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Jesus, in beginning to answer the disciples’ question (Mark 13:4), first warns them:
- “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he’, and will deceive many” (Mark 13:6)
- “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed.” (Mark 13:7) Read more »
After the stunning revelation Jesus spoke - that the magnificent temple they were leaving was going to be destroyed (Mark 13:2) - some of the disciples wanted to know two things:
- When will these things happen?
- What will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled? Read more »
“Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Mark. 13:2)
I close my eyes, only for a moment and the moments gone.
- Kansas
In Jesus’ day, the great temple of Israel was a marvel to His disciples, nearly twice the size of Solomon’s magnificent temple due to Herod’s ongoing expansion.
The Jews of that time felt certain the temple would last forever. Yet about 35 years after Jesus made that statement, the temple was indeed destroyed, on order of Titus. It was later plowed under by Turnus Rufus - no stone was left on another.
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see.
- Kansas
We marvel at the wonders of our day - architecture, human intellect and achievement, government and nature. But all things are temporary. As we pass, so do all things.
The era in which you were born, what you witness in your lifetime, and your own achievements, are all bound to one day be forgotten.
Is this reason to mourn? No. The passing of one thing opens the door to a new thing. It is said that with Jesus’ departure from the temple also went the Spirit of God. Jesus had condemned the corruption of the Pharisees - He described them as a “brood of vipers” (Matt. 23:33).
So where did the Spirit go? In Romans 5:5, the Apostle Paul tells us: “…God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”
All our monuments may be “a drop of water in an endless sea”, and “crumble to the ground”, but God’s Spirit in you will remain forever.
Last week, Jesus warned us about the celebrities and politicians of our day. We learned how, in contrast, we should lead quiet lives and work with our hands so that we will be dependent on no one (1 Thes. 4:11). Read more »
As Jesus was warning His listeners about the self-righteous and proud teachers of the law - the “elite” of His day - He was also warning us, and every generation to follow, about them (Mark 12:38-40). Read more »
As Jesus continued to teach in the temple courts, He presented to the teachers a paradox:
“How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the Son of David?”
Jesus cites David speaking by the Holy Spirit in Ps. 110:1 as calling the Christ “Lord”. He is affirming that the Messiah will be a descendant of David. Jesus then presents to them a paradox: “David himself calls Him Lord. How then can He be his son?” Read more »
We’ve seen, as we’ve studied Mark’s Gospel, how the Pharisees, Saduccees, and Teachers of the Law mostly hated Jesus and sought to trap Him in His words so they could arrest Him. But this particular teacher, overhearing the conversation, seemed to honestly wish to settle the debate by asking one honest and sincere question. Read more »
Imagine the billions of people in world history who based their entire lives - and went to the grave - following a false philosophy of life. They went on, not to what their beliefs taught them, but on to an entirely unexpected surprise. Whether Humanists or Polytheists, Deists or Theists, we’re all potentially in for a big shock when we die. Read more »
The Chief Priests, Teachers of the Law and Elders have thus far lost every challenge they made to Jesus’ legitimate authority (Mark 11:27-33). They still did not realize that it was they who were on trial, not Jesus. They sent Pharisees - who were the legal sharks, and Herodians - who were political supporters of Rome to try to trap Jesus in His words so they could arrest Him (Mark 12:12). They were, in effect, lawyering up. Read more »
We live in great abundance. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us - those generations who labored to create and nurture the liberty and opportunity which we enjoy today. Yet there are those who reject these gifts. Read more »
