Mark

Mark 13:1-4

Directly after the triumphal entry Jesus visited the temple.  While He did address the things going on there, His presence was a minor and relatively small disruption to the 'business as usual' atmosphere on the temple mount.  The temple area was the size of 12 football fields and nearly a mile in circumference.  Many of Jesus' followers wrongly assumed He had come to Jerusalem to rise to power and take authority.  They expected big things on the temple mount.  Now, as Jesus left, they once again turned toward the future.  They had the same questions many of us would have, and still do.  What do the coming days have in store for us?  What will they be like?  Are we faithful enough to abide in these days?

In this departure of the temple, we see it is symbolic of His final break from the temple.  One of the disciples commented on the stones of the temple.  They were quite impressive in size.

The blocks of stone used in construction were enormous; Josephus (War 5.189) reports that some were forty cubits (approximately sixty feet) in length. No block that size has been found in the existing foundation, but stones north of Wilson's Arch measure forty-two feet long, eleven feet high, fourteen feet deep, and weigh over a million pounds.^[1]

The temple had been under construction for nearly fifty years and was still unfinished.  It may have been the shear size of the complex, possibly the construction work and the presence of the stones or the ornate designs, but at least one of the disciples were impressed with what they saw.  Most men were.  This un-named disciple wanted to share this sight with Jesus.  It's quite likely this one disciple was speaking for all of them.  Jesus had just been moved by poor widow putting in 'more' than all others; this He saw in what men perceived as 'the least'.  This is quite a contrast to the disciples being moved by the temple's appearance, ascribing greatness, longevity, strength and worth.

The disciples were used to being stumped and/or stunned by the things Jesus said as they walked along the road.  But what Jesus said next must have shocked them; "Not one will be left on another, that shall not be thrown down."  By the shear size of these stones and the monumental size of the complex, this must have seemed impossible and ridiculously unlikely 

Verse 3 is the beginning of what is called the Olivet Discourse.  He is going to speak of the tribulation to come and the day when He will return.  The place where He stood and taught would be the place to which He will return at the 2^nd coming.  He is sitting opposite the temple with Peter, James, John and Andrew.  They ask Jesus for two things; an indication of when this will happen and the sign of their fulfillment. 

Mark 13:5-8

While much of this chapter seems to speak prophetically of the tribulation, Mark's focus remains on discipleship rather than predicting the future.  Disciples are called to faithfulness in the present, particularly in adversity, trials and suffering.   This is the age that was ushered in by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and the subsequent birth of the church. 

The physical temple was a monument to the past.  It was no longer the center of godly worship.  The new temple would be the body of the believer by way of the Holy Spirit's presence.  This age is ushered in by the destruction of the temple which is a small picture of the end.  But not yet. 

This time is the church age:

• Marked with deception – even to the point of claiming to be messiah.
• Wars and rumors of wars
• Nation will rise against nation – these are people groups within counties or states
• Kingdoms rising against kingdoms – these countries or states at odds.
• Earthquakes – We seem to live in a time of every increasing frequency of geological events.
• Famines – It's hard for us to imagine this in our affluence and abundance.
• Troubles – this appears to be mobs, violence, unrest

As bad as these things sound, it is just the beginning of the labor pains that will birth a new age. 

Labor pains start gradually and build in frequency and intensity until the birth.  Once labor starts, there is no way to know how long it will last. 

Peter, Andrew, James and John thought the end would be soon.  Every generation has had their moments when they could see the signs on the horizon.  And many generations have come and gone.  No generation has been closer than this one.  What was once the horizon is now visible right before us.  What was once hard for us to understand is playing out right before our eyes.

Mark 13:9-13

'Watch out' of verse nine is the same word as 'take heed' in verse five.  We are to be on guard of our person.  Once these birth pangs start then there will be persecution.  It's not a time to hunker down, hide and grow weary, because the gospel must first be preached to all the nations (Revelation 14:6).  In this age, Christians will be persecuted.  We shouldn't think this odd, or even look at it as a failure.  It's just a sign of the time.  The bible doesn't tell us what we will be arrested for, but it makes it clear that our identity as disciples mark us.  But we needn't worry, the Holy Spirit will give us words and guide us. 

It won't be strange for family members to betray others because of the hatred they feel toward the Lord's children.  Children will rise up against their parents (this would have been unheard of in previous generations but it happens today).  These will be difficult times that we struggle to understand.  Yet, we see more examples of this now than ever before.  Endurance through these times is a characteristic of discipleship. 

Mark 13:14-23

Jesus said when we see the abomination that causes desolation the time has arrived.  Daniel referred to this event (Daniel 9:27; 11:3; also see Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).  We know this happened once before with Antiochus Epiphanes when he slaughtered a hog in the temple and put a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies.  Jesus indicates this wasn't the one and only or final time; it will happen again.  Jesus warns that when we see this, it's time to flee to the mountains.  This 'fleeing' is an OT image used to show the seriousness and intensity.  In fact, it appears it is almost too late.  

Note:  Some argument this happened in 70 AD; yet there was no abomination in 70 AD.  There was also no tribulation in the manner prophesied. 

This will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of creation. Think of the myriad of examples of tribulation.  Think of the greatest tribulation in your life so far.  What's coming far exceeds all of these examples.  No one would survive these days if it weren't for the grace of God.  The Lord shortened these days, limiting them to 3 ½ years. 

It is in these times, that 'taking heed' is even more important.  The false prophets will show signs and wonders and lead people astray if they aren't taking heed.  In these days, there will be signs and wonders on display.  It appears these signs will be very real, very legitimate, but they will be  for show, to glorify the flesh, the world of some leaders.  They will not be to glorify God.  It is only by 'taking heed' one might discern these things.  This idea of solid, unwavering walk of a disciple is still in view. 

Mark 13:24-27

As Jesus presents this grand vision or picture of the times, he doesn't exclude what's happening in the skies and the heavens.  The sun will burn out or be covered, the moon no longer gives light due to some comic dysfunction.  The heavens are shaken and the stars will fall.  This is an allusion to the image of Isaiah 34:4.  The heavens were seen as the spiritual realm.  The scope of tribulation seems to extend to the spiritual world.  'The powers that are in heaven' may well be the forces that hold everything in orbit and established patterns. 

It is then we will see Jesus come in the clouds (see Acts 1:9-11; Daniel 7:13; Revelation 1:7 and Psalms 104:3).  He will come in great power and glory.   It is then He will use the angels as the gatherers of His elect. 

Mark 13:28-37

We saw the example of the fruitless fig tree in chapter 11; this tree was cursed and later seen to be withered from the roots.  It was a picture of the fruitless work of the temple and the corrupt religious leaders.  Now Jesus points back to a fig tree for analogy.  The message: when the signs are there, the fruit is near.  Likewise, when the Jews see these signs, they will know the end times are near.  "This generation" must be those who see these things happening. 

Do you see?  They are all around us.  The intensity and the frequency is increasing with every pang.  As the fig leaves show that summer is near, so the signs given show that Jesus is near.  The generation that sees these things will see Jesus – what an awesome promise.  Scoffers will scoff, mocker mock; heaven and earth will pass away but God's word can't and won't.  He is good to his word. 

The 'no one' of verse 32 means no one, not one.  How do some exempt themselves and pick days?  I'd say they believed a lie, saw a wonder that impressed them, thought they were granted some special privilege.  What these predictors became is false prophets in the same category as all the others whose message is inconsistent with the Lord's message. 

We are given three final exhortations:  Take heed, watch and pray.  We might rephrase this as 'take care, be alert and be in touch with our master.  Be alert and watchful is repeated about 8 times in three different ways in this chapter.  We are to watch for him – not speculate on when – yet be prepared, be alert, because He will come suddenly.

Be on Guard & on watch:

This passage opens and closes with a warning about deception.  It is not easily detected, particularly if you don't know when it will start.  It can come anytime from anywhere.  This is why we are to be alert!  On guard!  This is the life of a disciple.

©2018 Doug Ford