The halfbaked Bard

Mark:1:1-8 John the Baptist preached the gospel - plain and true. v4: He proclaims about repentance and turning to God to be forgiven. v7: He proclaims that Jesus is the only way. Acknowledging my sinfulness is the first step to salvation. By nature I am sinful. By my choices I am sinful. Realisation that I need forgiveness is the next step. And only God can give that. I need to turn to God to be forgiven. And finally Jesus is the only way to reach to God. He is the only way that this forgiveness is practicalised.  Once I can approach God, through the forgiveness granted on the cross, of the sinfulness of mine, then the beautiful amazing journey starts. Have you taken this first step? If not, all other efforts are wasted  Image credit: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/what-does-gospel-mean/

Matt:27:17 When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted. Jesus is standing before them. But still some doubted.  Who are these few who doubted? The very ones who were with Him. Those who were in the eleven. Not the ones who were far from Him. His very own. Believing is a choice. Even if He comes and stands before your naked eye, you still have the choice to believe or not. The choice is yours. You can open your eyes and see or disbelieve, experiencing what is happening around you. But believing is better.  Jesus' promise is I am with you till the end of days. And that is the truth. Whether you believe it or not. Image credit: https://wallpaperscraft.com/download/mug_steam_table_122769/800x600

The teachers of the law thought cunningly to disprove the act of Jesus as He foretold, that He will arise from the dead.  Pilate set up a guard to prevent this rumour. Now if Jesus rises from the dead, the false news of His disciples taking away His body and claiming His resurrection would be highly likely. So better not to be dramatic about the resurrection. That would have been better. But Jesus does as was planned. Do things what you are expected to do, no matter what the consequences might be. Do the right things in the right way in the right time. Not fearing of rumours or false news or accusations. And see, when Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many. The rumour did spread. But the fact that He is risen from the dead, gives hope to all people living in fear of death, even 2000 years later. That death has been conquered. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=%22jesus+is+risen%22

Joseph of Arimethea had chosen Jesus but was secretly following Him. We never come across him elsewhere in the gospels apart from the time of burial of Jesus. But at that point, he decided to go public. This is the time I should stand up for Jesus to give Him a decent burial-  and that is how the prophecies came true. Being a silent follower of Jesus is good. Yes it is between you and God. But openly proclaiming that you belong to Jesus is a different level. It is a higher way of obedience.  In your workplace do people know that they cannot mess around you? In your college / school, do people  approach you to pray for them? Do people fool around you? Do they hush their conversation when you enter the room? Would your presence make no difference? Do people want to gossip about others to you? The basic question is - Do others know you are a Christian? Do others know you are a child of God?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinf...

Jesus released His Spirit Matt:27: 50 It is not the way man die - you can't release your spirit and die. This was willful release of His spirit when it was complete. When the time was done for Him to bear the sin of the entire world. When the punishment was fully borne. When the wrath of God was fully satisfied. When the righteous God's justice was maintained. At that time; when the time was complete; Jesus willfully released His Spirit. An infinite, eternal God, creator of everything did this willfully so that you and I could be redeemed. It was at this exact time that the curtain was torn, that gave access to the Holy of Holies for the general man. Now you can approach God. Your sins are forgiven. This earth shattering experience, if it is personal for you, your life would be changed too, like the Roman officer and the other soldiers who confessed - this man truly was the son of God. He did this for you dear one. He bore your sins to the full. He said it is finish...

Matt:27:32-44 What was in Jesus' mind when He was on the cross? Save yourself - they said looking at Him. He could have. But He didn't. Why? He was thinking of saving you. So He chose to stay. But He can't save Himself - they said. He could have. He could. But He didn't. He was mindful of you. His mind was full of you. Let God rescue Him if He wants Him - they said. The Father wanted the Son. But the Son knew the heart of the Father. Who yearns to. Who wants to have you. In order to have you back, He chose to be there. He was not there helplessly on the cross, but willfully. Thinking of you. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=jesus+christ+cross

I am often amazed by Jesus' silence on the cross. For all the accusations and false testimonies, how could he keep quiet.  There was no " I never said that" or " "for whom am I doing this, why should I go through this for them" or "why don't you understand". Why can't I keep quiet when falsely accused or pointed fingers at? Why should I justify? Will that bring about a change in the situation? Will they stop accusing? Why do you want to defend? More or less because of the pride. To protect our own self. By defending ourself we think our tarnished image would be protected.  Learning from Jesus' example is a difficult thing to do. Let the accusers say whatever. As long as you are a child of God. As long as you are loved by Him. As long as you are His beloved. Be secure in His love. Image credit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/pictures-of-jesus-nails-feet-6723253?lang=eng

A Rondeau Prime Pilate, you were not innocent of this man's blood. Think of all your sins you have kept under the hood Sins you've done, sins you've said, sins you've thought Even the ones you did on that throne. Bard, you are not innocent of this man's blood You can't say you were not there when they crucified Him It was for your sin too that He suffered Even the ones, as you place yourself on that throne. Yes; He alone was innocent; yet He shed His blood  Absolute pure blood; Holy God personified; incarnate That was the law; blood the blameless lamb He was on that throne; yet He chose to be trampled. Image credit: https://ssnet.org/blog/sunday-do-not-add-or-take-away/

I don't know this man Matt:26:70,72,74 Oh! How cruel of Peter. After walking with Jesus day in and day out. After witnessing His miracles with his own eyes. After experiences that made him proclaim that He is the Son of God. Now Peter confesses - I don't know Him, for the fear of his life. Yes how often have I deserted my Lord for my own comforts? At least Peter denied Him for the fear of death. My case is not that - so that I would not be pulled out of my couch. How lowly? How silly of Peter -  when he said, curse be upon me, if I am lying. Did he not know he was lying? Did he not know that God was watching? Did he not know that the Son of God was looking even now? Sin makes  you blind and deaf. Wanting to continue in that rut makes you blinder and deafer and dumber. All will know that you are lying except yourself. You are trying to fool yourself by defending. Do not harden your heart when the Spirit prompts you. Repent when He tells you that you were wrong. Pete...

They began to spit ------ Beat him with their fists ----- Some slapped him, jeering Matt:26:67-68 It would be humiliating to be spat upon the face. His face would have been fully red out of bruise. A racoon eye probably. It is menial to be made fun off - more menial when people make fun of you disbelieving what you claim or what you really are. Matt:27:26 Jesus was flogged with a lead tipped whip  Skin might have shredded to pieces, pieces of muscles torn away, splurting blood everywhere. Pain unable to be described in words. Psalm:129:3 The plowers plowed upon my back. Hematomas everywhere. Anaemic because of the blood loss. Internal organs lacerated. Excruciating pain from the tip of the hair to the toe. Dehydrated. Stinking. Stripped naked and made to walk through the streets in front of the ones you loved, the ones who loved you. Thorns on His brow. Nails driven through the median nerve. Struggling to breath hanging on the cross. He has to pull Himself up to expand ...

At that point, all the disciples deserted Him and fled. Matt:26:56 What is your reason to run from Jesus today? What is your reason to desert Him? To protect your own self? What is your reason for not behaving the way He does? What prevents you from reflecting Him? To pursue luxuries? To sillify His cause? To nullify His love? It is demeaning to mock Him  And stand at the foot of the cross To stand there and jeer at Him. But it is equally demeaning to desert Him. To run away. Even more, when you had been a faithful disciple, You who tasted His love. When you fall back and hide for your own comforts. Step out. Stand for your Saviour. Even if it costs your life. Image credit: https://www.saatchiart.com/en-in/art/Photography-Deserted-Desert/859325/2896939/view

Couldn't you watch with me? Matt:26:40 Jesus is working. All He asks is to be part of it. Keep watch with Him. Pray for that one person in whom God is working today. Be available for Him. Be available for him. Intercede. How can you sleep? How can you 'enjoy' and be preoccupied in your own self when your brother is struggling and when your Father is working? Keep praying. And when you pray, what happens? The Lord of Heaven's armies sends His angels to fight against the forces of darkness which is at work in your brother's life. The victory is ultimately ours. So keep watch. Image credit: https://www.luxurybazaar.com/grey-market/six-things-you-should-never-do-with-your-watch/

Yes, Jesus was distressed and anguished too He was also grieved to the point of death So it is okay, dear one to be frustrated  It might not be as grievous as that of Jesus, but it's fine. But how Jesus handled, that is a lesson for us He did not over react. He did not brood over. He did not vent it over. He did not blame Himself He just prayed - not my will, but yours. How you handle your stress makes you stronger and bolder Either you succumb and grow weaker But face it in faith, and you will grow stronger. Equipping you to face the next one. Ultimate purpose is to be transformed into His likeness Live as Jesus lived. Do as Jesus did. Here how did He handle stress and anguish? Not my will, but yours He prayed. Image credit: https://www.artisor.com/artwork/morgan-weistling/thy-will-be-done/

Matt:26:31-35 Do not be overconfident of yourself. Pride tells you that. But humble yourself. Tell yourself that you are prone to fall. Tell that you are not indispensable. Tell that the show will go on even without you. Do not tell yourself that you will not fall that low. Let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall. 1 Cor:10:12 Peter had full confidence. That night was his fall. All other disciples vowed the same (v:35). But they all fell. Oh! I am strong in that area. The moment you think thus, there begins your downfall. For pride goes before a fall. Why? For God resists the proud. He gives grace to the humble. Oh! I am good at this. I will do it well. The moment you think thus, the roots are nibbled. What can you do without His Spirit. What can you do without His power. Image credit: https://www.bhmpics.com/wallpaper-super-heroes.html

Matt:26:30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives  Immediately after the Last Supper. Immediately after the heart breaking truth disclosure that the Son of man is going to be betrayed by one of His own friends and He is going to be butchered. Immediately after the declaration of the remembrance of His death. Immediately after the joyous remembering of the Passover. They sang a hymn. Singing songs is an integral part of a Christian's life. How often are you in a situation of not feeling like praying, but you sing a song and your mood is lifted up to praise Him. Many a times, you wake up with a song and it stays with you through the day and that would be exactly what you required for the day. A long lost memory of a song comes back like a bolt from the blue and that is exactly what you needed. Listening to songs, just for the melody or harmony, singing in four parts or with accompaniment of instruments are all soothing and mood lifting. Very often we br...

How much would you pay me? Matt:26:15 That was what Judas Iscariot went and asked the leading priests, to betray Jesus. The leaders did not come seeking him. But the initiative to sin was his. He did not fall into the trap. It was his intentional choice to betray his loving Master. Money was a temptation for him. But the choice to sin was his. Dear one - you would be able to give Him no excuse for your sin. It is always your choice to rebel against Him or not. You can never escape that.  You wouldn't be able to stand before Him and blame circumstances on that day. Joseph didn't budget. He had all the reasons to sin. He was in his master's house. Still he chose to run away. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah too had the circumstances against them. Still they didn't. The apostles had. But they chose to be martyred for the sake of the gospel. What is your excuse to sin. Image credit: https://allenbrowne.blog/2021/05/31/thirty-pieces-of-silver/

Matt:26:6-13 Simon was a leper who was healed by Jesus. He was grateful for what He did for him. So he hosts a party and calls to honour Jesus. He even reclines with Him on the table. Thankful enough. The disciples felt themselves as somebody. They felt they have left everything to follow Jesus. So they thought they were big. And therefore they felt indignant. The woman knew from where she was saved from. And therefore she humbled herself at the feet of Jesus. And anoints His feet with all that she had. How thankful I am, depends on the realisation of from where I have been plucked out. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/in/search?k=thankful+hands

Matt:25:14-30 The servants who were given five and two came back with five more and two more. They could have thought, I will give back to my master what he gave me only. Why should I give him what I earned out of my wits and bones? That is mine - not his. But they knew that they were stewards. All they have and all they are, are his. Because they thought so, the Master was very pleased and they were given more than they could ever earn. Because they were faithful in small things, he kept them in charge of greater things. More was given to them to exercise stewardship. Their master was full of praises to them. Secondly the Master doesn't look at productivity, but loyalty and faithfulness. Notice the same words of praise to the one who was given five and to the one who was given two. He doesn't label the man with two as inferior to the man with five. Both are rewarded. The Master doesn't expect the one with two, to earn five more. Thirdly the Master expected the ...

Matt:25:1-13 The foolish ones were not ready with the oil. The wise ones also slept off, but they had the oil.  What has been told about Him, beforehand has been proved right. The same book says He is coming back. And when He comes back, will He see you waiting and ready with the oil of Holy Spirit; the oil of faith. Shouldn't the wise ones have shared their oil with the others? Isn't that what Christianity teaches to selflessly share. It doesn't work that way at the last hour when He comes. You have to have your own oil. The wise ones job is to tell the others about the need of the oil when the bridegroom will some day come, in an unexpected time, the need for faith in Jesus before it is too late. The choice is yours. Whether to be on the wise side or the foolish side. Would you keep oil for yourselves before He comes. If not, you would be called foolish, you would be labelled not ready, the door will be closed to you. Do not be foolish. Do not be on the unread...

Matt:24:37-51 When the Son of Man returns In those days When the Son of Man comes The Lord is coming The Son of Man will come If the Master returns and finds The Master will put The Master will return unannounced and unexpected  The owner of the whole universe, the Master, has Himself announced that He is one day coming back again. To reclaim. To reward. It is foolish to think He is not. It is utterly foolish to think there is no such master. It is foolish to sit unprepared. Because Jesus Himself has said that He is coming back. There is no ifs there. The only if that we find here is that - if the Master finds... Coming is certain. When you see earthquakes, when you see wars, when you see false Messiahs and false prophets, be assured that He is coming back.   These are signs that His coming back is near. Whether you believe it or not. Whether you want to accept it or not. Reinstate with Him, while there is yet time. Before it is too late. Image credit: https:/...

Only the Father knows. Matt:24:36 Only the Father knows the day these things will happen, says the Son. Neither the angels, not even the Son. Does that mean that Jesus doesn't know? Yes Jesus the man wouldn't know. But the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Triune God knows. Because He is the owner, He is the Master, He is the designer. How would God not know? Secondly it is an assurance. He knows. He sees. He is sure of your life. You being His child, He is in full control. All the forces of darkness cannot stop what God has ordained. Isa:14:27 Oh! What an assurance. What a relief. Then why fear, oh! Dear one. If your Father is in full control of your life, and if He promises He has plans to prosper you and give you a hope and future, then why do you unnecessarily worry. Why do you fret? Why are you so downcast oh! My soul? Put your hope in the Lord. Image credit: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/rain-clouds

Matt:24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Though Jesus says this immensely positive and hopeful statement with relation to eschatology and about tribulation saints, it is something we the pretribulation saints should always remember  Whether you believe in premillenialism, amillenialism or postmillenialism, this statement of Jesus always holds true. And faith is extremely quintessential to endure. Hope is something that comes out of your faith that enables you to endure. Hard times will come, testing times will come. Persections will come, earthquakes and war will come, sicknesses will come, problems in relationship will come, unexpected setbacks will come. But endure till the end. Hold fast. Do not worry for I am with you is His promise. And He will be with you. He will give you strength to endure. For endurance as I said is a hopeful word. It is not based on any eutopian idea. But it is based on the fact that God is living and true. He said He has p...

Matt:23:37 How often I have wanted to gather your children as a hen protects her chicken beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me. Compassion in contrast to rebellion. In response to love there is writhing away. God wants to protect you; but you wouldn't let Him. Why? Because you don't like being controlled. You prefer to be in control. You think there is more clarity in that. But don't you know, that He holds the future in His mighty hands. The future might not look certain. But He is certain. He is true. He has promised to bless you. He will do it for sure. He has promised to have a plan to prosper you and give you hope and future.  Be under His wings. That is the best you can do. Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/316800155038401508/