Wake Up Sleepyhead

Jesus is about to leave the temple. He has been teaching on what True Discipleship is while rebuking the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes. Held in high honor is the woman with the two coins.

We’re nearing the end of Mark, which means the crucifixion of Christ is coming. This is the last section of teaching of Jesus for His disciples, and what He has to say is important.

Mark 13:1–2 ESV

1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 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.”

It’s a good thing this disciple isn’t named or he’d be feeling pretty dumb for saying that to Jesus. Maybe it’s God’s grace that his name isn’t included.

Sometimes we speak when we shouldn’t. In this case though, Jesus uses the opportunity to make a huge pronouncement: the temple will be destroyed. This paves the way for His teaching on the Mount of Olives.

Jesus is making pronouncements on the End times including some pretty heavy commands. There’s a lot here that we can speculate about, but there’s an overall message that Jesus is getting at: Stay awake, stay alert.

Before we begin though, let’s pray:

Pray

Father as we read your Word together tonight, I pray that you would give us understanding on how to be faithful disciples. As much as we want to be good, if we don’t have the Spirit within us we cannot do what we are called to do. For those of us who are believers, help us to be vigilant. May we depend on You Father.

Amen.

Restless

Mark 13:3–13 ESV

3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 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. 9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

We all tend to get restless don’t we. We want to be prepared for what comes ahead, but we’re so easily caught up in the urgent or the thing that demands our attention or whatever:

School Work

Friendships

Toys/Hobbies

Our Phones

The disciples here are anticipating what Jesus is talking about. “The temple being destroyed! Huh!?” “What Else Lord!?”

Jesus doesn’t answer their questions though. He doesn’t say what the signs of the end times are exactly and He is quick to give commands instead of directly answering them. At least that’s how it seems.

Why do we get led astray so easily? Even after the gospel is announced to the church we have a propensity to leave it don’t we? Like Paul in Galatians 1:6

Galatians 1:6 ESV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

We just can’t rest in the gospel that is actually proclaimed to us. We turn to everything else to justify some kind of action. It’s much harder than being patient and vigilent. Watchful and awake.

Jesus encourages His disciples to:

Mark 13:9–11 ESV

9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

This is our encouragement. That we be on our guard. We proclaim the gospel to all nations, and rely on the Holy Spirit when we are persecuted. This is God’s work in us. We must rest in Him instead of following a different gospel and are then found faithless.

No-Doze

How does the believer accomplish this? Alone, he cannot. It is God’s providence, power and promise that help the disciple face these tough times:

Mark 13:14–23 ESV

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.

We’ve seen how God provides power through the Holy Spirit:

Mark 13:11 ESV

11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

But we also see His providence in these words. He cuts the tribulation short so man can be saved. “Why doesn’t he just not have a tribulation?” Remember the parable of the Tenants in Mark 12? The Son is about to be killed, and justice must be done.

False sons are about to come about. In God’s providence, He desires to save some. But not all will be Sons or Daughters of God.

Mark 13:24–27 ESV

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.

In the last verses (v.26-27) We can see the promise of the Son’s return and how believers are drawn to Him. He is faithful to His True Disciples. This isn’t just for this time either, this applies to every believer today.

Night-owls

What is one to take away from all of this?

Mark 13:28–37 ESV

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.”

This Generation refers to those who will see the end being near. The temple is destroyed 37 years later (70AD), and the end will begin. We, even today, are in the end. It’s a long ending too. It’s 2,000 years long so far.

The call for believers isn’t to know the signs. It’s not to predict the end. It’s not to prove the thing that is reserved for the Father alone.

It isn’t for believers to merely remain at their post either. If we are on watch, like on guard duty, is it alright to merely be present for the position?

Of course not! We are to remain watchful for the master of the house. We are to recognize just as in Mark 12, that the master of the house will return. We are either to be found in the house asleep and forsaking the master, or we are to be awake. Diligent. Enduring.