Mark 14:53-72
Thursday, 4 November 2021
“But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” -Mark 14:70
The chapter starts with the chief priests and the scribes gathering together two days before the Passover to plot on how to seize Jesus. After the Passover meal at a pre-prepared place they all left for the Mount of Olives where Jesus tells His disciples of all that would happen to Him because He knew that they would all fall away. But Peter affirms that even if all fall away he won’t- to which Jesus replied that before the rooster crows twice Peter would deny him three times. Peter with the others vehemently denied it. But we see at the end of the chapter, Peter denies Jesus due to fear when the others around him accused him of being with Jesus.
From the key verse above we come to understand that the people recognized that Peter was a Galilean; perhaps it could have been in the manner that he spoke, dressed or from other characteristics. Are we recognizable as a child of the Kingdom of God? Or are we only recognized as coming from a certain part of this world because of our customs? Is our old self buried so that the fragrance of Christ is sent forth from our lives?
What are the prerequisites to exhibiting the fragrance of Christ?
Continuous repentance and trust in Jesus (2 Cor.7:10)
A Humble heart to receive God's Word (James 4:10)
Always striving to and obey God's Word (1 John 2:3-6)
Crucifying the flesh (Gal.2:20) and forsaking sin— for Christ came, in order to get rid of sin (1 John 3:6-10)
Daily denying self, picking up the cross and following Jesus (Luke 9:23)
The Fragrance of Christ is exhibited when we:
Are separated from the world & do not compromise (2 Cor 6:14-18)
Display a servant's heart (Matt 23:11)
Are able to endure hardships, trials, testing & persecutions for Jesus (James 1:2-4)
Pursue holiness in everything we do (1 Peter 1:15-16)
Are conformed to Jesus and productive for Him (Rom.8:29)
Are prepared, longing and waiting for Christ's return (Luke 12:35-36)
Reflecting Christ-likeness means we have to unlearn our old ways of thinking and doing, and allow Him to show forth, manifest and express His characteristics through us. It means removing every impediment, every obstacle and every blockage in our life that quenches His Spirit in us, so that He may be clearly seen through us, just as the Father was perfectly seen through Jesus. As Hebrews 1:3 says, “Jesus, who was “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.”
Our lives should reflect Christ. No matter where we are or what we do, we must mirror our Lord Jesus Christ. For 2 Cor.3:2-3 says, “You are the epistle of the living God.” God’s Word says that our old self is dead, then why are we trying to revive it at every opportunity when we should be showing our new self?
Would you decide to reflect Christ through your life?
Think on: “And we all, with unveiled face, reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory into glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)