Word Live: He's Coming!
Pray for those affected by a situation currently in the news, whether war, terrorism or a natural disaster.
Bible passage
Mark 13:1–27
The destruction of the temple and signs of the end times
13 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!’
2 ‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?’
5 Jesus said to them: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth-pains.
9 ‘You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
14 ‘When you see “the abomination that causes desolation” standing where it does not belong – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now – and never to be equalled again.
20 ‘If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “Look, there he is!” do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
24 ‘But in those days, following that distress,
‘“the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”
26 ‘At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Explore
I wonder if the disciples were surprised by Jesus’ response to their question. They only asked about the destruction of the Temple that Jesus had just predicted (v 2) – and got a whole sermon on the end of the world! Some scholars believe that this chapter relates mainly to end times, but others consider that much of this passage is about the more imminent fall of Jerusalem. It is confusing!
What does come through strongly, though, is that we must be careful not to be deceived (vs 5,9,23). When Jesus does return, it will be obvious to all (v 26).
Many have tried to apply this and other scriptures about Jesus’ second coming to things going on in the world. Christians have been doing this for two thousand years and they haven’t been right yet! In the days of the internet and 24-hour news, we hear of more ‘wars and rumours of wars’ (v 7) than ever before. There are earthquakes, famines and all manner of natural disasters (v 8). We live in uncertain times.
We also face opposition. Standing firm as a Christian is becoming harder and more costly (vs 9–13). We must remember that we have hope; one day the suffering will end and Jesus will return and take us to spend eternity with him (vs 26,27).
Author
Alison Allen
Respond
Ask the Lord to help you stand firm when your faith is challenged.
Deeper Bible study
‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’1
It was, presumably, just a throwaway comment, but in uttering it, the disciples got far more than they bargained for! Instead of a light-hearted chat about the local architecture (v 1), the disciples were catapulted into a very serious discussion about what the future held. Jesus went on to share with them his prophetic insights about the near future – interpreted as referring to the destruction of the Temple and the fleeing of the early church from Jerusalem around AD 70. To help his disciples to prepare for these events, Jesus gave them three key exhortations: do not be alarmed in the face of world turmoil (vs 7,8); watch out for false teachers (vs 5,6,21,22); and stand firm amidst persecution (vs 9–13). Indeed, it would not be long before persecution and false teaching would befall the early church.2
Jesus’ prophetic insights are understood, however, not just to concern the near future, but to reach across history and speak of his second coming at the end times.3 The issues that affected the early church continue to affect the church that awaits Christ’s return. We are as a worldwide church, among other things, troubled by natural and political disasters, beleaguered by false teachings and enduring intense persecution. Jesus’ advice to us remains the same: do not be alarmed! Watch out! Stand firm! Yes, many troubles face the church and these are not to be trivialised, but we can take comfort from the fact that Christ foreknew all these things; and that all these things ultimately point us to his glorious return (v 26). When Christ returns, he will come with the promise that, ‘those who stand firm to the end will be saved’ (v 13, TNIV). Let us, by God’s grace, be among those who stand firm.
Perhaps you are affected by or concerned about world events, false teaching, persecution. Pray for the Holy Spirit to minister to you Christ’s words of comfort. Pray for the worldwide church.
1John 16:33 2 Eg Acts 4–7; Gal 1 3 Hendriksen, 1975, p526
Author
Fiona Silley
