Jesus' Farewell Address - Part 1

Introduction

Since George Washington, one of the common traditions of U.S. Presidents as they are leaving office is to give a Farewell Address.

It’s their way of speaking to the nation one more time and summarizing what they hope to be their legacy, imparting any final wisdom they might have, and giving a warning to the nation of what to look ahead to and be on guard against.

We have here, a “Farewell Address” of sorts from Jesus. Other theologians and commentators have called this moment with his disciples “The Olivet Discourse” because they are sitting on the Mount of Olives which was just east of the city of Jerusalem looking directly at the temple. It for sure, would have been an astounding view of the city and temple.

This has been quite a week for Jesus. He entered Jerusalem at the beginning of the week riding on a donkey to the applause and adoration of the people. He’s driven out the moneychangers from the temple and then spent the last few days sparring with the Pharisees, Sadduccees, and Scribes.

We’re now only a couple days away from Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution and so his time with his disciples before his death is coming to a close. So, we have here a fairly intimate discussion between Jesus and his disciples. A final word of warning to what lay ahead and a final charge to remain faithful in the face of trials, persecutions, and calamities.

Problem

Chapter 13 centers around the future, or the end of the age. It looks ahead to what is coming. Now, Scripture does not shy away from speaking into these things of what is to come. Jesus certainly doesn’t avoid the topic as this entire discourse on the Mount of Olives is his prophetic word of what is to come.

The entire book of Revelation is given to instruction on the end times. But, can we agree, that there’s mystery to this as well? When speaking of things that our eyes have not yet seen, it’s going to be difficult for us to fully grasp all that Jesus speaks of and all the Scripture points forward to.

Just the other day I came across a video from 1994 of the anchors on the Today Show talking about “email” and the “internet.” Obviously, in 1994 email was a new thing, the internet was just finally getting talked about. And their minds were blown as they were trying to understand what these things were.

At the end of one of their segments they threw up on the screen an email address that people could write to if they had further questions or comments which then turned into a five-minute back and forth on how the email address didn’t make any sense to them...”email ‘[e-mail]’” they said with bewildered voices. “Why is there an “@” in the middle of those words?”

Now, we look at email today as nothing too confusing and everyone pretty much understands what the internet is. But to them, back in 1994, they had never seen this and so they had trouble comprehending and understanding.

Jesus here is speaking of things well into the future. Scripture speaks of things that have not yet occured. And so, there’s going to be murkiness around these things. Which means there is going to need to be humility and charity toward others as we wrestle through it.

But, at the same time, understand what the main aim of Scripture is when speaking of things yet to come.

Revelation was written to be an encouragement to the church as it speaks of what is to come and as it points to the overwhelming victory of Christ over sin and death.

And yet, throughout church history, it’s become divisive as Christ-followers miss the main point and instead argue with others over time-lines. It’s not that it’s not worth digging into and studying those things, but if that’s dividing the church rather than unifying the church around the Lordship of King Jesus over sin and death then we’re missing the point.

The only thing that is divisive in Scripture is the gospel in that it calls us out for who we truly are: rebels, sinners, traitors in need of redemption and salvation that does not come from us but Christ alone.

The disciples here in our text before us ask a question to Jesus of when the end will come and instead Jesus gives them an answer to the question they should ask, the question we must ask ourselves,

Big Idea

“How do we remain faithful to Christ in the midst of a broken and sinful world?”

Main Aim

I really believe that’s what Jesus is getting at here. Rather than worrying about the when, it’s “How do I keep my eyes fixed on you, Jesus.”

Like I said, this is a “Farewell Address” of sorts. Jesus is not going to be physically with his disciples for much longer. And so, what do they need to hear from him so that they remain faithful as disciples, as followers of His? How do they keep their eyes fixed on Him? And what lies ahead that will seek to deceive them and distract them from their mission?

It’s what we need to ask and hear as well.

Body

So, let’s dig in. Four warnings Jesus gives.

The first is seen right as they’re coming out of the temple. Look at verses 1-2.

Mark 13:1–2

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

One of the first things we need to ask, is, “what is Jesus talking about here? What does he have in mind? What is he referring to?

And this is where people differ. Chapter 13 is a difficult text to go through and understand. Brilliant theologians have differed on this for centuries. Some believe Jesus only has the destruction of the temple in 70AD in mind. Others argue that he is only speaking of the end of the age, his second coming.

So, my cards on the table. I think he’s speaking of both. He’s addressing the destruction of the temple that will happen in the year 70AD but as he’s prophesying it’s destruction it’s used as a foreshadowing or a preview of his second coming at the end of the age.

The Old Testament prophets spoke this way all the time. They would prophecy about far-future events, things that would happen centuries later using near-future events that many would see with their own eyes.

And God does this to help bring levels of clarity as we seek to wrestle with what is still to come. So, Jesus here uses the destruction of the temple in 70AD, an event still yet to come, but his disciples would see with their own eyes to help them and us better understand the nature surrounding his second coming which is obviously still yet to come.

And so, the disciples in a moment are going to ask about the when. “When will this happen?” “What signs will be so clear that we can’t miss it?” They wanted a year, they wanted a calendar date, they wanted clear, unmistakable signs. But Jesus doesn’t give them a date does he? Why? In his answer to them he’s inferring that they’re asking the wrong question.

Just like the disciples, we don’t need to worry and concern ourselves with signs, wonders, and time-lines. Don’t worry about about the when, instead, concern yourself about the heart.

This is what we see in verses 1-2. Jesus’ first warning is,

Don’t trust in the things of this world, hope in God.

Jesus and the disciples are leaving the temple grounds. The temple was a spectacular sight to behold for sure. It was one of the great architectural wonders of the world at that time.

See here a model of what the temple would have looked like.

Show pic

It was built with large white stones overlayed with gold. The foundation stones that the disciples are talking about here would have been about the size of a boxcar. It was massive.

The disciples leaving the temple were more awestruck by a man-made creation than they were in the creator of man himself. They were walking and speaking with the Word made flesh. The eternal Word, who the gospel of John says was with God from the beginning. The one whom all things were made through and made for. The one who gave life to all. He’s in their midst.

And yet, their eyes were fixated on some rocks that looked pretty.

What’s the warning here? Don’t put your hope in the things of this world. Jesus says, you see all these “beautiful rocks?” They’re going to be destroyed.

Man’s best efforts, which the physical temple would have been, don’t impress God at all. Your best effort to attain God’s acceptance doesn’t move the needle at all. Nothing in all of creation is more impressive than the God who made it.

And so, don’t put your hope in earthly things. Put your hope in the God who reigns over it all.

Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Jesus speaks here of coming destruction upon this temple. And so, even here, Jesus says, your hope is not this building. Your only hope is in me. I am the true temple. Don’t take your eyes off of me.

This interaction as they are leaving the temple is what causes four of the twelve disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew to ask about when this will all take place. When will the temple be destroyed? When will the end of the age come?

And so, Jesus gives them another warning. Verse 5.

Mark 13:5–8

“See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Jesus’ second warning,

Deception is coming, do not be troubled.

The disciples are assuming that with the destruction of the temple, which Jesus just talked about, that automatically means the final consummation of history. The kingdom established. They weren’t thinking that there would be long time between those two events.

And so, Jesus doesn’t address timing, but he knows that the destruction of the temple which will be catastrophic is going to cause many to think the end is here. But it’s not. And so, as Danny Akin in his commentary says,

“Jesus is using the coming destruction of the temple and Jerusalem as a type or foreshadowing of end-time events. [Meaning] The imminent destruction of the temple is the lens through which we should view the distant destruction of this present evil age and the return of the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus.”

What Jesus is drawing their attention to is the reality of life in a broken world. Wars are going happen. Natural disasters are going to take place. There will be severe famines. People will starve. There will be destruction. It’s the result of sin. And so, don’t be alarmed by these horrible things. This is life right now, this is the result of mankind’s sin.

And there will be “many” Jesus says who will use these catastrophic events which will cause people to panic to take advantage of them and lead them astray.

Have we not seen this throughout human history? How many false prophets and cult leaders have used the scariness of life, the uncertainty of life in a fallen world to deceive people to follow them so they can control them and abuse them and take advantage of them and have power over them?

I can almost see Jesus sitting his disciples down on the Mount of Olives and having them overlook the temple and Jerusalem. And he says to them, this is going to be destroyed and it’s going to be devastating to you and ugly. This is the result of sin and it’s not going to get any better.

It’ll progress more and more. This is life in a fallen world. So, don’t be alarmed, don’t be troubled, don’t be deceived. These things must take place as human history progresses toward the birth of the established kingdom of God.

These are the birth pains. Before the beauty of a newborn child is held in your arms there’s pain. This is what Jesus is warning them of.

Similarly, Jesus’ third warning is,

Persecution is coming, so be on guard.

What’s he say to them at the beginning of verse 9? “Be on guard.” Why?

Well, verses 9-13 say that they’re going to be tried before the courts, beaten, arrested, thrown in jail, even killed for the sake of the gospel. I said at the beginning this morning that the gospel is divisive. We see that here in verses 12-13.

Mark 13:12–13

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

This isn’t a picture of life getting any easier for the disciples. This isn’t a picture of life getting any easier for us today as followers of Jesus.

So, what’s he say? Be on guard. Know this is going to happen and remain faithful. Keep your eyes on me. In fact, Jesus is saying that persecution is going to be necessary for the gospel to progress outward among the nations.

Isn’t that what we see happening in verse 10?

Mark 13:10 (ESV)

And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

The persecution of the early church is what caused the church to scatter among the surrounding nations. The early church was mostly centered around Jerusalem. The believers were staying there and so the gospel wasn’t being advanced. How’s God cause it to advance? Persecution. Exactly what Jesus just said.

In Acts 6, 7, and 8 we read of the story of Stephen, a disciple filled with grace and power, doing amazing works among the people. He’s arrested in chapter 6 and brought before the council to stand trial. In Acts 7 Stephen condemns the religious leaders for rejecting Christ and so Stephen is killed, stoned to death in the sight of all.

Well, what happens in Acts 8? Persecution against the church which resulted in it spreading.

Acts 8:1

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.

Jesus tells his disciples and we hear these words today, persecution is to be expected, so guard your hearts that your remain fixed on him. Guard your hearts that you remain faithful to Christ.

But there’s also a great comfort given in verse 11. “Don’t be anxious.” Why? Because he’s with us. The Holy Spirit is given to us to encourage, strengthen, and uphold us.

The final warning for us today is seen in verses 14-23.

Great tribulation is approaching, so be watchful.

Up to this point, Jesus has been speaking primarily of the near future event of the destruction of the temple in 70AD and the scattering of the church to the nations.

It’s here now that we begin to see a blending of two events: the destruction of the temple and the events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ which is still yet to come. This is where Mark 13 gets murkier. So, let’s break this down.

Jesus uses the phrase “abomination of desolation” in verse 14. And then in the verses following this event causing people to abandon their homes, leave their possessions behind and flea.

Think of it like if your house were on fire. You get your kids and you get out of the house. Leave everything behind.

Jesus says, “When you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be…(let the reader understand)”

It’s a phrase used in the book of Daniel three times. Daniel 9, 11, and 12. All looking to a future day when an individual will be standing where he ought not be bringing unthinkable devastation and destruction which will cause unbelievable suffering.

Now, we’ve seen in history two instances where this prophecy in Daniel is fulfilled.

The first happened in 167 BC. A Syrian by the name, Antiochus Epiphanes entered the temple, sacrificed a pig on the altar of burnt offerings and then set up an altar to Zeus. Now, if you know anything about the Jewish sacrificial system, this is an abomination. And this act is what causes the Jewish people to revolt.

Jesus gives another fulfillment of this prophecy. Primarily, the destruction of the temple as we’ve talked about in 70AD when the Roman General Titus destroyed it all. It was burned to the ground. Imagine what the Jewish people felt as they saw the temple, the center of Jewish worship burned to the ground.

But I believe Jesus also had in mind a third fulfillment of this prophecy that pointed to the Great Tribulation that precedes his future return as King.

Remember what Danny Akin said, the temple here is but a type or foreshadow of events yet to come.

We are still awaiting the return of Jesus. And so, what is to happen until that glorious day? Trouble, suffering, persecution, deception. Many things and many people who will try to draw our eyes off of Christ.

Just as a horrible devastation overtook the temple in 70AD, this “abomination of desolation” that Jesus talks about here also looks forward to the catastrophic events that will unfold prior to the return of Christ and as the apostle Paul speaks of in 2 Thessalonians 2, the “man of lawlessness” or the Antichrist who will ascend to power, do many scandalous and blasphemous deeds, and who will unleash terrible tribulation and persecution upon the people of God.

Jesus, in speaking to the disciples about the events to unfold a few decades later, speaks to us today these same words of warning. Hope in God. Don’t be troubled. Be on guard. Don’t be deceived. Be watchful.

Conclusion

What’s he say in verse 23? I’m telling you all of this beforehand. Why? So you remain faithful. So you keep your eyes fixed on me.

Church, we are awaiting the return of King Jesus. Until then, what can we expect? Hardship, trial, and suffering. What should we do? Eagerly anticipate his return, remain faithful, don’t worry, he’s with us, and pray for the gospel to go to all nations.