Mark:13:1-13. Living in the light of His return
I am sure we have all seen the Bond films where the hero of the hour James, that’s James Bond the hero who always saves the day. How? Well is’nt he always privy to inside information and is propley equipped
Well just like James Bond all Christians are privy to greatest inside information to fall on human ears the future destiny of this world and the people who live in it. And Oh boy has’nt he equipped us enough with the Holy Spirit Himself. So how do you spend your time as a result? Speculating or living in the light of it?
Earlier Jesus was always giving his information out to everyone, in regard to the good news, but here we have him giving out inside information only to his disciples about the future v3.
On reading this chapter we need to get the right perspective because it can be confusing. Firstly we must see that Jesus here predicts two judgements a near and a far.
• Binoculars: we need to adjust to get the right focus Near Judgement and a far off judgement.
a) The near future v1-2.
It was quite clear that the nation had rejected their Messiah and so Jesus explains the signs of the future rejection of the Messiah towards the nation of Israel and the whole world.
Firstly he predicts a series of future events firstly involving the nation of Israel and its temple. This was the third temple (Solomon, Ezra ) it was commission by Herod around 20BC, it was remodelled on the temple which had stood for nearly 500 years. It was a magnificent building (v1) and it wasn’t completely finished until 64 AD. But 40 years after Jesus spoke these prophetic words 70 AD this temple the disciples were admiring would be utterly destroyed by the Romans v2. A number of the disciples would live to see this prophecy come to fruition.
v1 here we see the importance of not putting our trust in buildings but in God alone v2 Not one stone, we must understand that true glory of God does not consist in buildings for public worship but in the faith and godliness of its members.
b) The far v 3-13 (Luke 21:55-11
The second prophetic word is to do with the distant future our present time and its in connection with his return, when he will come again to judge all the people. Here he shows us the birthing signs v8 Things that will be taking place before and at His return.
• These are the beginnings of Birthing pains and pregnancy v8
• Curiosity or concern :V9 Be on your guard (Persecution) v23 Be on your guard deceivers v33 Be on your guard (No one knows) We are to be ready living in the light of His return
Jesus warns his followers about the future events so that they could learn how to live in the light of them, not so that we can spend our time guessing when they might be fulfilled, but to help us to remain spiritually alert and prepared as we await His return.
V3 it’s interesting to note that the very Mount of Olives that Jesus is sat upon here is the very place where the prophet Zechariah 14:1-4 prophecies the Messiah’s very return.
1) In the light of His return we are called to be watchful V5
• Many people are watchful today but so often the wrong things? For instance all the soaps on TV like coronation street, The Bill, Emerdale, Eastenders.
Many Christians are under a delusion that things can get better that there are good times ahead, (if we only work together) the Lord never taught such things. We need to be realistic in our expectations. This world will never live in peace until the prince of Peace himself returns. These are sober words from our Lord because rather than expecting good times ahead, he calls us to expect tough times. V5-8. Read
• As the gaurd at Bukingham Palace is always on sentry duty a so we need to be because …..,.
a) V5. Deceivers will increase.
Throughout Church history the Church has witnessed people going of on tangents from the first century Gnostics and ascetics who infiltrated the early Church to the present day JWs. We must be always on our guard against deceivers who will want to mislead you. In the end times they will increase v21 – 23 read. Hence the confusion today upon truth
b) V7-8. Wars will increase.
It is a fact that wars are increasing today, we have always had wars but they are increasing. In fact in the 20th-21st century there has been more wars than all the centuries put together. There has been a Seismic shift between East – West relations : The rising war against so called terrorism- (Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, UK, USA, Spain, Pakistan, Turkey, Palestine) This is a religious war and it is taught in the Koran there goal is to make this world an Islamic world. And Jesus said such things as wars must happen.
c) V8. Natural disasters will increase.
It is the scientists today who speak more than anybody in a rise of natural disasters in there propensity and scale which we have never seen before Like the Tsunami earthquake under the sea bed, the Hurricane that hit the USA and the Caribbean, the devastating Earthquakes that have hit Pakistan and the surrounding countries. The famines that have hit the African continent have been devastating, these things are increasing
“That it doesn’t take us by surprise.” We need to be watchful, these fearful events are taking place and we need to be on our guard ready to act because we know while it is all taking place the time is close at hand.
2) In the light of His return we are called to be witness’s v9
V9 Notice we are to take all the opportunities what Jesus gives us to be his witnesses, in this life. Some Christians often scratch here heads and ask “What does Jesus want me to do?” He wants you to be a witness.
• Witness a crime scene: give evidence : witness- personal testimony to others, I once was blind but now I see, we need to get to it time is ticking away.
Ever since the early apostles witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus – they went around witnessing to the fact (testimony). So we too have been told and now it is our turn to pass on the witness (testimony to others..)
a) V9. In times of persecution.
These first century Christians would have to face serious persecution Jesus tells them they would be handed over to councils and be flogged in the synagogues. Arrested and brought to trial.
Near future
• Every single apostle experienced persecution: 1 John died of old age exiled on the island of Patmos. 2 Peter was crucified upside down under Nero. 3. Andrew died upon a cross at Patrae, in Achia 4.James the brother of Jesus was thrown from a pinnacle of the temple and beaten to death by a club. 5 Bartholomew was flayed alive in Armenia 6. James the son of Zebedee was beheaded at Jerusalem. 7 Thomas was run through the body with a lance in the east Indies 8. Philip was hanged against a pillar in Abyssinia. 10 Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows. 11. Simon died upon a cross in Persia now Iran 12. Paul was beheaded in Rome. Christians martyred on mass scale under Nero.
Present time into the future
Although we may feel safe from persecution now, it is not true your vision of Gods kingdom must not be limited by what happens only to you! In fact it is just as bad around the world then as it is now for many Christians living in foreign land today.
• April 2007 in Turkey three Christians were martyred one German missionary, two Turkish muslim converts to Christianity recently brutally martyred for their faith, in a country which is joining the E.U and many of us Brits will go their on our holidays. Persecution is rife, the horror of it all that in this country it got no press wnat so ever, it was just ignored. Let me tell you brothers God didnt ignore it. The blood of the martyrs is the seedbed of God’s Church.
But why is it happening? V9 On account of me. Persecution is increasing upon Christians or perceived Christians. Islam is getting more radical and its hitting more westerners Turkey, Egypt , Jordan Pakistan, India, USA and even the UK... To be politically correct its called terrorism but they see it as a Holy war Jihad – to kill the infidels eradicate them.
b) V10 By preaching the gospel to the world.
When will it end? When the gospel has been first preached to all nations…(Ethnic people groups). We can speed Christ’s return by our witnessing to people around us. This is what Jesus desires us to do Acts:1::8 You are to be my witnesses”
In a day an age where people say let your actions speak to the world, the priority commanded by Jesus here is more to let your mouth speak. So often when we say let our actions speak. It’s just a cop out because we are ashamed to even confess Christ as our Lord to others… If that’s the case you’ve got to ask the question “Do you really love him?”
A prison chaplain visited Charles Peace a violent man who was an atheist, just before his public execution , “I don’t believe all that stuff.” But if I did let me tell you this I would crawl on my hands and knees the length and breadth of England over broken glass just to tell one person what you are telling me.” To what legnths would we honestly go?
• The gospel is going further to different people groups: consider the Moores in Papa New guinea reaching the Inapang people.
c) v11 By the power of the Holy Spirit
Could I witness in such a situation? But we must understand that it is not undertaken in our own strength but by the Holy Spirit v11. The Holy Spirit equips: Acts1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
I recently went rock climbing in North Wales, but prior to starting to climb.I needed to be briefed by the instructor and equipped to climb effectivly. Friends we have been briefed by Jesus and we have been equipped through the Holy Spirit. Lets do it!
All Christians have been equipped with the Holy Spirit it is He enables and equips us for witness. Just look at the disciples who were a few days before were denying Christ locked up in fear of their lives are boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ. Acts 4: 7-8 Peter was equipped.
3) In the light of His return we are called not to waiver v12-13.
• This Christian life is a marathon and not a sprint. In the marathon its easier to give up
One of the signs of a genuine Christian is that no matter what may happen to him/her they will endure without wavering to the very end. Jesus is telling us that there is difficult times ahead:
V12 –13 Rejection from family
For many people around this world today who convert to Christianity say from Islam, or Hinduism it means whole families will totally disown them and even kill them.
• Article page 10 about Gaser Mahmoud in hiding because family memebers want to hunt him down because of his conversion to Christianity.
Families
Of course we don’t face such server instances, but the family rejection we face is subtler, it’s a quiet rejection as long as you don’t speak about it we won’t ask. That’s nice for you, but its not for me. So we no longer speak in fear we are appearing ’Over The Top’. And so we begin to waiver in our responsibilities to our family members to be witnesses..
Of course its not only our families but people in general. There is a universal uneasiness even hatred towards radical Christianity that Jesus is calling for we see it in the media, in our streets by the population at large. V13 And its because of Jesus…. And his demands upon peoples lives….
V13. But faithful endurance to the end will bring eternal life.
Jesus is telling us that our faith is going to be opposed in the most unexpected places and He is calling us to stand firm. Severe trails will come and have already come. These trials will sift out
True Christians from fair weather believers.
Enduring to the end doesn’t earn us salvation but marks us out as already saved. Am I saved? Are you enduring? Let the assurance of salvation keep you going through difficult times. Friends we have here inside information:
We need to be living in the light of his return by being watchful, witnessing to others and by not wavering but enduring in difficult times ahead.
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