Heralds Digest

“A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:72‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.72.nkjv The denial of Jesus Christ was one of the lowest point of compromises in the life and ministry of Peter. He actually underestimated the danger of matching along the tides of the world’s intimidation, insurrection and insensitivity to the plan and purpose of God. After witnessing the lowest humiliation by the highest ever Apostle of grace, while He was revealing the purpose of God for humanity, it was difficult for the disciple to find support for his earlier boast of denying with Jesus. After all, anyone can easily volunteer to march ever with Jesus when it is taken that the Master will never walk along the trail of humiliation and loneliness. Whereas, the mind of faith often fail to work properly when life’s security ...

“But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:61-62‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.14.61-62.nkjv The chief priests, scribes, and elders had the greatest challenge of their lives trying to find incriminating statement of expression around the activities of Jesus. But when interrogations became their last resort, they found no cooperation from Jesus, as nothing came out from His lips until Christ’s true identity was queried: “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Perhaps if Jesus had remained silent at this point, the interrogations could linger further with more frustration at best. But Jesus made it easier for His accusers by responding with a stellar statement of undeniable identity. That Jesus is Christ, the Son of the Living Blessed Go...

“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...