Sermon Tone Analysis

Bible Reading

Mark 13:26-

Introduction

We’ve been working through , which, as I’ve mentioned, is a passage which deals extensively with Christ’s explanation to His disciples of events that He says are going to unfold.

The prompting of this discourse, which is known as the Olivet discourse, was a remark by one of the disciples on the grandeur of the Temple in Jerusalem - it’s magnificent stones; it’s beauty.

But Christ said to the disciples that all of those stones would be thrown down, and there would be destruction of the Temple.

This was all said, by the way, in the context of various pronouncements of judgment by Christ to the religious leaders. in the preceding days as He was in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.

And so, when four of Christ’s disciples ask him the question about when this will take place, Jesus goes on to give a long and detailed explanation of what is to unfold.

As I’ve explained this text to you, I’ve taken the position that what Christ was speaking of when he gave these words was the judgment of God coming upon the Jewish leaders / the nation of Israel.

This was fitting, not only because promises of such judgment were given to Israel through Moses, but because they had, and would continue, to reject the Messiah.

They would reject the Son of God.

As we continue our look at this passage this morning, keep all of that in mind.

Before we continue our look, I want to emphasize the fact that just because what Christ said here was directed at the Jews for the judgment coming upon them, do not think for a moment that the words have no relevance to us in our day.

In much the same way as there was judgment coming upon the Israelites due to their lack of acceptance of the Messiah, so it will be at the end of time that judgment will come upon all the nations and peoples who will reject the Messiah.

Judgment is coming.

Christ will come again.

There is no denying that.

There is no avoiding that.

And so inasmuch as Christ gave words of warnings to His disciples in this context of what was to come, we need to be hearing those warnings for our own day, and living our lives in an appropriate manner.

With that in mind, let us turn our attention to this text.

We will pick up in verse 26.

Two weeks ago we looked at verses 24 and 25, and we saw that the signs in the heavens that are spoken of there were pictures of the wrath of God, the judgment of God, coming upon a particular people.

But we now turn our attention to verses 26-37, where we learn further important truths concerning what would take place.

1. Authority of the Son in His Kingdom (v.26)

Read Point 1

Verse 26 reads as follows:

Perhaps when we read these words, our minds immediately jump to the thought of Christ coming back to the earth in order to bring in the final judgment.

But I’m quite certain that that’s not where the mind of the Jew of that day would have defaulted to.

The phrase that Jesus uses here is one that was used by the prophet Daniel, and on that occasion, Daniel was actually speaking about the Son of Man ascending to the Father in heaven, and taking a position of authority.

Quite evidently, Jesus is quoting Daniel, or at the very least he is speaking with language that brings to the minds of those listening a reference to the prophet Daniel.

But what is important over here is to notice where the Son of Man was coming to.

It says in Daniel: “He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.”

Who was the Son of Man approaching?

God!!

I mention this simply to demonstrate that we must not assume that what was being spoken of was the Son of Man coming down to earth riding on clouds.

Rather, what this speaks of is the Son of Man that is taking up a position of authority, and taking a position of glory at the Right Hand of the Father.

Clouds would often represent the glory of God.

Think of the clouds that covered Sinai when God descended.

The Glory of God

Think of the clouds that were present on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Look also with me at .

The judgment of God

When Christ was brought before the Sanhedrin, as they were looking to condemn him, notice the discussion that unfolds:

Mark 14:60-

As Christ responds in this verse he’s telling them that he will be in a position of authority at the right hand of the Mighty One.

It is on this basis that he is accused of blasphemy.

Look with me at one further reference in this regard - .

The context in these verses is where Christ says to his disciples that he will suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed, and on the third day be raised to life.

As Christ says this, Peter rebukes him.

And then Christ tells Peter: Get behind me Satan, and then goes on to say in verse 24...

And then further in verses 27-28

What’s striking about those words of Christ is that some of those standing there would not taste death before the Son of Man came in his kingdom.

As Christ speaks to his disciples with these words, He is making that point that at the time that all of these things unfold, it is a demonstration of the fact that the Son is in His position of authority.

Now we must understand that the disciples would have had reason to be anxious.

Fast-forward a day or two from when these words were spoken to them, and Jesus, the one that they have confessed as the Messiah, is going to be crucified.

They were entering into a time of uncertainty.

Would not the words of Christ here been a reminder to them - down the line of time - that Jesus said that he would come with power, and that he would be given authority?

Even the judgment that would come on Israel would be a demonstration that this judgment would take place while Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father, with authority given to him.

And Christ is seated there today!

Today, we can be greatly encouraged because Christ has been given all authority, and He sits today ruling and reigning at the right hand of the Father, until such time as everything will be placed under His feet.

Bet let us be encouraged!!

He rules and reigns today, and He is our glorious King!!

He is the One endowed with great power and glory!

Praise God for that!!

2. Expansion of the Son’s Kingdom (v.27)

Say Second Point

In verse 27 of our text, we read these words:

Again, we have in this verse truths which at first glance may be unfamiliar to us.

Jesus speaks about the sending out of his angels to go and gather his elect.

We need to recognise that an angel from the Greek word “angelos” was a messenger.

There is not a separate Greek word to distinguish angel from messenger.

And angel was a messenger.

The word does not necessarily speak about a heavenly being, as we would think about angels in that sense - supernatural beings that are with God in the heavens.

For example:

Who was the messenger?

John the Baptist.

This is the same word that is used.

In , we read of John the Baptist sending some messengers to Jesus, to ask if He is the Christ.

Christ responds positively - says that he is.

And then we read in verse 24...

John’s disciples that were sent by him are called messengers - which also could be translated Angels.

In fact the word is usually translated angels.

But the point is simply this - messengers (or Angels) would be sent out into the world in order to gather in the elect.

Now think about the time in history when this is unfolding!

As Christ is speaking to the disciples here, I believe that what he was telling them would have been of great encouragement, because it would be a reminder to them that the Gospel messengers would go out.

No longer would God’s revelation and proclamation be severely confined and restricted to one particular people group - the Jews - but rather this knowledge of God would go out to all the world, and the elect would be gather from the four winds.

The “four winds” here simply refers to the four corners of the globe - all the earth!

In other words, all of the divine elect of God would be brought into the kingdom - not a physical kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom!

Notice how this ties in with the great commission that we know so well:

-21

The authority of Jesus is spoken of, referring to His power.

The instruction to go out into all the nations is given.

And all of this begins to unfold in the book of Acts, slowly but surely boundaries are broken in terms of the extents of the Gospel being preached.

But you and I sit here today because those messengers have gone out.

3. Certainty of the Son’s Kingdom (vv.28-31)

Read point 3

Christ continues with his prophetic words to his disciples in verses 28-31...

As the disciples are listening, they would again have had reason for encouragement from Christ.

Firstly, Christ speaks about the lesson that they are to learn from the fig tree.

He speaks about the twigs getting tender, and the leaves coming out.

What does it mean when the twigs get tender, and the leaves come out?