The Inescapable Story of Jesus 13 | Let Him that Readeth Understand

Introduction

Have you ever woken up and been so groggy you have a hard time discerning where you are, how you got there, why one side of your face is paralyzed? When God brought judgement in the OT it is often described as a confusion (Dan. 9:7, Jer 3:25), and even a sort of divinely sent slumber (Ps. 76:5-6, Is. 29:10, Jer. 51:39, 57). As Jesus nears the climax of His earthly mission, He pronounces an ominous judgement upon the Temple. Thus, Jesus disciples are summoned to stay alert, lest the flood of judgement sweep them away.

The Text 

And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you […]
Mark 13:1ff

Summary of the Text

This is the lengthiest teaching section in Mark’s Gospel. It also happens to be one of the most debated teachings of Jesus. We have our work cut out for us. But the work before us is like using a power washer to remove the paint that someone applied to the lovely old red brick house. What’s underneath speaks plain as day, it is all the fanciful varnishes that make us scratch our heads.

Having just seen the widow make her offering of a few cents, Jesus departs the temple, having seen enough to make His judgement against Israel, and her Temple. Now the judgement will be pronounced. The disciples’ remark on the grandeur of Herod’s temple (v1), and this opens the door for Christ to give His verdict on unbelieving Israel. The great stones of the temple would be torn apart entirely (v2). They ascend Mt. Olives and Jesus is prompted by his first four disciples (Cf. Mk. 1:16-19) to elaborate on the timing and the signs of this coming desolation (vv3-4).

Jesus begins with a warning to be wary of joining in with the revolutionary fanaticism of false christs (vv5-6). The Pax Romana would soon begin to crack; the disciples should view this as if it is the early contractions of a woman nearing childbirth (vv7-8). This turmoil will give rise to personal suffering for the disciples (v9), but before the labor and delivery of the Kingdom the Gospel would be heralded among all nations (v10). The disciples must rest in the knowledge that the Holy Ghost will speak through them, even in the most dire of persecutions and betrayals (vv11-13). Jesus summons them to endurance, and promises them salvation (v13). This all hints at what lies ahead for Jesus Himself.

Jesus then gives them specific directions, drawing from Daniel’s visions. When they see the abomination that causes desolation (Mark inserts a wink wink nudge nudge), they must get out of Judea like a sprinter from the blocks (vv14-18). A cataclysm unlike any other before it is about to land on Jerusalem (Cf. Ez. 5:9, Joel 2:2, Jer. 30:7), but the Lord––in His mercy on His elect––would make it a swift and certain judgement (vv19-20). Jesus then reiterates that His disciples must not be drawn into the various rebel factions and militias seeking to halt what was coming for Jerusalem (vv21-23).

As the last and greatest of the prophets, Jesus pronounces that God is about to turn the lights off on Jerusalem for good (vv24-25). He assumes to himself the title of Son of Man, and declares that He will, in that office, come in clouds of judgement (v26, Mt. 24:30). His messengers would go forth to gather up the elect from every corner of creation; no longer would the gathering of the elect be restricted to the land of Israel (Jer. 29:14), but the elect would be gathered from all nations into the church (v27). He has likened this events to a woman in childbirth, and now he likens it to watching a fig tree going from spring to summer. If His disciples are watchful, they won’t miss the signs (vv28-29). From an interpretive standpoint verse 30 is the lynchpin, as Jesus informs His disciples that all these things would take place in “this generation”. But then, as I read it, Jesus shifts from the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, to the true last things. While the “present frame and fabric” of the world would pass away, Christ’s Word would stand fast forever (v31). That final day is known only to the Father, not even to the Son (v32). It being the case that these last things are not known to any of them, the disciples are instructed, once more to watchfulness and prayer (v33). Like a porter given watch of a household while the master is on a journey, Christ’s disciples are not to sleep but are to keep the watch (vv34-37). A simple task they will shortly fail (14:41).

Timestamps

The confusion that has arisen around this particular passage is largely due to the tendency to read our own times back into the text, rather than letting Jesus’ Word speak for itself. Jesus is explicitly asked about the timing of when Jerusalem would be destroyed, and in the context of that question He describes––with precise but prophetic language––that destruction. Jesus gives us more timestamps than we have time for. But it is quite profitable to take notice of a few of them.

Remember the question before Jesus. When would His prophecy that the stones of this temple would be left in rubble, like levitical law required for an unclean house? His answer comes towards the end: this generation would witness all that He describes. Regarding the temple stones, Jesus was unmistakably referring to the destruction of AD70. The temple had storehouses of silver and gold; the fire which consumed Jerusalem was so intense that the precious metals melted down into the cracks of the temple foundation. The Roman soldiers, in their greed, literally fulfilled Christ’s prophecy by making sure that not one stone was left upon another as they pried apart all the stones in order to get the silver and gold.

Another signpost for us is His exhortation to discern that when abominable Roman armies come to desolate Jerusalem, the disciples were to flee into the Judaean mountains. Until then, they should pray that these events don’t take place in winter time (meaning not a global event, though the implications would be global; rather this would be localized to Judea). Jesus calls them to endure the specific trial of flogging in the synagogues, another timestamp clarifying that this is all referring to the looming clouds of the Son of Man’s judgement upon unbelieving Israel.

When Judgement comes

We are notoriously bad at reading and reacting to the judgements of the Lord. But we must grow up. We must be mature. We must be men. The cataclysm of AD70 was indeed an event unlike any other moment up to that point. God had covenanted with Israel which He had not done with any other nation (Deu. 4:32-40). This judgement on Israel, it would stand to reason, is unlike any other judgement before, and would stand as the preeminent judgement for all time. That is until the final judgement, which Jesus refers to in verses 31-33. So then, Israel’s cataclysm stands forth as a particular warning for all times, and especially when considering the final judgement (Rom. 11:17-24). The disaster that befell Jerusalem may very well befall other outposts of unbelief as the Kingdom of Christ spreads through all the world. The call of Christ’s followers then and now is not to sit down and chart out the end of the world. They are called to alert readiness, prayer, and endurance. Our own modern upheavals should cause us to sit up straight, and stand ready to advance the Kingdom of Christ.

Assured & Alert

The crux is this. In times of judgement, God calls us to two things. Rest in Him and remain watchful. The apostles were told the horrors that would soon surround them. He tells them their homeland would be devastated; their whole world would change. He tells them they will be hauled into kangaroo courts. Then, He tells them not to wind themselves into knots about what to say. Rather, they are assured that their words will be the Holy Ghost’s words. This demands that you walk by faith, looking to the City whose builder and architect is God, even as He pulls down godless empires around you.

But secondly, Jesus calls them and us to watchfulness. Not a watchfulness of looking over your shoulder hoping the boss doesn’t notice that you’re not busy. The call to watch is a call to exercise the authority He’s assigned to you. Jesus gave these signs to His disciples so they could be faithful watchmen. Watchmen of the new house which Christ was erecting in Himself, the church.

This command to watch has three applications: personally, nationally, and globally. The day of your death is coming, and you are called to stay vigilant in faith and to not fall away into sin or apostasy. Nations in rebellion to the Lord are cruising towards judgement; stay watchful that you do not join in with the follies and sins of your nation. Lastly, the whole world is hastening towards the final judgement. And the call is to watch with expectant joy for the full consummation of Christ’s kingdom, and our everlasting rest in the new heavens and earth.

CHARGE & BENEDICTION 

This passage is effectively the last teaching of Jesus before His death. There are a few more sections of teaching, but for all intents and purposes we should take this as the end of Jesus’ preaching series. Notice how Mark brings all of Jesus’ teachings to an end: Watch! This is your call, here are the teaching of Jesus, now take up your post with vigilance to not only hear His words, but to do them until the last day.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26