Heralds Digest

“Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:31-32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.15.31-32.nkjv Greatness is naturally believed to be derived from the ability to go great things; but here Jesus taught humanity that sometimes, greatness requires the ability to refuse to do great things. And like He turned down the temptation of the devil at the start of His earthly ministry, Jesus ignored the call to save Himself from the death on the cross. Anyone can call and wait upon the Lord for salvation from ugly situations and circumstances in life, especially when the ability and the capability for self-deliverance are out of reach. It takes a special grace and absolute surrendering to a purposeful course for anyone to refuse to walk away from dange...

“So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.15.15.nkjv Even before the days of social networking and online viral marketing, political pollsters and marketing mantras are determined by the ability to pull crowd. Crowdification has always been the preferred strategy to prosperity, promotion, and popularity. And despite being warned by his wife’s grant of caution, gratification of the crowd remained the dominant course of action before Pilate. Although parallel references declare that Pilate symbolically separated himself from the crowd’s call for Christ’s crucifixion by the washing of his hands in a bowl of water, he ordered for Christ’s scourging before releasing Him to the Jews for crucifixion. It implies that crowdification grants for popularity was more valuable to Pilate than the crucifixion for grace and the pursuit of peace. Anyon...

“Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “ It is as you say.” And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.15.2-3.nkjv The only struggle about the cross took place at Gethsemane before the final submission to the Will of the Father. And this explained why Jesus answered Pilate nothing in defence of all spurious allegations and accusations. Basically, when submission to the perfect will of God in life, family and ministry is settled, the shenanigans arising from human confederation cannot unsettle the made-up mind. Oftentimes, human administrative, political and positional privileges are ascribed relevance above the established counsel of God. Unfortunately, the unsettled and make-belief submissions are thereby easily worn out by human manipulation, trials and temptation arising from the reality of life. Whereas, submission to the Will of God should only u...

“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...