Mark 13:24–37. 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” (ESV)
Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus, both as the Babe of Bethlehem and the coming Victorious King. Just as Israel placed their hope in God to sustain them and to deliver them from their enemies, we too share a similar hope for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to judge and consummate God’s kingdom here on earth. Just as Jesus’ first coming was a historical event, His second coming will take place at a divinely appointed time in real history. Unlike His first advent, however, the Lord will not arrive as a human baby in a stall. Rather, He will appear suddenly in blazing divine glory in the sky for all the world to see.
Here in Mark 13, it was Wednesday evening of Passion Week. For most of the day, Jesus had been teaching in the temple (Mark 11:27–12:44). As He left the expansive temple grounds and traversed the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, Jesus explained to His disciples that the magnificent buildings they so admired would be destroyed as an act of God’s judgment on apostate Israel (cf. 13:2). Hearing Him say that, four of the disciples—namely, Peter, James, John, and Andrew—asked Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” (v. 4). Their question extended beyond the destruction of the temple to encompass the Lord’s second coming and the end of the age (cf. Matt. 24:3). Because they knew He was the Messiah (cf. Mark 8:29), they naturally wondered when His messianic kingdom would be established. Our Lord answered their question by explaining that an intervening period of time would elapse before the earthly kingdom began (cf. Luke 19:11–27). As Jesus explained, using the analogy of increasing labor pains, devastating events will intensify throughout earth’s history, reaching their apex during the final tribulation period, just prior to the second coming (cf. Mk. 13:14–23; cf. Dan. 9:27).
In Mark 13, Jesus speaks about the end times and the signs preceding His return. He encourages His followers to be vigilant and hopeful, reminding us that even in darkness, the Light of Christ brings hope and assurance for the future. In this, we can discern the times and remain anchored in the hope of Christ's return, which offers comfort amidst life's uncertainties and challenges. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of hope both in His first advent as the Light entering the world and in His promised return to bring justice and healing. In Mark 13:24-37 through Jesus we are encouraged in three ways to 1) Anticipate an Awesome Arrival (Mark 13:24–27), be 2) Attune to the Assurance (Mark 13:28–31), and 3) Awaken to Active Anticipation (Mark 13:32–37).
To Awake to the Hope of Advent, seeing the coming Light of Christ we are first to:
1) Anticipate an Awesome Arrival (Mark 13:24–27)
Mark 13:24–27. 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
Right now, despite cosmic signs and apparent chaos, Jesus assures us of His return and the gathering of His elect. From verses 24-27, the hope of Advent comes through Jesus' promise to bring light and order where there is darkness. By focusing on His return, we may find comfort in the certainty and hope that Christ brings, which should encourage us to remain steadfast in faith despite the surrounding worldly turmoil. As the Lord described His second advent, He paid particular attention to three aspects of His return: the sequence, the staging, and the sign. First, he describes, The Sequence. After warning His disciples about the abomination of desolation in the temple (v. 14), and the terrible holocaust that will follow it (vv. 15–23), Jesus explained in verse 24 that in those days, after that tribulation period ends, He will return. In light of the context, those days seems to refer to the three and a half years of great tribulation that will follow the Antichrist’s desecration of the temple in Jerusalem (Mk. 13:14–19; cf. Matt. 24:21; Rev. 6–19). Earth’s final days will be characterized by unrestrained immorality, unparalleled devastation, and unrelenting violence (toward all believers and also toward the Jewish people) under the satanically inspired influence of the Antichrist and his forces. Only as the tribulation ends and its judgments are exhausted will the Lord return to conquer His enemies and establish His earthly reign and rule. Immediately, Jesus appears to be describing the events that will come after the travails in the destruction of Jerusalem. But Jesus wanted to put a stop to anyone attempting an end-times prediction. “The ambiguity is deliberate and Jesus does not intend for us to unravel it.” The only certainty is that the end is coming, so be ready. (David Smith, Mark: A Commentary for Bible Students (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2007), 242.)
Please turn to Isaiah 13 (p.540)
Now Christ introduces the Staging. The cosmic backdrop for history’s most climactic moment will be total darkness, after God extinguishes the sun, moon, and stars (cf. Zech. 14:6–7), which will later be relit during the millennial kingdom (cf. Isa. 30:26). As Jesus explained, at the end of the tribulation period the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, [25] and the stars will be falling from heaven. When the One who “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3) withdraws that sustaining energy, the powers in the heavens will be shaken, indicating that the orbits of stars and planets will careen off course, and cosmic bodies will begin to rip apart. Yet, God will not allow the universe to disintegrate entirely; He will preserve it for the establishment of Christ’s domination. The whole universe is going to be affected by Jesus’ coming to earth. The sun and moon and the stars and powers (laws) of heaven will be affected in the sense that they will open up and receive Him. They will serve notice that this is the Creator, the Son of Man, God’s very own Son, who is now coming to earth in great power and glory. (Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Gospel according to Mark, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 275.)
In predicting these traumatic events, Jesus echoed the words of Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah explained in Isaiah 13:
Isaiah 13:9–13. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. 11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless. 12 I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger. (ESV) (cf. 24:1–6, 23; 34:1–6; Joel 2:10–11, 31; cf. 3:15)
• The darkening here in verse 10, is a symbol of judgment, prefiguring judgment at the crucifixion (Matt. 27:45) and at the second coming (Matt. 24:29; Rev. 6:12–13; see Rev. 8:12). The only refuge for when God judges’ sin, is Christ. To repent of our sin and seek to be saved from the wrath of God in Christ is to take refuge in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Those who refuse to do so, described as “the arrogant” and “the ruthless” of v. 11, face God’s eternal full wrath. Those who repent of their sins and believe are saved from God’s wrath for Christ has born the wrath of God Himself for His people. (Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1265.)..
Back in Mark 13:26 we now see The Sign. Against the pitch darkness of that time, suddenly and vibrantly “the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire” (2 Thess. 1:7). His presence will be unmistakable, and all the world will witness His appearing (Rev. 1:7). The disciples had asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your coming?” (Matt. 24:3). As Jesus explained to them, God’s wrath will be released so that the world will be abounding with natural disasters and human-made crises, all of which preview the future, global devastation of the final tribulation period that immediately precedes the second coming. But the ultimate sign will be Jesus Himself, when He appears in glorious and undiminished brilliance (cf. Mark 9:3). Just as He ascended two millennia ago, He will one day descend to this earth (cf. Acts 1:9–11). Then all the world will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (cf. Dan. 7:13-14). Coming in the clouds as if on a divine chariot (cf. Ps. 104:3; Isa. 19:1), the Son of Man will appear with great power and glory, returning to establish His kingdom and to judge the ungodly. On that day, heaven will open to reveal the conquering King. Rather than riding the humble foal of a donkey, as He did at His earthly entrance to Jerusalem (Mark 11:7–10), He will be seated as the eternal Sovereign atop a royal white steed. (cf Rev. 19:11–21). The doctrine of the second coming is a crucial part of the teaching of Christianity. Not only is it in our Apostles’ Creed (” … he will come to judge the living and the dead”), but it’s mentioned 300 times in the New Testament. That’s one out of every thirteen verses, …it’s pretty hard to live the Christian life unless you not only believe this, but you actually think about it, and you let it affect the way in which you live (Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).).
After the enemies of Christ are vanquished, verse 27 describes then He will send out the angels, and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. With the blast of “a great trumpet” (Matt. 24:31), those believers who are alive on the earth, having come to saving faith during the tribulation and survived, will be gathered from all across the world and assembled together. Their number will include the 144,000 Jews who were supernaturally protected during the tribulation (Rev. 7:4–8; 14:1–5), along with myriads of other converts, both Jew (Zech. 12:10–11; cf. Isa. 59:20; Rom. 11:25–26) and Gentile (cf. Rev. 7:9). Having never bowed the knee to the Antichrist but remained faithful to the one true Lord, they will be rewarded by their King and welcomed into His glorious kingdom (cf. Luke 21:28). Joined by all the redeemed of all the ages, all the elect will be assembled together with Christ. Gathered from both from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven, they will enter the perpetual joy of the kingdom where they will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Rev. 20:3–6; cf. Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:29; 1 Cor. 6:2–3), after which they will continue to experience the glories of eternal life on the new earth forever (cf. Rev. 21:1–22:5). The ones who are gathered are the elect—God’s called and chosen people, all those who know him and love him, from wherever they are, at earth’s farthest bounds, because in Christ we are one people, whatever our race and background. Again, this verse confronts us with a stark reality. Those gathered and saved are his own people, but those who don’t know the Lord Jesus will be gathered and judged. Christ’s return for them will truly be a day of disaster. On that day, they will recognize the King, but it will be too late. (Steve Wilmshurst, A Ransom for Many: The Gospel of Mark Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series (Darlington, England: EP Books, 2011), 312.)
• To become a Christian is to say, “I could never stand in the judgment. I could never pass on my own, but my Judge was willing to come and take judgment for me, and I’m moved by that. We ask Jesus to forgive us and accept us because of what Jesus has done, not on my own merits or anything I have done.” If you do that, the next time you meet Jesus Christ you will stand in Him, gloriously complete. (Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
Illustration: Question and answer 52 of The Heidelberg Catechism puts it like this: “What comfort is it to you that Christ shall come again to judge the living and the dead?” Answer. “That in all afflictions and persecutions, with uplifted head, I may wait for the Judge from heaven, who has already offered himself to the judgment of God for me and has taken away from me all curse.” “What a blessed hope and comfortTimothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
To Awake to the Hope of Advent, seeing the coming Light of Christ we to be:
2) Attune to the Assurance (Mark 13:28–31),
Mark 13:28–31. 28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV)
Here we see how the parable of the fig tree, teaches the importance of recognizing the signs of God's unfolding plan just as one recognizes seasonal changes. As Christ's words remain steadfast amidst a changing world, here we see how believers are encouraged to hold onto the eternal truth and hope found in Christ. Jesus here is using a simple illustration to emphasize the appropriate response to His words of warning. He told His disciples in verse 28 From the fig tree learn its lesson. The imperative learn translates a form of the Greek verb manthano, conveying the idea of accepting something as true and applying it to one’s life. Fig trees, plentiful in Israel, were commonly used as illustrations (cf. Judg. 9:7–15; Jer. 24:1–10; Hos. 9:10; Joel 1:4–7; Matt. 7:16; Luke 13:6–9). Just the day before, the Lord had similarly used a fig tree to explain an important spiritual truth for the disciples (Mark 11:12–14). That particular fig tree had leaves but no fruit, making it an apt illustration of the apostate nation of Israel, which was adorned in religious trappings (like leaves) yet remained spiritually barren and fruitless. To illustrate the divine judgment that would fall on unbelieving Israel, the Lord pronounced a curse on that fig tree and it died instantly. Just as there are signs of what is to come in the natural realm, so there are signs of what is to come in the spiritual realm. On this occasion Jesus again referenced a fig tree to make a different point. The parallel account in Luke 21:29 notes that Jesus added “and all the trees,” indicating that His illustration did not apply exclusively to fig trees but to any deciduous tree. As the Lord explained, as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. Since it was springtime, when deciduous trees were sprouting new leaves, the evidence of that truth would have been all around the disciples. (R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1765.)
The familiar analogy was explained in verse 29 to illustrate features of the Lord’s return: So also, when you see these things taking place, you know/recognize that He is near, a the very gates/right at the door. In the same way that one can predict the coming of summer based on the arrival of tree leaves in spring, so believers at the end of the age will be able to anticipate Christ’s return when they witness these things—namely, the catastrophic events Jesus had just predicted would mark the future tribulation. The pronoun you does not refer to the disciples directly. Like the Old Testament prophets, who commonly spoke in the second person when foretelling distant events (cf. Isa. 33:17–24; 66:10–14; Zech. 9:9), the Lord spoke as if He were directly addressing those who will be alive during the future period of tribulation (cf. Mark 13:14–23). From the time of the destruction of Jerusalem on, Jesus’ disciples should live with a sense of the certainty and imminence of His return. In God’s program and timing, it is “near,” regardless how long in human years it takes. (Robert E. Picirilli, The Gospel of Mark, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition, The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House Publications, 2003), 365.)
Look back to here in Mark 13:14, still here on page 798 of the pew Bible
Jesus explains how we can recognize these events to take place by the signs specified right before us in Mark 13, beginning in verse 14:
Mark 13:14–23. 14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. (ESV)
• The abomination of desolation in v 14 (alluding to Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) points to the Antichrist’s ultimate desecration of God’s temple. The universal extent of tribulations in verse 20 is cut short by the Lord. The elect (vv. 22,) are not a proud elite but recipients of God’s gracious and undeserved call and protection (cf. Matt. 22:14). God will protect his own, so that they will not believe in a false messiah or prophet. (Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1923.)
It is specifically to them that the Lord declared back in Mark 13:30, Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Though that phrase has been the subject of much speculation and debate, its meaning is actually quite straightforward in light of the context. This generation ultimately refers to the generation entering the tribulation period, which will be the same generation alive at the return of Christ. To state that truth another way, since the tribulation covers seven years, climaxing with the second coming, obviously a single generation will experience it all. Immediately, for those who heard Christ say these words, in AD 70, Titus, the Roman general, sacked Jerusalem, and did all these things, within 37 years of the time Jesus was speaking. (Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).)
In verse 31, the Lord underscored the absolute certainty of His prophetic promise by telling His disciples that even though heaven and earth will pass away, His words on this matter will not pass away. Jesus’ statement highlighted two fundamental theological realities—namely, that this world is temporary and that His Words are infallible and will not pass away. (2 Peter 3:10-13 cf. 1 John 2:17). When the Lord Jesus comes back, he doesn’t come quietly, nor does he point to anyone else. He doesn’t speak like a prophet, saying, ‘These are words which have been given me to say.’ He says, ‘My words will never pass away.’ Only God can say that! Jesus does what only God can do. He says He is coming back—and He is. We don’t know when, but He is coming. (Steve Wilmshurst, A Ransom for Many: The Gospel of Mark Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series (Darlington, England: EP Books, 2011), 314.)
Hymn: The hymn “Face to Face” written in 1898 is a powerful expression of the hope and anticipation of one day seeing Jesus face to face. The beginning of the hymn proclaims, “Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face—what will it be, When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me? Face to face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!
• The promises in Scripture that He will return and that His words will never pass away give us a profound sense of hope. Each time we sing like this, we are proclaiming our faith in those words. They remind us that while we may not see Him now, our hearts can rest in the certainty that His return is imminent and His promises are eternal.
Finally, to Awake to the Hope of Advent, seeing the coming Light of Christ we are to:
3) Awaken to Active Anticipation (Mark 13:32–37).
Mark 13:32-37. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” (ESV)
Please turn to 2 Peter 3 (p.958)
This is the call to stay awake and alert in the face of uncertainty. Jesus emphasizes vigilance and readiness, urging believers to be like servants who are prepared for their master's return. This vigilance is rooted in active faith and expectation, contrasting worldly distractions. Encouraging the audience to seek hope in being prepared for Christ’s return could lead to a more disciplined, hopeful, and light-filled life.
The Bible is clear that this earth is not a permanent planet. As the apostle Peter reminded his readers in 2 Peter 3:
2 Peter 3:10–13. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (ESV)
• God’s judgment will not be delayed forever (see note on vv. 8–9). When Christ returns it will be sudden, without warning, like the strike of a thief. There will be no place to hide (cf. Rev. 6:15–16), for the earth and every person’s works on the earth will be exposed. The reality of the second coming should be a motivation to live a holy life. From a human perspective, when Christians share the gospel with others, and pray (cf. Matt. 6:10), and advance the kingdom of God in other ways, they do “hasten” the fulfillment of God’s purposes, including Christ’s return. (Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2422.)
We see back in Mark 13:32, that for believers in the present, the revelation in Scripture of the end times is hopeful truth; but for the people alive when these future events occur, this prophecy takes on extreme urgency. As He declared four times in the final verses of Mark 13, people in that generation should stay on the alert (vv. 33, 34, 35, 37). When they see the signs that Jesus described, they should recognize that His return is nearly upon them. Though it will be preceded by visible signs, the exact moment of the second coming will not be revealed to anyone. As Jesus explained in verse 32 But concerning/of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Although its timing is fixed in the Father’s plan (Acts 1:7), the Lord’s categorical statement excluded the possibility that anyone could accurately predict His return. The definitive and exhaustive nature of Jesus’ statement indicates that all who would presumptuously set a date for the second coming are either being delusional or intentionally deceptive—especially if the events of the tribulation have not begun. As to the person of Jesus Himself, He is choosing not to ‘access’ that knowledge because He wants to emphasize that these matters are for God, and the authority of the Father, and not for humanity to investigate. By the way, when Jesus says ‘Son’ here, it’s likely we should understand that to mean ‘Son of Man’, emphasizing His humanity, rather than ‘Son of God’, emphasizing his deity. (Steve Wilmshurst, A Ransom for Many: The Gospel of Mark Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series (Darlington, England: EP Books, 2011), 316.)
Still addressing the future generation that will witness the signs at the end of the age, the Lord issued this admonition in verse 33 Be on guard/Take heed, keep awake/keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come (cf. Luke 12:40). Because no one other than the triune God will know the exact moment of Christ’s coming, believers who are alive during the tribulation will need to be on constant watch (cf. Luke 12:39; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 16:15). In a similar way, all believers of every generation are instructed to eagerly await the imminent rapture of the church (cf. 1 Thess. 1:10), which, from a pretribulation perspective, will occur before the beginning of the tribulation. For us in our action, it’s important to note that here the reference to “guard” and “alert” are present tense commands meaning “continually be on guard.” (David Smith, Mark: A Commentary for Bible Students (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2007), 245.)
Jesus illustrated the unexpectedness of the second coming by explaining in verse 34 It is like a man going/away on a journey, when he leaves home/who upon leaving his house and puts his servants/ slaves in charge, each with his work/assigning to each one his task, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake/on the alert. Jesus’ analogy featured the owner of an estate who left his house to travel abroad for an unspecified period of time. Before leaving, he entrusted each of his household servants with specific duties that he instructed them to perform while he was away. They were expected to do so with an attitude of diligence and alertness, knowing that their master’s return home could be at any moment. Who are these servants? This message comes first to church leaders. The ‘doorkeeper’ probably refers especially to pastors and church leaders who have the specific responsibility for guarding God’s people who are under their care, protecting the ‘house’ from marauders, from anyone who might break in and cause mayhem—to change the picture, it’s the role of the shepherd with the sheep. That is how leaders, in particular, prepare for the end. The Lord Jesus has charged us to do this; it is what He wants to find us doing whenever He comes back to the house. (Steve Wilmshurst, A Ransom for Many: The Gospel of Mark Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series (Darlington, England: EP Books, 2011), 318.)
The implication for believers in the future tribulation is that those who belong to Christ as verse 35 specifies, must Therefore, stay awake/be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house will come/is coming,whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning. Like dutiful doorkeepers, you must keep constant watch, so that you are prepared in readiness to welcome your Master upon His arrival. The Roman twelve-hour watch from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., consisted of four three-hour periods. Those intervals were generally identified by when they ended: the evening at 9:00 p.m., midnight at 12:00 a.m., the time when the rooster crows at 3:00 a.m., and morning at 6:00 a.m. Jesus’ point was that His return could occur at any time, even in the middle of the night. Consequently, the believers who are alive in those final days must guard against any temptation toward spiritual complacency, distraction, or slumber (cf. Rom. 13:11–13); but being characterized by vigilance. The point of watching is not to figure out when, however, but to continue proclaiming the good news until it is no longer necessary to do so. (Paul R. McReynolds, Mark: Unlocking the Scriptures for You, Standard Bible Studies (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1989), 153.)
We must be ready for Master’s return as verse 36 notes, lest/in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. “Sleeping” (Greek katheudo) is, of course, the opposite of being awake or watching, as in vv. 34, 35. Here it is figurative for unpreparedness, for being “found” not spiritually alert and vigilant when Jesus comes back: “a figure for carelessness in professed discipleship” (Robert E. Picirilli, The Gospel of Mark, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition, The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House Publications, 2003), 368.)
Finally, in verse 37, repeating that charge with urgency, the Lord again warned, What I say to you I say to all, “Stay awake/Be on the alert!” In the parallel passage from Luke 21:34–36, Jesus further explained: Luke 21:34–36. 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (ESV). Those words include an invitation to salvation, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to that future generation alive during the great tribulation. Only those who resist the temptations of the world (including dissipation/indulgence, drunkenness, and the cares of this world), and place their faith in the Savior, will be spared eternal destruction from the judgment of God and welcomed into the glorious presence of Christ forever. While the Temple destruction may have had a restricted audience in mind, this ending certainly does not. All Christians of all ages are expected to be on watch, no matter what the hour. (David Smith, Mark: A Commentary for Bible Students (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2007), 245.)
Therefore, right now, during Advent, we are not counting down the days to Christmas, nor are we jumping immediately into Bethlehem’s magnificent story. No, we are listening intently to Christ’s provocative words about the end of all things, about God’s plan to vindicate His purposes and consummate His kingdom completely and forever. At any moment Jesus could be standing at the door, and we don’t want to be caught unprepared. That doesn’t mean we should live in fear of apocalyptic calamites…Instead, we should embrace the words of hope illuminating the pathway to Bethlehem’s manger: 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but (His) words will not pass away. (ESV). Thanks be to God!. (Sheneman, Paul. Illuminate: An Advent Experience. 2011. Beacon Hill Press. Kansas City. p.14.)
(Format note: Some base commentary from John MacArthur, Mark 9–16, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 251–264.)
Prayer: Father, we thank You for our time this morning of worship and time in Your Word. We thank You for the consistent reminders that we have that this is a book that is divine, that its consistency and its truthfulness and its power is undiminished under all the onslaughts of those who would attack its truth. Thank You that You have given us the Spirit of God to be our teacher and a love for the truth with that. Help us O Lord to keep on the alert. Would you work in the hearts of those who have not yet embraced Christ as Savior and Lord. May they know the terrifying things that are to come in the future and even more terrifying in eternal hell without you. We pray, Lord, today that sinners will repent and embrace Christ and that believers will rejoice in our blessed hope. We pray even now that You’ll draw into our prayer room those who need Christ, those who that need help, those that need prayer or counsel. Thank You, Lord, for all that You’re doing in all our lives through Your truth, we pray in Christ’s name. Amen. (John F. MacArthur Jr., John MacArthur Sermon Archive (Panorama City, CA: Grace to You, 2014).)
Closing Hymn: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Prayer Room Invitation
070 Benediction: May the God whose watchful eye never sleeps; The God of wonders, power and love; May He keep your feet from falling, and make your thanks endless be, Until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. Through the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Emmanuel. We pray. Amen. (cf. 1 Pt. 1:5)
