The Fall of Jerusalem Predicted

Mark 13:1-13

Mark 13:1–13 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.” 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.

Outline

1-2: Prediction of the destruction of the temple

3-8: The Birth Pains

9-13: The Persecuted Church

Intro

The Olivet Discourse - One of the most incredible passages of scripture, but also one of the most controversial.

Bertrand Russell - Jesus seems to predict his own return before ‘this generation passes away’, but he didn’t come?

Many over the years have tried to iron out this difficulty, but it is a very challenging scripture and we can’t play fast and loose with exegesis in order to make it say what we would prefer it to say.

We must approach this passage as a piece of prophetic literature. As is the case with much Biblical prophecy it has both a more immediate fulfilment and also a greater more distant fulfilment.

What Jesus says he says first to His apostles - therefore the prophecy had to mean something for them, it can’t all be about the end times or else Jesus prophesied falsely to them.

So we first need to appreciate the first century application of this prophecy - and then also see that it foreshadows and speaks of Jesus’s return at the end of history.

What we can say is that this passage gives us yet more proof of Jesus’s Messiaship

Verses 1-2: Destruction of the Temple

In Mark’s gospel this is the last time Jesus exits the temple and is symbolic of His work there being complete. He has reasoned with the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadduccees of the truth and they have rejected Him.

One of his disciples draws Jesus’s attention to the temple buildings.

Josephus - the temple was like a mountain of marble and gold. Single stones were huge - sixty feet in length, 11 feet hight and 8ft deep. The temple was built on an esplanade that could have fit 12 football pitches on it!

Was this Judas?

Jesus is not impressed - this disciple clearly hadn’t been paying attention to anything Jesus had been saying.

Christ is not impressed with beautiful church buildings, impressive lighting displays and expensive garments. He does not honour wealth, power and prestige in ministries, He honours obedience. The same is true today.

“The true glory of a Church does not consist in its buildings for public worship, but in the faith and godliness of it’s members.” - JC Ryle

Jesus says that there will be not one stone left upon another but they will all be thrown down!

Given the size and weight (100s of tons) of these stones this would have seemed an impossible prediction.

The Romans tried for 6 days to break the temple gates with a battering ram but failed.

This is proof that the gospels were written before the fall of jerusalem - the detail is short, were they written afterward you would expect they would mention more.

The destruction of the temple would mean God’s judgement upon the Jews.

VERSES 3-8: The Beginning of the Birth Pangs

They retire to the mount of Olives, through the east gate, where in AD 70 Titus’s soldiers would raise their Roman standards and offer sacrifices.

From the mount of Olives you could virtually look right into the temple sanctuary.

Peter, James, John and Andrew then ask two questions; 1 - when will these things happen and 2 - what will be the signs when all these things are about to happen.

Jesus proceeds to give them a list of things that are not imminent signs of the end!

Wars and rumours of wars - but this is not the end. Earthquakes and famines but these are just the beginning of the birth pangs.

Interestingly before Jesus tells them of what to expect, He instructs them how to behave!

“See that no one leads you astray.”

In Matthew’s account this is followed by the parable of the 10 virgins - what matters to Christ is how we wait for His return. Are we prepared, are we keeping our lamps trimmed and ready for the Bridegroom to come or are we sleeping? Are we not watchful? Are we allowing ourselves to be led astray/distracted?

End times youtubers spend their time obesessing over earthquakes/famines/wars but Jesus clearly says that we’re not to be alarmed and that these things are not the end.

The first century was a time when many rose up claiming to be the Christ - there are many records of Jews rising up claiming to be the Messiah and leading people astray. Just as there are today - Eastern Lightening cult.

Many will come in my name saying Ego Eimi! The divine name. Jesus used this name multiple times.

There were also many wars in the first century between Jesus’s prophecy and the destruction of Jerusalem. The emperor Caligula drew up plans to put a statue of himself inside the temple, and at one point it looked like war might come upon Jerusalem, but the plans were scrapped.

There were also great famines - we know from Acts 11 that this took place during the reign of Claudius and ravaged Judea.

There were also great earthquakes in the Roman world in the first century. A huge earthquake ruined Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 62.

Christ says of these things - ‘do not be alarmed’, these things must take place. In the Greek - it is necessary for them to take place. The sovereignty of God over wars, strife and natural disasters.

We are not to fret and worry over things going on in the world - these things must take place.

VERSES 9-13: The Persecuted Church

Jesus commands them to βλέπete δὲ ὑμεῖς ἑαυτούς· - Watch yourselves. Be on guard of yourselves.

Are we taking up a guard of ourselves? Are we watchful? Titanic story.

This section reads like an outline of the book of acts - The apostles would experience all of these things. They would be handed over to councils, beaten, flogged. Paul would give testimony before King Agrippa.

The church experienced extreme persecution in the years leading up to AD 70. During the great persecution under Nero many Christians were martyred, some fed to lions, others burnt alive others crucified.

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.

Christians would experience persecuton and betrayal from their own families, and sadly sometimes even from other Christians.

Just as the persecution of the Church preceeded Christ’s coming in Judgement on Jerusalem and the Jewish nation in AD 70 - So too persecution will become widespread in the times leading up to Christ’s ultimate return.

The folly of the prosperity/dominion view. Many professed Christians desert Christ as soon as they experience the slightest sting of suffering.

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

But the one who endures to the end will be saved - Christianity is an endurance race, not a sprint. Many come out of the blocks fast but they run out of steam on the back straight, some start slowly and some pick up injuries. But all that matters is that we finish the race.

Derek Redmond

Pray