedwith her offering. Whether it
came in the fragrance of this ointment, or in the form of three hundred pence,
was of comparatively little consequence. It meant, "I love thee supremely,"
and therefore he was glad. Naturally so. When a child brings you the relic of
some feastwhich you would rather not have, yet because it has been saved
from love to you, you eat it with as much gusto as if it were nectar from
Olympus. Why? Because youjudge of the gift from the love it expresses;and
this, in an infinitely higher sphere, our Lord also does. Unlike us, he always
knows what the motive is, and about many an act condemned by his disciples
he says, "She hath wrought a goodwork on me." Καλόν, translated "good,"
means something beautiful, noble, or lovely. Mary's act was not ordered by
the Law, nor dictated by precedent, nor suitable to everybody; but for her, as
an expressionof her love, it was the most beautiful thing possible. She poured

her heart's love on Jesus when she poured the spikenardfrom the broken
cruse.
III. THAT A GIFT OR ACT PROMPTED BYLOVE TO THE LORD MAY
HAVE FAR MORE EFFECTTHAN WE DESIGN. "She is come aforehand
to anoint my body to the burying." Some argue from this that Mary knew
Jesus was aboutto be crucified, and would rise againfrom the dead, so that
this would be the only time for such anointing. I doubt that. Probably she had
no distinct, ulterior designwhen she simply did what her love prompted. But
in commending her Jesus in effectsaid, "In this actshe has done more than
you think - more than she herselfimagines; for she is anointing me for my
burial." In God's Word we find that we are credited for the goodor for the
evil latent in our actions, by Divine justice or in Divine generosity. We read of
some standing before the Judge of quick and dead who are amazedat the
issues of their half-forgottenacts for or againstthe Savior. "When saw we
thee an hungred or athirst?" etc. This was the principle on which Christ
attributed to Mary's acta result she could not have foreseen.
CONCLUSION. This is true of evil as of good. There is not a sin you commit
but it may begetother sins, and in effect as well as in memory the words are
true, "The evil that men do lives after them." Forthe far-reaching effects of
sinful words and deeds, of which he may know nothing till the day of
judgment, the sinner is responsible to God. What an encouragementis here to
steadfastcontinuance in well-doing! That which has the smallestimmediate
result may have the greatestultimately. The story of Mary's inexpressible love
has had far greatereffectin blessing the world than the distribution of three
hundred pence among the poor, which human judgment might have
preferred. - A.R.

Biblical Illustrator
And Judas Iscariot.
Mark 14:9-11
Mary and Judas
T. Nightingale.
As these verses, andespeciallythe narrative of the Fourth Gospel, place in
juxtaposition the grandestact of Mary and the vilest deed of the sonof
Iscariot, let us take this opportunity of contrasting the one with the other, that
the brightness of the one charactermay allure us into the path which she trod,
and that the baseness ofthe other may determine us with all speed to shun all
sin, that we may not be destroyed by its plagues.
I. We here have Mary's love for her Lord arriving at its loftier elevation,
pouring its costly treasure on those feet at which she was wont to sit with so
much reverence, and learn lessons whose value is beyond rabies. It was not at
first that she wrought this deed of munificence, the fame of which shall be
coevalwith the duration of the world which now is, but after continuing to
receive and to profit by the instructions and works ofher Lord for some time;
the gracious impressionon her mind and heart towardher Lord, once in its
infancy, is full-fledged and full. grown;now the little leavenhas leavenedthe
whole lump.
II. Now let us glance athim who was calledto be on earth one of the twelve,
and calledin heaven to sit on an apostolic throne; but who became covetous,

and, in consequence, stole from the poor, and sold the Lord for thirty pieces of
silver. He was not all this at once, even as Mary did not break her alabaster
box the first time she saw Jesus, but the last, immediately before His death
and burial. Judas Iscarioterred by allowing a creaturelything, even
mammon, to have an undue place first in his thoughts and then in his heart.
Jesus was the objectof Mary's regard, her thoughts were ever running after
Him, until her heart was filled and ruled by His love, so that she would
considerit a little thing to be allowedto pour a fortune down at His feet. She
was spiritually-minded, and in that she found rest to her soul; Judas was
carnally-minded, and he fearfully proved that to be so is death.
III. These opposites serve to show that a continued course of virtue or sin will
lead to extraordinary acts of goodnessorcrime when opportunity or
temptation arises. While the love of Christ leads to constantacts of
beneficence forChrist, and extraordinary acts on greatoccasions, as with
Mary, so, on the other hand, the disciple who allows himself to indulge at first
in lesseracts of delinquency, waxes gradually worse and worse, becomes so
habituated to wander from the straightline, that he is prepared to commit
under strong temptation the greatestenormity, to do that of which at one time
he would have cried with horror, "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this
thing?" Nip sin in the bud; ceasefrom it at once, for you little know to what
height of crime and depth of shame it may conduct; seek, by God's help, to
ejectfrom the heart the little leaven of perverseness ere the whole heart and
life be corrupted and misguided thereby; the beginning of sin is as the letting
out of water, there is the trickling streamat first, the overwhelming flood
afterwards.
IV. We have the Lord's commendation of the one and condemnation of the
other. How contrary his fate on earth to that of the womanof Bethany! Thus,
the one who forgot selfand thought only of her Lord, and gloried that she
might become poor if He might but be honoured, the fragrance ofher name
fills the whole world with a sweetperfume, even as the ointment filled the
house with a grateful odour; while the other, who, yielding to temptation, did
not care that His Lord should be destroyed if he might be enriched and
aggrandized, his fate is to stand forth among men as most destitute and
desolate, cursedofGod and man. And where are they now — the Christ-

loving one and the money-loving one — brought into contactfor a moment
under this roof? The distance betweenthem, the moral distance, has been
widening ever since, and will evermore and evermore;the one has been
soaring always nearerto the throne of infinite love and truth, following the
Lamb whithersoeverHe goeth, increasing in likeness and devotedness to her
Lord; the other, cut off from all sources ofrestoring life, and only exposedto
what is evil, is always plunging into a lower depth of corruption, wandering
ever to greaterdistances from his Father's house, his Shepherd's fold; it had
been goodfor that man if he had never been born. A few lessons suggestedby
this subject:
1. We have a terrible lessonread to us here againstthe sin of covetousness.It
is not necessaryto have large sums of money entrusted to us to be covetous.
No one can sin exactly as he did by selling againhis Saviour for money, but
professors, ifnot watchful, may allow their supreme love to wander from
Christ, and to concentrate itselfon earthly treasure, be it equal in value to five
pounds or fifty thousand; the sin is not in the quantity of wealthwhich is
preferred to the Saviour, but in giving to wealth or anything else our highest
love instead of to Jesus. Those who do this are as guilty of soul-destroying
idolatry as ever Judas was. Take heedand beware of covetousness;all the
more need to beware thereof because it comes to us in such specious forms,
and assumes suchdeceptive titles, as economy, carefulness, prudence, honesty,
provision for the future, provision againstold age;it is a sin which among
men is treated with respect, and not held in abhorrence, as are sins of murder,
adultery, and theft; and yet it has been the millstone which has sunk many
besides Judas among the abysses ofthe bottomless pit; it is idolatry, says the
Word of God; and we know that no idolator hath place in the kingdom of
heaven.
2. The only safeguardagainstthis and every other evil besetment is to imbibe
the spirit and track the steps of Hazy. Her heart was full of Christ. Let Him
have your heart, that He may washit from all sin in His blood, and fill it with
His perfectlove. RegardHim as your one thing needful, the only one
absolutely essentialto your well-being. Having given Him your heart, and
fastenedits strongestlove on Him, all boxes and bags containing treasure will
be forthcoming at His demand; and in life, in death, in eternity, like Mary,

you will be infinitely removed from Judas and all who are like-minded. Well,
my fellow sinners, do you choose with Judas or with Mary? Not with Judas,
you say. You would not, if you could, betray the Holy One and the Just. But
his originaloffence, the root of the greatbetrayal sin, consistedin allowing
something in preference to Christ to engage his thoughts and affections, even
money, until he became wholly absorbedthereby; there was the seat of the
mischief. As long, then, as anything has your heart, be it money, be it a fellow
creature, be it a sensualindulgence, a carnal gratification, be it anything else,
you do choose with Judas and not with Mary. You give your heart, like the
apostate, to some creaturely thing or other, and as long as you do your soul is
in danger of eternal ruin; that one sin of yours, unless it be abandoned, will
destroy you. Oh, choose with the sisterof Martha and Lazarus, and give the
whole heart to Jesus.
(T. Nightingale.)
Remembering the poor but not Christ
Dr. Cuyler.
On a coldwinter evening, I made my first call on a rich merchant in New
York. As I left his door, and the piercing gale sweptin, I said, "What an awful
night for the poor 1" He went back, and bringing to me a roll of bank bills, he
said, "Please hand these, for me, to the poorestpeople you know." After a few
days, I wrote to him the grateful thanks of the poor whom his bounty had
relieved, and added: "How is it that a man so kind to his fellow creatures has
always been so unkind to his Saviour as to refuse Him his hearty" That
sentence touchedhim to the core. He sent for me to come and talk with him,
and speedily gave himself to Christ. He has been a most useful Christian ever
since.
(Dr. Cuyler.)
Helping the poor

Hans Christian Andersen.
On one occasiononly did I hear Jenny Lind express her joy in her talent and
self-consciousness. It was during her lastresidence in Copenhagen. Almost
every evening she appearedeither in the opera or at concerts;every hour was
in requisition. She heard of a society, the objectof which was to assist
unfortunate children, and to take them out of the hands of their parents, by
whom they were misused and compelled either to beg or steal. "Let me," said
she, "give a night's performance for the benefit of these poor children; but we
will have double prices." Such a performance was given, and returned large
proceeds. Whenshe was informed of this, and that by this means a number of
poor children would be benefited for severalyears, her countenance beamed,
and the tears filled her eyes. "Is it not beautiful," said she, "that I cansing
so?" Throughher I first became sensible of the holiness there is in art;
through her I learnedthat one must forgetone's selfin the service of the
Supreme."
(Hans Christian Andersen.)
The treacheryof Judas
R. Glover.
Judas and Mary are at the two poles of human possibility. Perhaps in their
earlier years both seemedequally promising. But now how vast the interval!
Little by little Mary has risen by following God's light, and little by little
Judas has fallen by following Satan's temptation.
1. Many begin well who perish awfully.
2. Selfis the destruction of safety and sanctity alike.
3. Greedleads to much inward backsliding, and to much open apostasy.
4. There is meanness and cowardice in all evil. Evil lays plots and practises
deceit, ashamedand afraid to actin the open.

5. The goodness ofgoodmen makes bad men worse when it fails to wake
repentance in them.
6. The world thinks as Judas thought, that the lack of money is the root of all
evil; but Godsays what Judas forgot, that the love of money is so.
7. To get one-third of the sum Mary had spent on ointment, Judas sides with
the foes of Jesus, andbecomes a traitor to his Saviour.
8. They who plot againstthe Saviour plot againstthemselves. It was Judas, not
Christ, who was destroyed.
9. Beware ofhalf-conversionand the blending, of worldliness and discipleship,
for such mixtures end badly. The thorns springing up, choke fatally the grace
that seemedstrong and healthy.
(R. Glover.)
Policyof Judas
H. R. Haweis, M. A.
I do not think that Judas meant to betray Jesus to death. He sold Him for
about £3 16s. He meant, no doubt, to force His hand — to compelHim to
declare Himself and bring on His kingdom at once. Things, he thought, ought
now to come to a crisis; there could be no doubt that the greatMiracle
Workerwould win if He could only be pushed into action, and if just a little
money could also be made it would be smart, especiallyas it would come out
of the enemy's pocket. Thatwas Judas all over. His characteris very
interesting, and I think much misunderstood. The direct lessonto be learnt is
generallythe danger of living on a low moral plane. It is like a low state of the
body — it is not exactly disease, but it is the condition favourable to all kinds
of disease. Dulness to fine feeling, religion, truth, leads to self-deception—
which leads to blindness of the worstkind, and then on to crime. Nothing is
safe but a high Ideal, and it cannot be too high. Aim at the best always, and
keephonour bright. Don't tamper with truth — don't trifle with affection —

and, above all, don't be continually set on getting money at all risks and at any
sacrifice. We may all look a Judas and learn that.
(H. R. Haweis, M. A.)
The sin of covetousness
George Petter.
Learn from this the greatnessand danger of the sin of covetousness, the cause
and root from which spring many other sins (1 Timothy 6:10). A mother sin,
having many cursed daughters like itself. A stock upon which one may graft
any sin almost. Hence come fraud, injustice, and all kinds of oppressionboth
open and secret;cruelty and unmerciful dealing; lying, swearing, murder, etc.
1. It withdraws the heart from God and religion, hindering our love to God,
and delight in His service;quenching our zealfor His glory; causing men to
settheir hearts upon worldly wealth and gain, which so takes them up that
they cannot be free to love God, and to delight in His service as they ought to
do (Matthew 6:24; Luke 14:1).
2. It chokes the seedof God's Word in the hearts of those who hear it, so that
it cannot bring forth fruit in them (Matthew 13:22;Ezekiel33:31).
3. Grievous judgments are threatened in Scripture againstthis sin (Isaiah5:8;
Habakkuk 2:9; James 5:1; Luke 6:24).
4. It is a sin very hard to be repented of. When other sins leave a man, e.g., in
old age, this only clings fasterto him. He that will follow Christ, and be a true
Christian, must forsake allthings in this world (at leastin heart) to follow
Him. But how difficult is this for the covetous man to do. Besides, suchhave
many pretences and excuses for their sin: as, that hard times may come; and,
"He that provides not for his own," etc., which is one main cause why it is so
hard for such to repent.
(George Petter.)

Covetousnessnotconfined to the rich
George Petter.
The poor may think they are free from this sin, and in no dangerof falling
into it. But(1) look, does not the love of money or riches possessthy soul? If so,
then, though thou be poor, yet thou mayest be in danger of this sin; yea, thou
mayest be deeply tainted with it — if thy heart be in love with worldly wealth;
if thou eagerlydesire to be rich, and esteemwealthtoo highly, thinking only
those who have it happy.(2) If discontented with thy present estate, it is a sign
thou art covetous.
(George Petter.)
Remedies againstcovetousness
George Petter.
1. Remember, that we are in Scripture plainly forbidden to desire and seek
after worldly wealth(Proverbs 23:4; Matthew 6:1).
2. Considerthe nature of all worldly wealthand riches. It is but this world's
goods (as the Apostle calls it), which serves only for maintenance of this
present momentary life, and is in itself most vain and transitory; being all but
perishing substance. Gold itself is but "gold that perisheth" (1 Peter1:7; 1
Timothy 6:17; Proverbs 23:5; Luke 12:20).
3. Considerhow vain and unprofitable to us all worldly wealthis, even while
we enjoy it: not being able of itself to help or do us good(Luke 12:15). The
richest men do not live longest. All the wealthin the world cannot prolong a
man's life one hour. It cannotgive us ease in pain; health in sickness;but most
unable it is to help or deliver us in the day of God's wrath. Think of these
things, to restrain and keepus from the love and inordinate desire of this
world's goods. One main cause ofcovetousnessis a false persuasionin men's
hearts touching some greatexcellencyin riches, that they will make one
happy; but it is not so; rather the contrary.

4. Considerthe accountto be given hereafter to God, of all wealth here
enjoyed; how we have used it, well or ill: for we are not absolute owners of
that we have, but stewards only, entrusted by God with earthly substance to
use it to His glory and the goodof others. Think of this well, and it will be a
means to curb the inordinate love and desire of worldly wealth.
5. Labour for faith in God's providence; to depend on His Fatherly care for
things of this life. This will cut off covetous desires, whichare fruits of
infidelity and distrust of God's Providence (Matthew 6:30, 32; Romans 8:32;
Psalm55:22).
6. Labour for contentedness with presentcondition. This is true riches
(Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:8).
7. Labour to make God our portion and treasure. Let thy heart go chiefly to
Him, and be chiefly set on Him: thy love, joy, delight. Then thou art rich
enough. In Him thou hast all things.
(George Petter.)
The Church injured
William Nicholson.
I. THAT A TOO INTIMATE CONNECTIONBETWEENA PROFESSING
CHRISTIAN AND THE WORLD IS INJURIOUS TO THE CHURCH.
II. THAT THE HYPOCRITE IS MORE INJURIOUS TO THE CHURCH
THAN A NON-PROFESSOR.
1. The world depends upon him for an opportunity. To the chief priests all
plans and proposals failed, until Judas's came.
2. Hypocrites are the leaders of the enemies after abandoning Christ.
Examples: Judas, Alexander the coppersmith, etc.
3. They have a knowledge ofthe failures of Christian brethren. A fortress
attacked— an enemy disguised enters — has intelligence of the weakness of

the fortification — joins the army outside — leads the assaultto the weakest
place. Zion trusts in the Lord.
4. They are too near to be seen. Goldand copper cannotbe distinguished
when held so closelyas to touch the eye.
III. THAT A FEEBLE MORAL CHARACTER IS INJURIOUS TO THE
CHURCH.
IV. THAT THE WORLD'S JOY AND THE CHURCH'S GRIEF MAY
OFTEN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE SAME CAUSE. "And when they heard
it they were glad;" and "they were exceeding sorrowful." The same cause —
how different the effects!Dismembering, abandonment of God, etc., produce
similar effects. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Fatherwhich is in
heaven is perfect."
(William Nicholson.)
Modern apostasies
The Rev. W. Archer Butler remarks: "The apostasiesofthe table, the fireside,
and the market may be as bad as those of Judas, Julian, or Demas." And is it
not so? If, for some petty advantage — some poor worldly enjoyment — our
religious duties are neglected, do we not thereby appear to acknowledgethat
Christ is of less esteemto us? If, for example, we forsake ourpublic or private
devotions to attend socialparties and engagements,fearing lestwe may be
otherwise censuredfor not uniting in them, is not this one mode of slighting
Christ for the world? Or, if we allow the pursuits of money getting or private
pleasure to absorb our lives, or leave us but the narrowestmargin for the
service of Jesus and the promotion of His kingdom, is not this also, in no
imaginary sense, "selling Him for silver?" Then what will the end be if this sin
shall remain unrepented of and persistedin.
Traitors despisedby their employers

When Graveston, who betrayed the Spaniards at Bergen-op-Zoomto Queen
Elizabeth, came to England to give her Majestyan accountof his success, and
to claim the reward, the queen gave him a thousand crowns, but saidto him at
the same time, "Getyou home, that I may know where to send when I want a
thorough-facedvillain."
Money that profits not
Three men who were travelling togetherfound a treasure and divided it. Then
they continued on their journey discussing of the use that they would make of
their riches. Having eatenall the food which they had takenwith them, they
concluded to go away into the city to purchase some and chargedthe youngest
with this errand, so he setout on his journey. While on the wayhe said to
himself: "How rich I am! but I should be richer, did I only have all of the
treasure. Those two men have robbed me of my riches. Shall I not be able to
revenge them? That could be easilydone, for I should have only to poison the
food which I am commissionedto purchase. On my return I will tell them that
I have dined in town. My companions will partake of the food without
suspicion, and die, then I shall have all the riches, while I have now only a
third." During this time his two companions said to eachother: "We have no
need that this young man associate withus; we have been obliged to divide
our riches with him; his portion would increase ours, and we should be truly
rich. He is coming back, we have gooddaggers, letus use them." The youth
returned with the poisonedfood; his fellow travellers assassinatedhim, then
partook of the food direct, and the treasure belongedto no one.
STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES
The Biblical Illustrator

Mark 14:9
For a memorial of her.
Works done for Christ remembered and recompensed
The doing of works has been over-valued in one part of the Church’s history,
i.e., works as separate from the motives which led to them; and, as you know,
for a long seasonlanguage washeld as if there was a merit in works, and as if
they could make an atonementfor sin, and wipe out a man’s past misdeeds,
and as if, if upon a death bed he made greatsacrificesto Christ’s church, that
wiped out years of lust, covetousness,and cruelty. And so, by a revulsion of
feeling, which always must besetthe Church, it has come to pass, that
amongstus men have been afraid of speaking of the greatprivilege, and of the
greatduty, of doing works of love for Christ’s body, the Church; and there
has come amongstus a mawkish, miserable sortof notion, that we are to
cultivate inward feelings, affections, andthe like, and that this is all of
religion, and the whole of the reality of it, at which we are to aim. But this is
not the whole of the truth of the thing; this is a very poor and miserable
counterfeit of Christianity. WhereverChristianity truly takes hold of the deep
of any man’s heart, it will show itself, not only in guiding his feeling but in
guiding his actions, in leading him to a generous, devoted, and loyal-hearted
service;it will make him bring his “alabasterbox,” and break it, and never
count its price, and never reckonnicely whether he could lay out his money to
better profit elsewhere;it will stop all such objections as-“Hadit not better
been sold and given to the poor?” for there is a munificence about love, and
there is a grandeur in the giving of a loyal heart, which Christ loves to see,
and which He will surely reward. In two ways this is set before us in the text.
1. In the readiness ofour blessedMasterto receive the offering; the way in
which He at once stepped in betweenthe woman and her reproof, the way in
which He put down the objection, whether it was urged in hypocrisy, or
whether in the darkness ofa half-faith, that she had better have sold it and
given it to the poor; the ready way in which He stepped in and at once
acknowledged“She hath done what she could,” “she hath done it againstMy
burial.” The woman, perhaps, knew not that Christ was nearHis end. But so

it is, that love comes atthe hidden truth of things, before the things themselves
have been revealed. The man who is acting from love to Christ is a sort of
prophet; he fore acts upon that which is yet hidden in the counsels ofGod.
2. By the remarkable promise added. See what enduring honour was this
which Christ put upon this deed; see how far it goes beyondany worldly
honour which we reckonthe highest in order. Those who labour for God will
reap an abiding honour, which is to be gotin no path of earthly service. This
little thing which seemedto err in the doing, this thing which seemedto be
done so easily, so naturally, which costthis woman no thought beforehand,
but which was just the impulse of a loving heart-this has lived on and been
spokenof, though all the Roman empire has passedaway. The greatgulf of
forgetfulness has swallowedit up, but the Lord our God endureth forever;
and even the miserable works ofman, when done for God, are gifted with
endurance too. It is wove, as it were, into the web of God’s greatness;and so it
lasts on, and the blessing and the memory of it lives on in this world of change,
long after the greatworld of things which surround it has sunk down beneath
the distant horizon, and this comes up like some mighty mountain which was
swallowedup by those that stood near it and seemedgreaterthan it, but now
in the far distance it stands out alone in the light of heaven and tells us that it
is unlike all the rest. And so it has been often with things done for God, and
for Christ, and for His Church.
I. Encouragement. The remembrance of this woman is a pledge that God will
never forget His people. Worthless though their work is; mixed as it is in the
motives from which it springs, even in the very bestmen; stained, therefore,
as it is with sin; yet, for Christ’s sake, it is accepted, and, being accepted, it
shall be rewarded. Here, then, is a greatmotive to exertion in God’s service.
Sow largely this passing opportunity of time with the seeds ofeternity. Put out
your lives, and all you have, at interest, where God will pay againthat which
you lend Him. Make ventures for Him. Castinto the dark deep of His
providence that which He will give you againwith interest.

II. Duty. The power of doing this comes from your being a Christian;
therefore the necessityofyour doing it is bound up in the factof your being a
Christian. You are not living as a Christian if you are not doing it. The power
of working for God is the fruit of your redemption. It is because Christhas
redeemedus that we can serve God with an acceptable sacrifice;that creation
has receivedus back againinto the place which sin had lostfor us; that all
things can be full of God to us; that we can in fact serve the Lord, knowing
whom we serve, and sure of being accepted;that everything we have has
become a talent-our station in life, our daily walk, our conduct in our family
and in the world around us, that these are tasks setus by God, just as much
allotted to us because we are Christians as the tasks ofangels are allotted to
them; so that it does not matter where or what I am in life; whether my life is
mean as men judge, or greatas men judge, it matters nothing; it is the aim of
my life which makes the whole difference. (Bishop S. Wilberforce.)
Work not for success,but for God
You are not to labour for visible success. This is one of the greatreasons why
those who had begun to work for God are seento faint. They think to gather,
when they should sow. Theymean to do some greatgood, and they setabout it
heartily; it all turns to disappointment; and, as they were working for success,
they sit down and work no longer. Remember, brethren, you are working not
for success,but for God. You are to work in the dark. It is the very condition
of life. In heavenwe shall work in the light-shall see the work of God; but not
here. In this life we must work in the dark; we must give to the unthankful;
we must give, because Christis representedin the poor and miserable around
us, and because this is the only way we have of breaking our “box of
spikenard” upon His body. And if we labour in love, there is a secretlaw of
love bringing us to the result. The saints of God have found this. They have
done something in love, because “the love of Christ constrainedthem” to do
it; and, it may be in the next generation, oreven in the generationafter, it has
begun to work mightily. They have founded some little institution with a
liberal hand, and that little institution has swelledand growninto a mighty
fortress, in which the truth of Christ has been stored for a whole generation;
they have opened a door in the desert, and they knew not that multitudes, who

should travel that way, would thank God for the refreshment thus afforded to
them. (Bishop S. Wilberforce.)
A very pleasantway of getting ourselves remembered
Human aggrandizementgives no permanent satisfaction. I had an agedfriend
who went into the White House when GeneralJacksonwas Presidentof the
United States, four days before PresidentJacksonleft the White House, and
the Presidentsaid to him, “I am bothered almostto death. People strive for
this White House as though it were some grand thing to get, but I tell you it is
a perfect hell!” There was nothing in the elevationthe world had given him
that rendered him satisfaction, orcould keepoff the annoyances and
vexations of life. A man writes a book. He thinks it will circulate for a long
while. Before long it goes into the archives of the city library, to be disturbed
once a year, and that when the janitor cleans the house. A man builds a
splendid house, and thinks he will getfame from it. A few years pass along,
and it goes downunder the auctioneer’s hammer at the executors’sale, and a
strangerbuys it. The pyramids were constructedfor the honour of the men
who ordered them built. Who built them? Don’t know!For whom were they
built? Don’t know!Their whole history is an obscurationand a mystery.
There were men in Thebes, and Tyre, and Babylon who strove for great
eminence, but they were forgotten;while the woman of the text, who lovingly
accostedJesus,has her memorial in all the ages. Ah! men and women of God,
I have found out the secret;that which we do for ourselves is forgotten-that
which we do for Christ is immortal. They who are kind to the sick, they who
instruct the ignorant, they who comfort the troubled, shall not be forgotten.
There have been more brilliant womenthan Florence Nightingale, but all the
world sings her praise. There have been men of more brain than missionary
Carey-their names are forgotten, while his is famous on the records of the
Christian Church. There may have been women with vases more costly than
that which is brought into the house of Simon the leper, but their names have
been forgotten, while I stand before you tonight, reading the beautiful story of
this Bethany worshipper. In the gallery of heaven are the portraits of Christ’s
faithful servants, and the monuments may crumble, and earth may burn, and
the stars may fall, and time may perish; but God’s faithful ones shall be talked

of among the thrones, and from the earthly seedthey sowedthere shall be
reaped a harvestof everlasting joy. (Dr. Talmage.)
Christ deserves the best of everything
That woman could have got a vase that would not have costhalf so much as
those made of alabaster. She might have brought perfume that would have
costonly fifty pence;this costthree hundred. As far as I canunderstand, her
whole fortune was in it. She might have been more economical;but no, she
gets the very best box and puts in it the very best perfume, and pours it all out
on the head of her Redeemer. My brothers and sisters in Christ, the trouble is
that we bring to Christ too cheapa box. If we have one of alabasterand one of
earthenware, we keepthe first for ourselves and give the other to Christ. We
owe to Jesus the best of our time, the best of our talents, the best of
everything. If there is anybody on earth you love better than Jesus, youwrong
Him. Who has ever been so loving and pure and generous?Which one of your
friends offeredto pay all your debts, and carry all your burdens, and suffer
all your pains? Which one of them offeredto go into the grave to make you
victor? Tellme who he is and where he lives, that I may go and worship him
also. No, no; you know there has never been but one Jesus, andthat if He got
His dues, we would bring to Him all the gems of the mountains, and all the
pearls of the sea, and all the flowers of the field, and all the fruits of the
tropics, and all the crowns of dominions, and all the boxes of alabaster. If you
have any brilliancy of wit, bring it; any clearness ofjudgment, any largeness
of heart, any attractiveness ofposition, bring them. Away with the cheap
bottles of stale perfume when you may fill the banqueting hall of Christ with
exquisite aroma. Paul had made great speechesbefore, but he made his best
speechfor Christ. John had warmth of affectionin other directions, but he
had his greatestwarmth of affection for Christ. Jesus deserves the best word
we ever uttered, the gladdestsong we ever sang, the most loving letter we ever
wrote, the healthiestday we ever lived, the strongestheart throb we everfelt.
(Dr. Talmage.)
Give the children to Jesus

Is there a child in your householdespeciallybright and beautiful? Take it
right up to Jesus. Hold it in baptism before Him; kneelbeside it in prayer;
take it right up to where Jesus is. Oh, do you not know, father and mother,
that the best thing that could happen to that child would be to have Jesus put
His hands on it? If some day Jesus should come to the household, and take one
awayto come back never, never, do not resist Him. His heart is warmer, His
arm strongerthan yours. The cradle for a child is not so safe a place as the
arms of Jesus. If Christ should come into your household where you have
your very best treasures, and should selectfrom all the casketsan alabaster
box, do not repulse Him. It has seemedas it Jesus Christtook the best; from
many of your households the best one is gone. You knew that she was too good
for this world; she was the gentlestin her ways, the deepestin her affections;
and, when at last the sicknesscame, you had no faith in medicines. You knew
that Jesus was coming over the door sill. You knew that the hour of parting
had come, and when, through the rich grace ofthe Lord Jesus Christ, you
surrendered that treasure, you said: “Lord Jesus, take it-it is the best we
have-take it. Thou art worthy.” The others in the householdmay have been of
grossermould. She was of alabaster. The other day a man was taking me from
the depot to a village. He was very rough and coarse, and very blasphemous;
but after awhile he melloweddown as he beganto talk of his little son whom
he had lost. “Oh, sir,” he said, “that boy was different from the rest of us. He
never used any bad language;no, sir. I never beard him use a bad word in my
life. He used to say his prayers, and we laughed at him; but he would keepon
saying his prayers, and I often thought, ‘I can’t keepthat child;’ and I said to
my wife: ‘Mother, we can’t keepthat child.’ But, sir, the day he was drowned,
and they brought him in and laid him down on the carpet, so white and so
beautiful, my heart broke, sir. I knew we couldn’t keep him.” Yes, yes, that is
Christ’s way; He takes this alabasterbox. (Dr. Talmage.)
A thank offering for Jesus
Now, my friends, this woman made her offering to Christ; what offering have
you to make to Jesus? She brought an alabasterbox, and she brought
ointment. Some of you have been sick. In the hours of loneliness and suffering
you said: “Lord Jesus, let me get wellthis time, and I will be consecratedto
Thee.” The medicines did their work;the doctor was successful;you are well;

you are here tonight. What offering have you to make to the Lord Jesus who
cured you? Some of you have been out to Greenwood, not as those who go to
look at the monuments and criticise the epitaphs, but in the processionthat
came out of the gate with one less than when you went in. And yet you have
been comforted. The gravedigger’s spade seemedto turn up the flowers of
that goodland where God shall wipe awaythe tears from you: eyes. Forthat
Jesus who so comforted you, and so pitied you, what offering have you to
make? Some of you have passedwithout any specialtrouble. Today, at noon,
when you gatheredaround the table, if you had calledthe familiar names,
they would have all answered. Plentyat the table, plenty in the wardrobe. To
that Jesus who has clothedand fed you all your life long, to that Jesus who
coveredHimself with the glooms of death that He might purchase your
emancipation, what offering of the soul have you to make? The woman of the
text brought the perfumes of nard. You say:“The flowers of the field are all
dead now, and we can’t bring them.” I know it. The flowers on the platform
are only those that are plucked from the grim hand of death; they are the
children of the hothouse. The flowers of the field are all dead. We saw them
blooming in the valleys and mountains; they ran up to the very lips of the
cave;they garlanded the neck of the hills like a May queen. They settheir
banquet of golden cups for the bee, and dripped in drops of honeysuckle for
the humming bird. They dashedtheir anthers againstthe white band of the
sick child, and came to the nostrils of the dying like spice gales from heaven.
They shook in the agitation of the bride, and at the burial hour sang the silver
chime of a resurrection. Beautiful flowers!Bright flowers!Sweetflowers!But
they are all dead now. I saw their scatteredpetals on the foam of the wild
brook, and I pulled aside the hedge, and saw the place where their corpses lay.
We cannotbring the flowers. What shall we bring? Oh, from our heart’s
affections, tonight let us bring the sweet-smelling savourof a Christian
sacrifice. Letus bring it to Christ, and as we have no other vase in which to
carry it, let this glorious Sabbath hour be the alabasterbox. Rawlins White,
an old martyr, was very decrepit; and for years he had been bowedalmost
double, and could hardly walk;but he was condemned to death, and, on his
way to the stake, we are told, the bonds of his body seemedto break, and he
roused himself up as straight and exuberant as an athlete, and walkedinto the
fire singling victory over the flames. Ah, it was the joy of dying for Jesus that

straightenedhis body, and roused his soul! If we suffer with Him on earth we
shall be glorified with Him in heaven. Choose His service;it is a blessed
service. Let no man or womango out of this house tonight unblest. Jesus
spreads out both arms of His mercy. He does not ask where you came from, or
what have been your sins, or what have been your wanderings:but He says,
with a pathos and tenderness that ought to break you down: “Come unto Me
all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Who will
acceptthe offer of His mercy? (Dr. Talmage.)
Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible
And verily I say unto you, Wheresoeverthe gospelshall be preached
throughout the whole world, that also which this womanhath done shall be
spokenof her for a memorial of her.
This verse requires important deductions: (1) Christ did not believe that the
end of all things would occur at some near time in the future, this verse
envisaging a worldwide proclamation of the gospelthroughout the ages. (2)
That this memorial "of her" intrinsically demanded the publication of her
name is evident; and therefore the silence of the synoptics regarding it must
be accountedfor by supposing that it was deliberately concealedfora long
while afterward, perhaps during the lifetime of Lazarus and his sisters. John,
writing long afterward, supplied the name of Mary (John 12:3). (3) This has
the effectof all three synoptics corroborating the gospelof John regarding the
resurrectionof Lazarus from the dead, their silence regarding the name of
Mary having no other reasonable explanationexcept upon the premise that
such a resurrectionhad indeed occurredand that the privacy of the family
demanded her name's omissionin the earlier gospels.One may read a library
of comments and find no other reasonable explanationof such an omission (in
the face of the Saviour's command) except that inferred here.
JUDAS' BETRAYAL
Stung by Jesus'rebuke, the traitor, already out of sympathy with the spiritual
nature of Christ's kingdom, decided to take matters into his own hands.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
Verily I say unto you,.... And you may assure yourselves ofthe truth of it:
wheresoeverthis Gospel, of the death and resurrectionof Christ,
shall be preached throughout the whole world, as it shall be,
this also that she hath done shall be spokenof for a memorial of her; in
remembrance of her, and her work, and in commendation of her faith, love,
and duty; See Gill on Matthew 26:13.
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament
For a memorial of her (εις μνημοσυνοναυτης — eis mnēmosunon autēs). So in
Matthew 26:13. There are many mausoleums that crumble to decay. But this
monument to Jesus fills the whole world still with its fragrance. What a hint
there is here for those who wish to leave permanent memorials.
The Fourfold Gospel
And verily I say unto you, Wheresoeverthe gospelshall be preached
throughout the whole world1, that also which this woman hath done shall be
spokenof for a memorial of her.
Wheresoeverthe gospelshallbe preachedthroughout the whole world,
that also which this woman hath done shall be spokenof for a memorial of
her. Jesus here makes prominent the different estimates which God and man
place upon the same acts. That which the disciples had censured as a waste
and that which they had regarded as worthy of rebuke was in his sight an
actionfit to be kept in everlasting remembrance as a model for the conduct of

future generations throughout the whole earth, and he accordinglydecreed
that it be so keptin mind.
John Trapp Complete Commentary
9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoeverthis gospelshallbe preached throughout
the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spokenof for a memorial
of her.
Ver. 9. {See Trapp on "Matthew 26:13"}
Sermon Bible Commentary
Mark 14:9 (R.V.)
Love to the Christ as a Person.
I. Looking at this incident closely, we find as its main characteristic thatit was
the expressionofa feeling, and that it was intensely personal. This woman had
come under a greatsense ofgratitude to Christ. He had become enshrined in
her soulalmost as God; nay, all her thoughts of Him were like her thoughts of
God, exceptthat their dread was softenedby a human grace. It is not true, it
is not an idea, that inspires her, but this Jesus Himself; and so upon Jesus
Himself she lavishes her tribute of reverent love.
II. But this is a gospelto be preachedin all the world; how shall it preachto
us? We have no seenand present Lord to receive the raptures and gifts of our
love. The outward parallel is not for us, but the inward parallel sets forth an
unending relation and an unfaltering duty. Christ askedfrom men nothing of
an external nature, but He steadily required their personallove and loyalty.
He did not ask of any a place to lay His head, it mattered little if Simon asked

Him to his feasts, but once there, it did matter whether Simon loved Him or
not. Waiving all personalministration, He yet claims personallove.
III. Let us see if Christ was mistakenin planting His system upon personal
love and devotion to Himself. Or, more broadly, Why does this faith, that
claims to be the world's salvation, wearthis guise of personalrelations?
Simply because in no other way can man be delivered from his evil. In the
ideas that the loud-voiced wisdomof the age would have Us believe to be the
salvationof the world, God is driven farther and farther into unknowable
heavens, the Christ is made to figure only on a dim and blurred page of
history. The Faith that is to redeemthe world must have a surer method, it
must have a vitalising motive, and such a motive can proceedonly from a
person using the strongestforce in a person—love. The love we now render is
the fidelity of our whole nature, the verdict of our intelligence, the assentof
our conscience,the allegianceofour will, the loyalty of sympathetic conviction
all-permeated with tender gratitude; but it is still personal, loving Him who
loved us and gave Himself for us.
T. T. Munger, The Freedomof Faith, p. 109.
I. One lessonof this incident is, that we should not grudge any outlay where
God and His glory are concerned;that we should be on our guard againsta
captious, withholding temper; againstthat temper which the disciples showed
in their remark upon Mary's offering: "Why was this waste of the ointment
made?"
II, Note the sense which Christ Himself entertains of such acts of devotion:
"She hath wrought a goodwork on Me," etc. This, remember, is not the
judgment of man. It is Christ's ownview of an act which His disciples blamed
as extravagant. He pronounces it a goodact, and He declares the praise of it
shall endure. And His words on this subjectreach even to us. What He spoke
of Mary's homage, He speaks—doubtit not—of all like generous free-giving
in all after times. To such conduct He awards an everlasting memorial, a
remembrance of the doers when they are dead, living on, age after age, in the
hearts and on the lips, of their fellow-men. A life that never goes beyond the

level of common practice, that is never quickened by any effort of unusual
charity, or unusual self-denial; a life that even in its religion is a selfishlife,
that seeksits own and not the things which are Jesus Christ's, that knows
nothing of His constraining love, that never contemplates the giving up of
field, or house, or ease, orpleasure, or natural inclination, or party views, the
better to advance His cause in the world; such a life is not, surely, the life that
we can be content to lead. Certainly it is not the life exhibited for our pattern
in the Gospel. It may be that the utmost we can accomplishwill be small; it
may be that our poor efforts to serve the Lord Christ will show as nothing,
compared with what some of our kind have wrought; but this need not
dishearten us. If we have done our best, "whatwe could," we shall have the
sealof His approval; we shall have been faithful in our few things; and that
fidelity—we have His word for it—will gain for us admission into the joy of
our Lord.
R. D. B. Rawnsley, Sermons preachedin Country Churches, p. 95.
References:Mark 14:12.—A. Rowland, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxvii., p.
3. Mark 14:12-21.—H. M. Luckock, Footprints ofthe Son of Man, p. 300.
Mark 14:14.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xiii., No. 785;Ibid., Evening by
Evening, p. 315. Mark 14:17-21.—A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, p.
371;W. Hanna, Our Lord's Life on Earth, p. 429. Mark 14:19.—Preacher's
Monthly, vol. iv., p. 163.
Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools andColleges
9. ὅπου ἐὰν κηρυχθῇ. Cf. Matthew 12:32. In the first and secondcenturies
A.D., the substitution of ἐάν for ἄν after ὅπου, ὅς, etc. was common.
Deissmann, Bib. St. p. 203;J. H. Moulton, p. 42.

τὸ εὐαγγέλιον. See onMark 1:1; Mark 1:14. Mk and Mt. recordthis promise,
but do not tell the woman’s name; Jn tells the name, but does not record the
promise.
εἰς ὅλον τ. κόσμον. Cf. Mark 13:10. That salvationis for the whole of mankind
is clearly given in our earliestGospel. Forthis use of εἰς see onMark 1:39;
Winer, p. 517.
μνημόσυνον. Late Grk, freq. in LXX. Syr-Sin. has “whenthe gospelshall be
preachedthroughout the whole world, there will be a memorial of what she
has done.”
PeterPett's Commentary on the Bible
“And truly I say to you, whereverthe Gospelshall be preached throughout
the whole world, that also which this womanhas done will be spokenof for a
memorial of her.”
Jesus’consciousnessofHis own uniqueness comes out further. As a result of
His presence and Who He is, and what He is going to do, the GoodNews ofthe
Kingly Rule of God (Mark 1:14-15)will be preached throughout the whole
world. And as a result what she had done would go down in history because it
contributed to what He was doing. She would be remembered as one who at
the time when He most needed encouragementhad given Him what He
sought. He knew that it was His Father Who had sent her. We also note here
Jesus’certainty that ‘the Gospel’of the Kingly Rule of God would reachout
widely and be successful(compare Mark 13:10). That was a precondition of
His promise here.
What then was Mark seeking to get over in this incident that he should place
it immediately after the idea that Jesus’deathwas now officially planned?
1). That the womanhad unknowingly but prophetically anointed Jesus as
King before His crowning.
2). That the womanhad, againunknowingly and prophetically, anointed His
body for His burial.

3). That the woman’s actionhad wrought a goodwork in Him. It had
encouragedand strengthenedHim and shownHim practically that His Father
was watching over Him and was with Him in what He was about to face.
4). It had demonstratedJesus’uniqueness in that such a demonstration, with
its accompanying cost, was right in His case becauseofWho He was and
because ofthe love for Him which lay behind it. No costcould have been too
greatin the circumstances.
It is a reminder to us all that when God genuinely prompts us to an action, we
should beware before we decide againstit. We must of course judge the issues
carefully, but if His prompting is strong enoughwe must obey. On the other
hand we must beware of lauding too highly those who are not in the same
exalted position as Jesus. Had this extravagantbehaviour been more general
Jesus would have put a stop to it. He would have been the first to speak out
againstgeneralextravagancein less justifiable circumstances. It was the
circumstance of the time and the unsolicitedworship that lay behind it that
justified it. It was because it was an actof pure love, from a genuine loving
heart, offered to God.
Expository Notes ofDr. Thomas Constable
This statementis a further evaluation of the greatnessofMary"s act. It
implies the continuance of the gospelproclamationbeyond Jesus" deathand
resurrectionto the whole world.
"The Lord erecteda memorial for all time to her who had done her best to
honour Him." [Note:Swete, p326.]
Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Mark 14:9. Throughout (literally ‘into’) the whole world. This graphic touch
pictures the future work of evangelization;the gospelgoing out into the whole
world. On the important inferences from this verse, see note on Matthew
26:13.
The Expositor's Greek Testament
Mark 14:9. εἰς ὅλον τ. κ. for ἐν ο., etc., in Mt.; a constr. praeg., the idea of
going to all parts of the world with the gospelbeing understood.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Verily. See note on Matthew 5:18.
Wheresoever. With an, with the Subjunctive, marking the phrase as being
hypothetical. See note on Matthew 10:23.
gospel= glad tidings.
preached= proclaimed. Greek. kerusso.App-121.
throughout. Greek. eis. App-104.
world. Greek. kosmos. App-129.
for. Greek. eis. App-104. Not the same word as in Mark 14:24.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoeverthis gospelshallbe preached throughout
of her.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoeverthis gospelshallbe preached throughout
of her. 'In the actof love done to Him,' says Olshausenbeautifully, 'she has
erectedto herself an eternal monument, as lasting as the Gospel, the eternal
Word of God. From generationto generationthis remarkable prophecy of the
Lord has been fulfilled; and even we, in explaining this saying of the
Redeemer, ofnecessitycontribute to its accomplishment.''Who but Himself,'
asks Stier, 'had the power to ensure to any work of man, even if resounding in
His own time through the whole earth, an imperishable remembrance in the
stream of history? Behold once more here the majesty of His royal judicial
supremacy in the government of the world, in this "Verily I say unto you."
The Poise of Jesus
As Pastor Charles Edward Jefferson shows, Jesus will always be our standard.
Perfectly poised, beautifully balanced, He is our guide and our goal.
Behold, the ideal man!
“By the poise of Jesus I mean the fine balance of his faculties, the equilibrium of
his nature. . . . How rarely do we find well-balanced men! The average man is one-
sided, unsymmetrical, unevenly developed. . . . We are all overdeveloped on one
side of our nature and underdeveloped on the other. It seems to be well-nigh
impossible to keep our faculties in even balance. If we are strong in certain
characteristics, we are well-nigh certain to be weak in the oppositecharacteristics.”
“If we are imaginative, very imaginative, unless we are on our guard we become
flighty and visionary. If we are practical, very level-headed, we are always in
danger of becoming prosaic and dull. If we have courage in great abundance, our
courage passes readily into recklessness. If we are prudent, our prudence is always

on the point of degenerating into cowardice. If we are original and unique, our
uniqueness is always in danger of passing into eccentricity. If we are sympathetic,
our sympathy is likely to run into sentimentalism. If we are pious, our piety has a
tendency to become sanctimoniousness. If we are religious, our religion tends to
slip into superstition.”
“But when we come to Jesus we find ourselves in the presence of a man without a
flaw. . . . He was imaginative, full of poetry and music . . . but he was never
flighty. He was practical, hard-headed, matter of fact, but he was never prosaic,
never dull. His life always had in it the glamour of romance. He was courageous
but never reckless, prudent but never a coward, unique but not eccentric,
sympathetic but never sentimental. Great streams of sympathy flowed from his
tender heart to those who needed sympathy, but at the same time streams of lava
flowed from the same heart to scorchand overwhelm the workers of iniquity. He
was pious, but there is not a trace about him of sanctimoniousness. . . . He was
religious, the most profoundly religious man that ever turned his face toward God,
but never once did he slip into superstition.”
Balance of Powers
“Because he is so well-rounded and on every side so complete, men have never
known where to class him. Of what temperament was he? It is impossible to say.
Every man on coming to him finds in him what he wants. He had in him all the
virtues, and not one of them was overgrown. He exhibited all the graces, and every
one of them was in perfect bloom. He stands in history as the one man beautiful,
symmetrical, absolutely perfect.”
“Out of this balance of his powers comes his unrivaled poise in conduct. . . . Men
laid their traps and tried to catch him, he walked bravely in the midst of them and
never was entrapped. The intellectual athletes of his time tried to trip him — they
never did. His enemies did their best to upset him — they never could. They flung
their lassos at his head — they never got a lasso round his neck. They dug their pits
— he never tumbled into them. Wherever he went he was surrounded by enemies
waiting to catch him in his talk — they never caught him. They asked him all sorts
of questions, expecting that by his answers he would incriminate himself — he
never did.”

“Time and again the evil one came to him with a new allurement, but every time he
hurled the tempter backby quoting just the passageof Scripture which that
temptation needed. Men tried to convict him of breaking the law in regard to the
Sabbath day, but instantly he proved from Scripture and from reason that what he
did was right. . . . When Peter at Philippi began to protestagainst his going to
Jerusalem where he would be killed, Jesus said, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan.’ He
had heard that voice before. He recognized it even on the lips of his friend. It is one
of the devil’s last resources to speak through the mouth of a friend. Such a trick
cannot deceive Jesus.”
Grace Under Pressure
“All the different parties united their forces . . . and concocted schemes by means
of which this young prophetshould be brought to prison. The Pharisees go to him
with this question: ‘Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar?’ It was an insidious
question. If he said ‘yes,’ then that would make him hateful to every patriotic Jew,
for no Jew who had a patriotic heart believed it was right to pay Jewish money into
a Gentile treasury. If on the other hand he said ‘no,’ then he proved himself to be a
traitor to Rome, and the Roman officials could immediately pounce down on him.
What will he do? Holding a piece of money in his hands he says, ‘Whose
superscription is this?’ And when they say ‘Caesar’s,’ hehands the money back to
them, saying, ‘Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the
things that are God’s.’ThePharisees were conceited people, but after that they
durst ask him no more questions.”
“There was a scribe who thought he would try his hand. ‘What is the great
commandment of the law?’ he said, to which Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart and thy neighbor as thyself.’ ‘But who is my neighbor?’
And then Jesus told him about the priest and the Levite and the Samaritan who saw
the man by the wayside. After he had told the story he thrust this question into the
man’s heart: ‘Which one of the three was neighbor to the man who fell among the
robbers?’ After that the scribes asked him no more questions.”
“He is seized and carried before Caiaphas, and the marvelous poise of the prophet
disconcerts and dumfounds the high priest. Unable to do anything with him he
sends him to Pilate. Pilate questions him and becomes afraid of him. What a

picture! The prophet of Galilee erect, calm, immovable, saying, ‘To this purpose
was I born, and for this end came I into the world, to bear witness to the truth.’ See
Pilate cringing, cowering, shuffling, washing his hands and saying he does not
proposeto have anything to do with such a man. Jesus has poise, and Pilate,
representative of the Eternal City, servant of an empire of blood and iron, has no
poise at all.”
“It is an interesting fact that though Jesus was speaking constantly in public for
three years, not one of his enemies was able to catch him in his speech, and when
at last they convicted him they had to do it on a trumped-up lie. This also is
noteworthy that not one of the enemies of Jesus was able by unfairness or
falsehood or hatred to push Jesus into a hasty word or an unrighteous mood. Most
men are so poorly balanced you can push them with very little pressure . . . into an
unchristian disposition. Jesus was so firmly poised that under the pressure of the
most venomous vituperation that has ever been hurled against a man, he stood
erect, unmoved, and immovable. His poise was divine.”
A Man for All Seasons
“Because he is so well balanced and so finely poised, each generation comes back
to him for inspiration. Is it not remarkable that the men of the first century thought
they saw in him the ideal figure of what a man should be, and that men in the
fourth century looking at him felt the same, and that men in the tenth century
looking at him felt the same, and that men in the sixteenth century looking at him
agreed with all the centuries that went before, and that men in the twentieth century
looking at him feel that in him they find a perfect pattern?”
“Men of intellect who live the intellectual life look to him for guidance and
instruction, men of emotion who desire to replenish the springs of feeling look to
him for inspiration, men of high aspirations who desire to lift the soul sit humbly at
his feet confessing that he has the words of life. And now that new and
complicated problems have arisen in commercial life, and industrial life, and social
life, men are turning wistfully to him, feeling that he has the key which will unlock
all the doors, that he knows the secret of a complete and perfect life. There is a
grace about him which does not fade, there is a sanity about him which compels
respect, there is a charm about him which woos and wins the heart, and we like

preceding generations fall down before him acknowledging that his character is
without a flaw and that his life is without a blemish.”
Excerpts from The Character of Jesus by Charles Edward Jefferson (Thomas Y.
Crowell & Co., 1908)
CHARLES EDWARD JEFFERSON
THE POISE OF JESUS
*'No man after that duist ask him any question/'
— Mark xii : 34.
By the poise of Jesus I mean the j5ne balance of ^T
his faculties, the equilibrium of his nature. Every
boy knows whatit is to balance a cane on his hand,
or to poise a cane by resting one end of it on the tip
of his finger. After a little practice it is possible
for him to hold the cane absolutely erect. This
equilibrium is a state of rest brought about by the
counteractionof two or more opposing forces. ! Just
so a man can poise himself in the midst of the storms
of this boisterous world. This equilibrium is due

first of all to a certainbalance of faculty. How
rarely do we find well-balancedmen ! The average
man is one-sided, unsymmetrical, unevenly devel-
oped. When a man is imsymmetrical in his body,
we pity him. If one arm is much longerthan the
other arm, or one leg is much shorterthan the other
leg, or one ear is much larger than the other ear, we
say he is deformed, and his deformity calls forth our
pity.
But this lack of symmetrical development in
85
tt
86 CHARACTER OF JESUS
the body is nothing comparedwith the lack of
symmetry in the mind. It is a rare thing to find a

man or a woman deformed in his body; it is a rare
thing not to find a man deformed in his spirit. We
are all overdevelopedon one side of our nature and
imderdeveloped on the other. It seems to be well-
nigh impossible to keepour faculties in even balance.
If we are strong in certain characteristics,we are
jwell-nigh certainto be weak in the opposite char-
acteristics. Ifwe are enthusiastic, tremendously
enthusiastic, our enthusiasm pushes aheaduntil it
becomes fanaticism. If we are emotional, exceed-
ingly emotional, our emotion degeneratesinto hys-
terics. If we are imaginative, very imaginative,
imless we are on our guard we become flighty and
visionary. If we are practical, very level-headed,
we are always in danger of becoming prosaic and
dull. If we have courage in greatabundance, our
courage passes readilyinto recklessness. If we are
prudent, our prudence is always on the point of
degenerating into cowardice. If we are original
and imique, our imiqueness is always in dangerof
passing into eccentricity. If we are sympathetic,
our sympathy is likely to run into sentimentalism.
If we are pious, our piety has a tendency to become

sanctimoniousness. If we are religious, our religion
tends to slip into superstition. Every virtue when
pushed beyond its appointed limit becomes a vice,
and every grace whenoverdevelopedbecomes a
defectand disfiguration. Look around upon the
H/S POISE S7
men and womenthat you know, and in how many
of them can you saythat their disposition is finely
balanced? " Oh, if he did not have so much of that I "
" Oh, if he only had a little more of this ! " That is
what we always feelwhen the characters ofmen
pass before us for judgment. "He would be an
ideal man — but — ," " She would be a queen among
women — but — ." There is always just a little
something lacking to make the characterwhat
it ought to be.
But when we come to Jesus we find ourselves in
the presence ofa man without a flaw. He was

enthusiastic, blazing with enthusiasm, but he never
became fanatical. He was emotional, men could
feel the throbbing of his heart, but he never became
h)rsterical. He was imaginative, full of poetry and
music, seeing pictures everywhere, throwing upon
everything he touched a light that never was on land
or sea, the inspiration and the poet's dream — but he
was never flighty. He was practical, hard-headed,
matter of fact, but he was never prosaic, never dull.
His life always had in it the glamour of romance.
He was courageous but never reckless, prudent but
never a coward, unique but not eccentric, sympathetic
but never sentimental. Greatstreams of sympathy
flowed from his tender heart toward those who
needed sympathy, but at the same time streams of
lava flowedfrom the same heart to scorchand over-
whelm the workers ofiniquity. He was pious, but
there is not a trace about him of sanctimoniousness.
^

All the oily disgusting piety which has been carica-
tured in the books is the product of undeveloped
hearts and minds far removed from the piety of his
robust soul. He was religiouS;the most profoundly
religious man that ever turned his face towardGod,
but never once did he slip into superstition. And
because he is so wellrounded and on every side so
complete, men have never known where to class
him. Of what temperament was he? It is im-
possible to say. Every man on coming to him finds
in him what he wants. He had in him all the virtues,
and not one of them was overgrown. He exhibited
all the graces,and every one of them was in perfect
bloom. He stands in history as the one man beauti-
ful, symmetrical, absolutely perfect.
Out of this balance of his powers comes his un-
rivalled poise in conduct. He lived always in a
whirlwind, — men bent like reeds around him, — he

never so much as wavered. Men laid their traps
and tried to catchhim, he walkedbravely in the
midst of them and never was entrapped. The
intellectual athletes of his time tried to trip him —
they never did. His enemies did their best to upset
him — they never could. They flung their lassos
at his head — they never got a lasso round his neck.
They dug their pits — he never tumbled into them.
Wherever he went he was surrounded by enemies
waiting to catchhim in his talk — they never caught
him. They askedhim all sorts of questions, expect-
ing that by his answers he would incriminate him-
HIS POISE 89
self — he never did. They brought out to him one
dilemma after another, saying we will catch him on
one horn or the other — but he escapedthem every
time. After they had done their bestthey retired
vanquished from the field. He remained undisputed
conqueror.

This wonderful poise came out in the temple when
he was only a boy of twelve. The old men in the
midst of whom he sat were astoundedat his answers.
At the beginning of his public careerhe heard the
seductive voices sounding in his ears. Time and
againthe evil one came to him with a new allurement,
but every time he hurled the tempter back by quot-
ing just the passageofScripture which that tempta-
tion needed. Men tried to convict him of breaking
the law in regard to the Sabbath day, but instantly
he proved from Scripture and from reasonthat what
he did was right. Men interrupted him in the midst
of his preaching, but he was never disconcerted.
"Make my brother," cried a man, "divide the
inheritance with me." And quick as a flash the
answercame:"Who made me a ruler over you?
Let me tell you and everybody else to beware of
covetousness." WhenPeterat Philippi began to
protest againsthis going to Jerusalemwhere he
would be killed, Jesus said, " Getthee behind me,
Satan." He had heard that voice before. He recog-
nized it even on the lips of his friend. It is one of

the devil's last resourcesto speak through the mouth
of a friend. Such a trick cannot deceive Jesus.
H
On the last Tuesdayof his life they determined
to undo him. All the different parties united their
forces and put their heads togetherand concocted
schemes by means of which this yoimg prophet
should be brought to prison. The Pharisees go to
him with this question: "Is it lawful to pay tribute
to Caesar?"It was an insidious question. If he
said "yes," then that would make hhn hateful to
every patriotic Jew, for no Jew who had a patriotic
heart believed it was right to pay Jewishmoney
into a Gentile treasury. If on the other hand he
said "no," then he proved himself to be a traitor to

Rome, and the Roman officials could immediately
pounce down on him. What will he do? Holding
a piece of money in his hands he says, "Whose
superscription is this?" And when they say
" Caesar's," he hands the money back to them, saying,
"Renderimto Caesarthe things that are Caesar's,and
unto God the things that are God's." The Phari-
sees were conceitedpeople, but after that they durst
ask him no more questions. There was a scribe
who thought he would try his hand. "What is the
greatcommandment of the law?" he said, to which
Jesus replied, "Love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart and thy neighbor as thyself." "But who
is my neighbor?" And then Jesus told him about
the priest and the Levite and the Samaritan who saw
the man by the wayside. After he had told the
story he thrust this question into the man's heart:
" Which one of the three was neighbor to the man
HIS POISE 91

who fell among the robbers?" After that the
scribes askedhim no more questions. The time
comes when he is seizedand carried before Caiaphas,
and the marvelous poise of the prophet disconcerts
and dumfounds the high priest. Unable to do
anything with him he sends him to Pilate. Pilate
questions him and becomes afraidof him. What a
picture! The prophet of Galilee erect, calm, im-
movable, saying, "To this pmpose was I bom, and
for this end came I into the world, to bear witness to
the truth." See Pilate cringing, cowering, shuflBing,
washing his hands and saying he does not propose
to have an3rthing to do with such a man. Jesus has
poise, and Pilate, representative of the Eternal City,
servant of an empire of blood and iron — has no
poise at all. It is an interesting fact that notwith-
standing Jesus was speaking constantlyin public for
three years, not one of his enemies was able to catch
him in his speech, and when at last they convicted
him they had to do it on a trumped-up lie.
This also is noteworthy that not one of the
enemies of Jesus was able by unfairness or false-

hood or hatred to push Jesus into a hasty word or
an unrighteous mood. Most men are so poorly
balancedyou can push them with very little pressure
into an unmanly speech, into an imchristian dispo-
sition. Jesus was so firmly poisedthat under the
pressure of the most venomous vituperation that
has ever been hurled againsta man, he stooderect,
unmoved, and unmovable. His poise was divine.
Becausehe is so well balancedand so finely poised,
eachsucceeding generationcomes back to him for
inspiration. Is it not remarkable that the men of
the first century thought they saw in him the ideal
figure of what a man should be, and that men in
the fourth century looking at him felt the same,
and that men in the tenth century looking at him

felt the same, and that men in the sixteenth century
looking at him agreedwith all the centuries that
went before, and that men in the twentieth century
looking at him feel that in him they find a perfect
pattern? I Men of intellect who live the intellectual
life look n) him for guidance and instruction, men
of emotion who desire to replenish the springs of
feeling look to him for inspiration, men of high
aspirations who desire to lift the soul sit humbly
at his feetconfessing that he has the words of life.
And now that new and complicatedproblems have
arisenin commerciallife, and industrial life, and
sociallife, men are turning wistfully toward him,
feeling that he has the key which will unlock all the
doors, that he knows the secretof a complete and
perfect life. There is a grace about him which does
not fade, there is a sanity about him which compels
respect, there is a charm about him which wooes
and wins the heart, and we like preceding genera-
tions fall down before him acknowledging thathis
characteris without a flaw and that his life is without
a blemish.

Developing Poise:Keeping Your CoolWhen Things GetHot
EXPOSE | Poking atPoise
“Canyou take a reprimand without blowing up? Can you take a turndown
without being visibly discouraged? Canyou laugh with the others when the
joke is on you? Can you keepyour spirits up when things go wrong? Can you
keepcoolin emergencies? The natural leaderanswers all these with a
confident Yes.” – Donald A. Laird (quoted in “The 5 T’s of Mastering the Art
of Poise”)
EXPLORE | Steady… NOW!
Poise is profound. It means being stirred but not shaken. Like the soldier in
the picture… still ‘swordup’ even in the face of ‘enormous shoe-sizedodds’.
It is the only thing I can think of that allows you be a force while remaining
still.
We’ll find poise defined as “a dignified, self-confidentmanner or bearing;
composure;self-possession.” ButEarl Wilson provides a little more insight
into how it actually feels:“…the ability to be ill at ease inconspicuously.”
There is a certaintension with being poised. We are required to remain
focused, steadfast, andperseverant, in the midst of a situation that is asking
more from us than we feel we possess. Recallthe scene from the movie
Braveheartwhere William Wallace is directing his clan during the Battle of
Stirling Bridge as the English race toward them on horseback… “steady…
hold… hold… HOLD… HOLD… NOOOOOOOOOWWW!!!”
There is a right time to wait. There is a right time to act. This sensibility is an
underlying trait of wisdom. You certainly need to know what to do, but it
requires that it be coupled with when it should be done.
EXECUTE | Powerfully Poised

How do we gain this command of composure and timing? Before we get into
some practicalways to develop poise, I’d like to introduce a few foundational
thoughts.
Don’t let feelings lead.
I didn’t say, ‘don’t feel.’ But what we need to address is the position we give
our feelings. Theyneed to be present, but they just can’t lead.
“…composure is…a deep-rootedstrengththat is irreplaceable. You’re not a
slave to your emotions. They are containedand controlled in the healthiest
way… Poise is the balance of strength and elegance…It’s in the wayyou walk
with confidence, in the way you move with a gentle ease, and in the way the
tone of your voice is both calming and sure.“-Annie, Living Charm blog
Quick to listen, slow to speak…
… and be even slowerto anger (James 1:19). Lead with listening, and we’ll be
less likely to speak. A closedmouth can sometimes make all the difference.
Not to mention the role in plays in leading us to anger. Mouth closed. Ears
(and heart) open.
You are from God… and have overcome…
Poise is most necessaryin trying circumstances. Buttrying circumstances can
overwhelm. Fearnot, as we remember that …greateris He who is in you,
than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The war is won, the battle requires
us to depend on the Force greaterthan anything we will encounter.
The Poise ofJesus
I came across a couple of descriptions of the poise that Jesus displayed. It is
both an inspiriation, but a reminder that we can realize divine poise in the
powerof the Spirit.
“It is an interesting factthat though Jesus was speaking constantlyin public
for three years, not one of his enemies was able to catch him in his speech, and
when at last they convictedhim they had to do it on a trumped-up lie. This
also is noteworthy that not one of the enemies of Jesus was able by unfairness

or falsehoodor hatred to push Jesus into a hasty word or an unrighteous
mood. Mostmen are so poorly balanced you can push them with very little
pressure . . . into an unchristian disposition. Jesus was so firmly poisedthat
under the pressure of the most venomous vituperation that has ever been
hurled againsta man, he stood erect, unmoved, and immovable. His poise was
divine.” – GodTreks.com(as quoted from The Characterof Jesus by Charles
Edward Jefferson)
“There is a grace abouthim which does not fade, there is a sanity about him
which compels respect, there is a charm about him which woos and wins the
heart…” – GodTreks.com(as quoted from The Characterof Jesus by Charles
Edward Jefferson)
PracticalTips for Developing Poise
One source that offers us some goodtips on developing poise comes from The
Art of Manliness. Brettand Kate McKay focus on Donald Laird’s
recommendations for increasing poise in their article “The 5 T’s of Art of
Poise”. There are three that I would like to highlight:
“Think About the Other Person“. Thinking about them keeps us from
thinking about ourselves, which keeps us from being self-conscious and
becoming unnecessarilynervous.
“The natural leaderhas power overothers because they cansense that he is
thinking about them.” – DonaldLaird
“Take Slow, DeepBreaths“. As you wait to speak, breath. Slowly.
“When your voice begins to rise, poise starts to leave. Take two deepbreaths
and loweryour voice.” – Donald Laird
“Talk Your Troubles Over“. This candefinitely dial down the anxiety you
may be feeling, whigh works againstour need to be poised. The other
suggestionsthat Laird makes help address the symptoms, but doesn’t remove
the cause.

“The cause, that feeling of uncertainty, needs to be removed…Concealed
disappointments, suppressedworries, and restrained tantrums create a
backwashthat sweeps poise out to sea.” – DonaldLaird
In her article “6 Tips for Creating Confidence and Poise”, Hilary has one tip
that relates to the first thoughts I shared on poise. Ask yourself, “what’s the
worstthat can happen?”
“Asking yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” will help you
get a realistic picture of potential consequences, whichturn out to be less dire
than what we first thought.” – Hilary Hutchinson
The bottom line is that we have every reasonto be powerfully poised:
“The Christian faith makes it possible for us nobly to acceptthat which
cannot be changed, and to meet disappointments and sorrow with an inner
poise, and to absorbthe most intense pain without abandoning our sense of
hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
https://www.wisdominallthings.com/developing-poise-learn-to-keep-your-cool/
Ted Kirnbauer
Jesus’Self-consciousness ofHis Mission
The Bible is clearthat the death of Christ wasn’tan accident, but part of the
predetermined plan of God. In Zechariah 13:7 Godcalls forth His sword to
strike His Shepherd: "’Awake, O sword, againstMy Shepherd, and against
the man, My Associate,’Declaresthe LORD of hosts. ‘Strike the Shepherd
that the sheep may be scattered;and I will turn My hand againstthe little
ones.’” Jesus Himselfused this verse to refer to His death in Matthew 26:31.
Isaiah53 predicts Messiah’s suffering and death and verse 6 declares “the
LORD has causedthe iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” In verse 10 it says that
the Lord “was pleased to crush Him.” Acts 2:23-24 says “this Man (Jesus),
delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledgeofGod, you

nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God
raisedHim up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was
impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Likewise, in Acts 4 the apostles
who had been releasedfrom prison prayed “"Fortruly in this city there were
gatheredtogetheragainstYour holy servant Jesus, whomYou anointed, both
Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to
do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur” (Acts 4:27-
28).
The Son of man did not come to be servedbut to serve and to give His life as a
ransom for many; Jesus was self-conscious ofthis mission from the very
beginning of His ministry (Mk. 10:45).
Ian Hamilton masterfully draws the implications of Jesus’self-consciousness
out both in relationship to Himself and to us. He says,” Everyphase of our
Savior’s life was shapedand styled by his self-conscious sensethat he had
come from heaven "not to do (His) will but to do the will of him who sent
(Him)" (Jn.6:38). Indeed, it would not be over-stretching the point to say that
Jn.6:37-40 is programmatic of the whole course of Jesus'life of covenant
obedience to his Father. There he stands before us not as a private individual
but as the appointed covenantHead of God's elect. It is as the One appointed
by God to be his Servant and his people's Head, that Jesus declares his self-
denying obedience to the will of his Father, to the end that he should lose not
one of those given to him by his Father (Jn.6:39). This truth alone makes sense
of everything our Lord did throughout the course of his earthly, and continues
to do throughout the course of his present heavenly, life as the God-Man. All
he does he does for all he represents (Roms.5:18-19;1Cor.15:22). This truth is
imbedded in our Lord's self-conscious senseofhaving been "given" a people
to save by his Father.”
Hamilton states that this consciousnessofHis mission “was a dynamic that
molded the whole course ofJesus'life.”
He then says:
1. It measuredthe pace of his mission. The whole course of his earthly mission
was directed by a divinely devised timetable. The marked self-consciousnessof

Jesus was a man of poise

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