Jesus Unvails The Future

I. The Beginning of the End (13:1–4)

1 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!” 2 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

A. The temple was considered one of the great wonders of the Roman world.

It had been under construction for forty-six years and was just nearing its completion. It was located on a spectacular site on Mt. Moriah. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote: “The exterior of the building wanted nothing that could astound either mind or eye. For, being covered on all sides with massive plates of gold, the sun was no sooner up than it radiated so fiery a flash that persons straining to look at it were compelled to avert their eyes, as from the solar rays.

Some of the foundation stones of the temple were forty feet long by twelve feet high by eighteen feet wide. These stones were also pure white in appearance. This may have been what prompted one of the disciples to say, Look Teacher! What massive stones! The courtyard of the temple had been greatly enlarged in order to accommodate the large throngs of Jews who came to Jerusalem for the festivals. The temple complex covered approximately one-sixth of the area of the city of Jerusalem.

B. Instead of carrying on a polite conversation about the greatness of the temple with the disciples, Jesus shocked them.

Imagine the incredible power and devastation it would take for such a prophecy to come true. Jesus’ prophecy did come true when the Roman general Titus first conquered Jerusalem. He ordered that the temple be preserved, but it was gutted by fire. So completely was the temple and the accompanying buildings destroyed that only parts of the Wailing Wall remained.

The disciples asked two key questions that introduce this chapter: (1) Tell us, when will these things happen? (2) And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled? These questions have been asked over and over again across the centuries by followers of Christ. Every generation has had inklings that Jesus would return during their time because of certain signs or spectacular events of their day.

Jesus eventually answered the disciples’ questions but not in the way they expected. There is a double perspective to Christ’s answers. Some of the events described were to be fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and some were to be fulfilled during the time of tribulation before his second coming. Jesus’ was more concerned to prepare them for the trials that lay ahead than to give them dates and signs.

II. Get Ready (13:5–8)

5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

A. Live life in alertness and awareness.

Jesus began to answer the disciples’ questions by pointing out certain “non-signs.” These are signs that have deceived people throughout time. The first of the non-signs Jesus pointed out are claims of others to be the returning Messiah. Jesus taught that popular religious leaders will claim to be the Messiah and have solutions for the problems of life. Jesus warned his disciples not to be deceived by these imposters.

Over eight hundred people lost their lives by following the command to drink poisoned Kool-Aid from Jim Jones, in Jonestown, Guyana. Many people were killed in a fire that destroyed their compound in Waco, Texas, because of following David Koresh, who claimed he was the Messiah. Finally, over thirty suicides took place in Los Angeles, California, among a group called Heaven’s Gate because they followed a leader who claimed to know when God was returning. Their thirst for meaning and purpose caused them to follow these so-called Messiahs. Jesus warned us not to be deceived by such false prophets as these.

B. Jesus warned the disciples not to be deceived by political conflicts.

Mark’s Roman readers had enjoyed a measure of peace for many years, but this would eventually come to an end. Even though the fall of such a great kingdom as the Roman Empire would be catastrophic, it did not mean the end was near. Also, natural disasters such as earthquakes and famines would not indicate the end times. Jesus warned us of the dangers of making these types of events benchmarks for the end times.

Just as labor increases for a mother when it is time for her child to be born, these signs are only the beginning point of the labor period before the return of Christ. Jesus wanted to prepare his people to be ready to face a turbulent world with confidence in the midst of suffering. Mark wanted to assure his Roman readers that the appearance of wars and persecution were a part of God’s overall plan. The word beginning suggests many more sufferings would come. So do not be deceived, Jesus declared. Be ready.

III. Do Not Be Discouraged (13:9–13)

9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

A. Jesus wanted to prepare his people for the suffering.

They would suffer publicly. Persecution for believers would begin in the local Jewish courts but would move to the higher courts where governors and kings would be involved. Yet, the purpose of such persecution was that his followers might be witnesses of the good news of Jesus Christ. Persecution would result in proclamation.

2. Jesus declared that the gospel must first be preached to all nations. This suggests that when the gospel has penetrated a nation to the extent that it comes to the attention of the governing authorities—who will demand an accounting from those who preach the gospel—then the gospel has been given as a testimony to that nation. The primary goal of Christ’s disciples is to preach the gospel to all nations. This was more important than looking for signs about the end times.

B. Jesus warned the disciples of the severity of the persecution they would face.

They would face not only public humiliation but private persecution as well from their own families. The phrase, brother will betray brother to death, shows the persecution a believer could receive from his or her own family. Those who became followers of Christ and were part of a family that still practiced orthodox Judaism would be cast out of the family and considered as dead.

The phrase, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved, does not imply a doctrine of salvation by works. Jesus was emphasizing that genuine faith is revealed through the trials and tests that a person endures. Those who have genuine faith in Christ will not give up their faith under such intense persecution.