The Gospel According to
Mark 13
37 verses≈ 6 min3 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
Temple Destruction and Other Signs
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!”
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Jesus
“Do you see all these great buildings?”
Jesus replied.
Jesus
“Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Not one stone here will be left on another
Mark 13:2
Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you. Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Witnessing to All Nations
So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.
But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
the one who perseveres to the end will be saved
Mark 13:13
Live it
Not you speaking
Jesus told His friends not to rehearse their defense: “it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Where do you need courage to speak about Jesus right now? Write down one name, and ask the Spirit for the words.
The Abomination of Desolation
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Flee to the mountains
Jerusalem sits in the Judean hills, with the Jordan valley and the lands beyond it to the east. Jesus tells those in Judea to run for the high ground without stopping. An early church tradition, recorded by Eusebius, says Jerusalem’s believers left the city before the Roman siege and crossed the Jordan to Pella.
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not occur in the winter.
0:15
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
For those will be days of tribulation unseen from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has cut them short.
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
Two horizons
Whiteboard
The disciples asked about the temple. Jesus answered about the temple and about the end of history. Christians draw the line between the two in different places, but every reading lands on the same word: keep watch.
The Return of the Son of Man
But in those days, after that tribulation:
‘The sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
Question
Quick question
Jesus said they would see “the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” His words point back to an Old Testament vision.
Which prophet saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven?
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door.
Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Readiness at Any Hour
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
Listen · Read along
It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.
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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”
Pray
Awake when He comes
Jesus ends with words for every one of us: “what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!” Ask Him to keep you awake to Him, faithful in the task He has given you, and glad to see Him when He comes.
You’ve experienced
Mark 13
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A verse to carry with you
But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:11
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