Heralds Digest

“Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:51-52‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.51-52.nkjv Although bible commentary speculated that the certain young man that followed the apprehended Jesus, but fled in order to escape arrest, was St. Mark, there is no doubt that he was a follower or disciple of the Almighty Jesus Christ. This experience merely underscores the fact that grief usually has no friend. Notwithstanding, the man of grief, despised and rejected, gleaned His portion with grace and focus on the redemption of man from sin slavery. Likewise, in believers’ little corners, moments of purposeful grief demand great understanding and perseverance. Like the dispersed disciples regathered later to accept the great commission, gleaning the moments of purposeful grief in life always produce the precious grains at the end to t...

“As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:45-46‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.45-46.nkjv The offering of a kind and affectionate kiss is one of the greatest expressions of the chemistry of love. And since guards are easily lowered and cautions are carelessly shown the way of the wind in the atmosphere of love, kind kiss can softly turned killer kiss with no alarm. Prior to Judas’ offering of a killer kiss to Jesus, there is no doubt he truly believe the value and virtue of Jesus as ‘Rabbi’. As with Judas, sharp conflict of belief often start with subtle affection for extra-relationships and attachment. Unfortunately, the sharp conflict of belief has finally seen a believer turned a betrayal. Likewise, conflict of belief in the best of mutual relationships at family, fellowship and friendship can always put on the regalia of intimacy. A killer kiss a...

“He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. ”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:35-36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.35-36.nkjv The world’s earthly and human resources will readily provide useful guidance in almost all circumstances of life, especially when there is no conflict of interest between the will of God and the wisdom of man. But in the likely times of conflicts, Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane teaches the disciples the heavenly resources in taking a walk away from the counsel of mortal men. To the first layer of prospective counsellors, He said ‘Sit here, while I pray’; and to the second layer of prominent counsellors, He said ‘Stay here and watch’. Whereas, He walked further away and alone to pray and sort out the conflicts between the will of God and the will of the fle...

“Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:27-28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.27-28.nkjv Scattered experiences in life and relationships are indicative of the process of things not working out as planned. The resulting trauma may even get complicated with every attempt to establish the line of fault in scattered experiences. Prior to a scattered experience of the disciples of Jesus, it was difficult to imagine the possibility of anything separating them from the love of their Master. When people ask why God allow troublous seasons in their lives, career, family and ministries, it is instructive for them to note that the post-scattered Peter was better and more reliable than the pre-scattered Peter. When the sheep is scattered, the Shepherd (not an hireling) is actuall...

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.22.nkjv One of the significance of Christ’s instituting the Lord’s Supper is the solemn presentation of Himself as the Pascal Lamb to those who have truly experienced the Passover. As often as possible, disciples of Christ are there called to remember that the Master’s life was voluntarily given and not forcefully taken. Even when the voluntary gift was threatened with gruesome agony at Gethsemane, Jesus remained a completely poured out offering as the Pascal Lamb of God. Unfortunately today, volunteering of believers’ life and livelihood as living sacrifices must produce the evidence of a tangible dividends before the ‘offering’ can be laid on the altar. It is therefore not surprising that Christ have become unattractive to members of the family, workplace and society. Obviously, the free and no obli...

“Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.12.nkjv There is no doubt that Judas Iscariot was among the disciples who were concerned about “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”. Whereas, Jesus responded by delegating only Peter and John for the assignment when Judah Iscariot was the recognized financial secretary. Notwithstanding, Peter and John really had nothing more than just the task of ensuring the readiness of the upper room, since almost all the necessities have been prepared. Symbolically, Jesus Christ was the prepared Pascal Lamb for the Passover, while many, in a bit to get involved, often get on the negative side of the preparation (like Judah’s betrayal). There are many tasks and expected transformation in believers’ life, family, career and min...

“After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death...Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:1, 10-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.1,10-11.nkjv If breakthrough in life is solely established at the point where precious potentials meet open opportunities, no one would have the moral ground to blame Judas Iscariot for taking the available opportunity of financial blessing. Whereas, it would have taken significant intelligence for Judah to discover the needs for secret service to the chief priests. And the submission in his betrayal proposal clearly shows brilliant demonstrations of intellectual capabilities, without breaking the edge of a possible public outcry. Even tod...