Mark 13

Outline

What is it all about?

What does it mean for us?

How should we respond?

What is it all about?

Durham Cathedral experience

Two options:

The ‘dual perspective’ view - binoculars - AD70 and the Second Coming

The single perspective view - AD70 - though with the hint that what happened to Israel in AD70 is

Option 1

Superficially correct - beginning is obviously AD70

So also is the later part in Mark 13:14-16 ““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. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.”

Many think it also has in view the parousia - in particular:

Mk 13:24-27 ““But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 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.”

Option 2

Option 1 is obvious - or is it?

Quotes from Daniel 7:13-14 ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Prefigured in the famous story in ch6 - Daniel’s movement downwards - trumped up charges - lifted up from ‘death’ - exalted to a high place - enemies meet the fate they planned for him

What 26-27 are describing

Coming/going in his resurrection/ascension/glorification/vindication

Worldwide evangelism that follows

The big question in Mark: where/what is the true Temple?

Jesus enacted the destruction of the temple when he overturned the moneychangers’ tables

What does it mean for us?

Don’t rely on the outward structures of religion, no matter how impressive or permanent they seem

Don’t engage in prophetic speculation or date-setting

Don’t be taken in by false Messiahs or false teachers

Don’t be alarmed by the turmoil around

Don’t be surprised by the strength of opposition to the Christian faith

Don’t seek martyrdom if there is a way of escape

Don’t rely on the outward structures

Mark 13:2 “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.””

Churches into carpet warehouses or climbing centres

Foster St - flats

Heswall - luxury apartments

What the church really looks like - analogy of view from aircraft at night

Don’t engage in speculation or date-setting

Mark 13:4 ““Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?””

Human impulse and common error - making charts/doomsday predictions etc

Mark 13:32 ““But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Purpose of all prophetic teaching: how to live today in the light of God’s future

1 Thess 4:13-18 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Don’t be taken in by false teachers

Mark 13:5-6 “And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.”

2 Peter 2:1-3 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

Obituary in Times, 1 Oct 2021 the American Episcopalian bishop Rt Rev John Shelby - denied the virgin birth, miracles, man made in the image of God, answering of prayer, the deity of Christ

Rev Albert Mohler: ‘He has basically run out of doctrines to deny’

The so-called ‘Word of Faith’ movement - originators of the ‘little god controversy’ with its heretical claim that humans are divine, of the same ‘spiritual class’ as God himself - other monikers for it include ‘name-it-claim-it’ or ‘prosperity gospel’ or ‘health and wealth gospel’

USA - TV channels - YouTube

Don’t be alarmed by the turmoil around

Mark 13:7-8 “And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 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.”

AD 69 was known as the ‘year of the 4 emperors’ as the throne in Rome changed hands with alarming speed, and all the fortified cities in Greece were falling one by one

Today no different - political turmoil - economic - population movement - philosophical turmoil - things once believed to be self-evidently true are now denied - wars and rumours of wars would now include culture wars that rage around our ears

Don’t be surprised by the strength of opposition

Mark 13:9-13 ““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. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 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. 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. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

The strongest human ties will count for little or nothing

The promise - and its context - see impromptu speeches in Acts

The early church knew all about the persecution to which Jesus alludes

The perseverance of the saints - Jesus tells them (and us) these things not to satisfy curiosity but to help us to endure to the end - forewarned is forearmed

Don’t seek martyrdom if there is a way of escape

Mark 13:14-16 ““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. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.”

Tradition: fledgling church in Jerusalem did as Jesus urged - fled to Pella in Transjordan just before Emperor Titus arrived

Inflammatory street preaching?

How should we respond?

Two ‘triple’ commands:

Be on your guard (9, 23, 33)

Vigilance

True that God guards us: Phil 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

But we have to be active guards

Balance: 2 Tim 1:14 “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”

Stay awake (33, 35, 37)

Alertness

We will soon read of the disciples sleeping in Gethsemane as Jesus wrestled with the fate that he knew lay ahead

It is all too easy for us to be ‘asleep on the job’

Rom 13:11-12 “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Be informed - Carl Trueman/Gabriele Kuby