Mark 13:1-8; November 13, 2021; It's Coming

Mom’s Pregnancy

Living with a pregnant mom was hard and confusing.

mood swings

morning sickness

rage quitting games

Wouldn’t trade those 9 months for the world. But it was only the beginning of the rough times. Things got WAY worse before they got better. New life requires sacrifice.

Finishing Up our look at Mark with this passage.

(30 minutes left)

Let’s Review:

Jesus’ final trip to the temple was definitely hostile toward the corporate religious machine that had replaced true worship.

Called for total surrender rather than partial followings

Called for authentic living rather than performances

Called for love over everything else.

(27 minutes)

It’s Coming

Mark 13:1 “And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!””

Face palm! The disciples are still preoccupied with what they’ve lived their lives knowing about religion.

Mark 13:2 “And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.””

Jesus wants his disciples to understand that the end is coming.

Jesus points to the truth that nothing in this world will really last forever. Even the most magnificent and stable things in this world are only temporary.

Jesus echoes this sentiment at the end of this monologue when he explains in Mark 13:31- that heaven and earth will pass away but his words will never pass away.

How often do we hold on to things that can’t satisfy our truest needs rather than holding onto the only one who will remain?

Your spouse will fail you

Your money will fall short

Your job won’t always be satisfying

Your role and ministry in the church will drain you.

But God’s word remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God has no problem ripping away and ripping apart anything and everything that comes between you and him.

(20 minutes)

Clarifying for the Disciples

So the disciples come to Jesus and ask him to explain what the end times will actually look like. When will these things take place? Jesus pronouncement over the temple rattled them and filled them with more questions than answers. In vain they came to Jesus in search of knowledge that would bring peace.

Jesus’ offering is a peace beyond understanding.

What they wanted was a road map, instead Jesus reminded them that he is the way.

What they wanted were facts and Jesus reminded them that he is the truth.

What they wanted was a way to survive and Jesus wanted them to understand that he is the life.

(17 minutes)

Watch out for false hope!

Mark 13:5–6 NAS

And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many.

#1 The end is coming. Jesus hasn’t attempted to mince words with his followers. They need to know that the apocalypse is real.

#2 There will be false Messiahs. There will be people who insist they are the salvation we’ve been waiting for. And they will deceive many.

Note that the phrasing here (In my name) can mean more than one thing:

Option 1: Those claiming to be the Messiah. People will come and claim the title of Christ as their own. We need to be watchful of those who would lead us astray. Often we are careful not to fall for obvious cults because of this verse.

Option 2: Those who claim the Messiah’s name but lead you astray. We also need to be careful about people and causes that would attach themselves to Christianity but would actually follow their own agendas. Groups and organizations that claim to be Christian but advocate for causes aside from the cause of Christ are equally dangerous to believers.

Mark 13:21-23

Mark 13:21–23 NAS

“And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and bwonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.

Jesus shares this message with his disciples so that they will not be deceived because he knows how convincing these false prophets will be. He points us to the truth of who He is so that we won’t be led astray by counterfeits.

(10 minutes)

Don’t Misinterpret Life

Mark 13:7 NAS

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.

#1 The end is coming. Jesus wants us to understand that this world is not our home so we shouldn’t get too comfortable.

#2 There will be false Messiahs. We can be misled if we assume that those who speak with authority actually have authority.

#3 Sin will appear to be winning until it loses.

We live in a world full of selfish people and selfish desires and Satan will continue to run rampant as long as he is the ruler of this world.

Mark 13:26-27

Mark 13:26–27 NAS

“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.

Jesus shares this with his disciples so that they will not be led astray by false signs. Instead he shows them the signs of a world falling apart from sin and the true signs of the second coming.

(3 minutes)

It’s Coming

Mark 13:8

Mark 13:8 NAS

“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

#1 The end is coming. Jesus wants us to understand that the broken world we now live in will get worse before things get better.

#2 There will false Messiahs. Some will try to convince us that they are the answer to a world falling apart.

#3 Sin will appear to be winning. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.

#4 And then we will get to the hard part!

(END HERE!!!!)

Why does God tell us all of this?

Mark 13:28

Mark 13:28 NAS

“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.

#1 God sees us as his friends and partners. He gives us this information because he wants us to be ready.

John 16:33

John 16:33 NAS

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Above all God wants us to be less concerned about the signs of the times and focus instead on being present in our time.

Mark 13: 9

Mark 13:9 NAS

“But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged ain the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.

Mark 13:11

Mark 13:11 NAS

“When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:13

Mark 13:13 NAS

“You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

God doesn’t need us to plan for the future because he is already there. Instead he calls us to endure till the end.

Mark 13:33-37 ““Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. “It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. “Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ””