Heralds Digest

“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.16.14.nkjv The experiences of the disappointed disciples of Jesus underscored the interdependence of the facts in past failure and the barriers to future fruitfulness in faith. The disciples’ memories of experiences leading to their present hideout constitutes a great barrier to future exercise of faith. It implies that, the arrest, suffering and the crucifixion of Jesus had created a huge wall of offence and loss of hope in the promises of God. With gradual accumulation of disappointment and failed experiences in life, a gentle graduation of unbelief to hardness of heart is possible. If the words of Jesus had suddenly appeared to be fruitless, how would anyone expect the disciples to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen? Likewise, o...

“And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.16.3-4.nkjv It is no longer news that the riches of grace and glory for believers in Christ are bought by the death and resurrection of the Lord. However, this was not the mindset on the fateful Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome came to the tomb purposely for an advanced embalming of the body against decay. The passage of death had blocked the rational thinking in their minds against the feasibility of implementing the good intention: they had invested in the purchase of special spices for the assignment without resolving the passage concern “who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”. But when they looked up, the miracle had happened - the very large stone had been rolled away an...

“Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus....Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭15:43, 46‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/mrk.15.43,46.nkjv Dark day or hour represents the window of discouragement, disappointment and denial, often experienced and presented as part of the preparation for the coming bright day. Considering the fact that even Jesus cried out his dislike for such times “My God, My God; why have you forsaken me”, expression of sadness and discomfort in life’s moments of despair is not out of place. It took a great courage fromJoseph of Arimathea to single-handedly plan the burial of Jesus, especially when others are remotely struggling with their pains. Just like the darkness of d...

“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 ...