Partners in a New Creation
God Delivers and Restores
God Foretells Destruction
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) Mark 13:1-13 The MessageDoomsday Deceivers13 As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!” 2 Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.” 3-4 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, “Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?” 5-8 Jesus began, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming. 9-10 “And watch out! They’re going to drag you into court. And then it will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You’re placed there as sentinels to truth. The Message has to be preached all across the world. 11 “When they bring you, betrayed, into court, don’t worry about what you’ll say. When the time comes, say what’s on your heart—the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you. 12-13 “It’s going to be brother killing brother, father killing child, children killing parents. There’s no telling who will hate you because of me. “Stay with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.
For Reflection
Some people would agree that these passages are about salvation from a God-driven apocalyptic world's end. "It is not a matter of salvation, says Mark Van Meter. However, I believe it is a matter that can affect how we live and minister in the world. Its implications are actually quite significant. As someone has said, eschatology is not the most important thing about me, but it does affect everything that I do. And, in these particular challenging and strange days, this is manifestly true." (https://brackenhurstbaptist.co.za/this-is-not-the-end/ )
Mark is stressing what it means to follow Jesus. Following Jesus means being rejected and paying the price for acting in obedience to The Way. It was about the end of the Jews' times as they understood them -- not the end of our times.
They and perhaps we should expect disruptions, false leaders, and persecution. After all, Jesus turned the world upside down. But, will we, the followers of Jesus, not also be seen as a threat?
"Mark provides the essence of what the early church needed to know about the destruction of the temple and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem. He provides what they needed to know about the world's end as the Jews knew it. Likewise, he provides all we need to know for his modern readers about the ending of that age. As we grasp this, we are equipped to make the most of our opportunities in this age—to be hopeful and remain faithful." (Mark Van Meter) PrayPray and focus not on the sigh of our times. Focus instead on the assignment of our time, the Gospel proclamation. Pray and be hopeful.
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