The End of the Age Mark 13:1-13

-Christians must live wisely in light of the end of the coming age.

Nothing is more valuable than wisdom:

Automaker Henry Ford asked electrical genius Charlie Steinmetz to build the generators for his factory. One day the generators ground to a halt, and the repairmen couldn't find the problem.  So Ford called Steinmetz, who tinkered with the machines for a few hours and then threw the switch. The generators whirred to life--but Ford got a bill for $10,000 from Steinmetz.  Flabbergasted, the rather tightfisted car maker inquired why the bill was so high.

Steinmetz's reply: For tinkering with the  generators, $10. For knowing where to tinker, $9,990. Ford paid the bill.

I. Be Wise vv. 1-2

In our passage tonight, Jesus makes a turn in the conversation. He will focus on the end of the age

His disciples are a little overwhelmed by what they see in Jerusalem

They marvel at the beauty and size of the buildings that they see there

They have a little bit of a “country come to town” mentality and are impressed by what they see

Jesus changes their focus:

As impressive as all of this is, it will not last

Jesus is quite blunt. All of the buildings and sights they find so impressive will be utterly destroyed

I think we need to hear Jesus on this:

There is a lot that captivates our imagination

The vast majority of it is not lasting; it is a part of our present age

We must refocus!

It is not a bad thing to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the present age

However, it is not our ultimate end

Colossians 3:1–4

[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (ESV)

II. Be Discerning vv. 3-6

All of this troubles some of the disciples, so they gather with Jesus privately

They want to know when the age will come to an end

They want to know the signs of the times so that they can be “in the know”

Jesus does answer them, but with a series of instructions

They must be discerning

Many, Jesus says, will appear and make a claim to be Christ returned

They will lead many people astray

These folks have been caught up in a web of deceit and this deception comes at a high cost:

There is personal loss- it costs financially

There is relational loss- it costs friendships and family bonds

There is spiritual loss- it makes a great dent in faith, because it was misguided

We have to be discerning in all of these things related to end-times matters

III. Be Calm vv. 7-8

Jesus warns these disciples that there will be many calamities that take place

Wars and rumors of wars

Earthquakes

Famines

They all must take place, but they are not the indicators that Christ is ready to return

Not every global event is a sign and we should not read them that way

Most importantly, we must not be alarmed. We must remain calm

The end of the age is not a time for final panic, but it is the hope of a perfect peace

Here is an instruction on how to react to hungry pythons, as given to Peace Corpsmen serving in Brazil -- "Remember not to run away, the python can run faster. The thing to do is to lie flat on the ground on your back with your feet together, arms at your side, head well down. The python will then try to push its head under you, experimenting at every possible point. Keep calm (that was underscored). "You must let him swallow your foot. It is quite painless and it will take a long time. If you lose your head and struggle, he will quickly whip his coils around you. If you keep calm and still, he will go on swallowing. Wait patiently until he has swallowed up to about your knee. Then carefully take out your knife and insert it into the distended side of his mouth and with a quick rip slit him up."

IV. Be Ready vv. 9-10

This does not mean that there is not a real danger that is present

Persecution is a frequent reality in the life of a believer

They are delivered to councils, beaten in the synagogues, and placed on trial before rulers

However, they endure it for the sake of Christ

This is the critical piece

We must be ready to suffer for the sake of Christ

This is the cost of fulfilling the mission; it is worth suffering for Christ so that we can carry the Gospel to all nations!

Acts 21:13

[13] Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (ESV)

V. Be Confident vv. 11-13

Finally, Jesus spells out how we should respond when we face persecution

We can be confident for three reasons:

The Spirit will speak for you, so that the Gospel is proclaimed

You will be able to endure; it is not impossible

You will be saved through suffering

It turns out that persecution is not your destruction; it very well may be your deliverance

The Lord takes the worst kinds of situations and brings blessings out of them; we can have a confident trust in Him.

The Preacher’s Notebook: The Collected Quotes, Illustrations, and Prayers of John Stott Dying in Confidence and Peace

George Williams, in Tales of the Mystic Way, wrote of a dying girl who said: “I have no inward religious emotions, I see no angels, I hear no music, I have none of the death-bed transports of the story-books, I have only the tenth [chapter] of Hebrews. I am dying in confidence and peace, upon the statements of that chapter, and I am satisfied.”

She was referring especially to Hebrews 10:12, 14, 17.

Hebrews 10:12–17

[12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. [14] For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

[15] And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

[16] “This is the covenant that I will make with them

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws on their hearts,

and write them on their minds,”

[17] then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (ESV)