Word of Salvation – March 2025
Be Ready!
Sermon by Rev. Chris Shannon on Mark 13
Introduction
Forewarned is forearmed! If you know about something before it happens you get prepared for it. That’s what this week has been all about up in Queensland hasn’t it? From Tuesday morning, when the Sun was shining, and the birds were singing and there was a gentle breeze blowing, the premier of Queensland was all over the news saying, Be ready there’s a storm coming!
If you saw the Queensland Premier this week, you’ll know there was an urgency in what he said. He wanted the residents of Queensland prepared. Because he knew just how serious the storm was going to be. And he knew that if Queenslanders failed to get prepared when the sun was shining by the time storm hit it would be too late. By forewarning Queenslanders, the premier was giving them the opportunity to prepare themselves.
Jesus is doing the same thing for his disciples in this text this morning. Forewarning them so that they can prepare themselves. He saying Be ready now for the judgement that’s to come. Because if it comes and you’re not ready it will be too late.
Transition
Before we launch into this passage there is some things that need to be said.
Firstly, there’s no escaping the fact that this is a difficult passage. It is a notoriously difficult passage to understand.
The reason for that is because we’re dealing with biblical prophecy. This is Jesus as a prophet, prophesying. Warning God’s people about the judgement that’s to come. The challenge with biblical prophecy throughout the bible is that it almost always has different levels of fulfilment. There’s usually a near fulfilment. Something that is going to happen in the relatively future. But that event whatever it is, doesn’t exhaust the prophecy. The prophecy points to a future fulfilment in the coming of the Messiah.
Now what makes that challenging is that as the prophet prophecies, those different levels of fulfilment or horizons if you like come together. They merge and it’s difficult to know if the prophet is talking about the immediate event or the future event. They sort of role into one. Because the one can’t be understood apart front the other. But it sure makes it hard for our finite, time linear minds to comprehend.
That’s what we are dealing with here in Mark 13. Jesus is clearly looking forward to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple which happened in AD 70 when the Romans sacked the city. But he’s also, it seems looking forward to the end of all things when he returns. It’s hard to know when you look at this passage how much has to do specifically with the destruction of the Jerusalem temple and how much has to do with Christ’s return.
Because of that ambiguity what you’ll find is almost as many interpretations of this passage this passage as there are interpreters. Almost no one agrees on all the details of this passage. And that’s ok. Because though the details might be a bit shady to us, the point that Jesus is making isn’t shady at all. It’s clear.
Jesus’ point is that judgement is coming. Jesus will return and it will be sudden and unexpected. So, followers of Jesus need to be constantly ready.
We’ll try and tackle this text in 3 parts. We’ll begin with the first part, in vss 1-4 where Jesus tells his disciples what’s coming. Next, we’ll look at the big chunk in the middle where Jesus describes what his disciples can expect in the lead up to that judgement. And we’ll finish off with vss 32-37 where Jesus lays out how his followers can prepare for what’s to come.
- Jesus tells his disciples what’s coming (vss 1-4)
We know at this point Jesus has been confronting the false worship of God that has been happening in the temple in Jerusalem. Ever since Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, a couple of days before he’s been showing how far off the mark the temple and the religious authorities were. Rather than leading to the to the Messiah like temple worship was supposed to. All the religiosity had actually led to rejecting the Messiah, Jesus. The result was imminent judgment. God himself would reject the temple and temple worship. Worship would now be centred on Jesus.
That’s what’s been going on and now Jesus and his disciples leave the temple and as they’re leaving, one of Jesus disciples can’t help but still admire the architectural beauty that was the temple
He says to Jesus is vs 1: Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!
The temple was massive and was magnificent. It had these columns, pillars holding up the roof that three men couldn’t wrap their arms around. Some of the stones of the temple were 20 meters long by 3 meter high. I read of an ancient historian who said the temple looked like a mountain of marble decorated with gold. The temple was stunningly beautiful. It was so big and so impressive it looked like it could stand for a thousand years.
But Jesus, take another look;
Not one stone here will be left on another, everyone will be thrown down. (vs 2)
Now to us, the temple was just a building. We don’t really care that it came down. But to a Jew like Jesus’ disciples this is massive.
To them the temple was so much more than just a building. To them it represented God’s presence on earth. This was the place of all the places on earth where God had chosen to dwell. Amongst his chosen people. While the temple stood God was with them. They were safe and secure.
But Jesus says, it’s going to be destroyed. Which means only one thing. God has left the building. His presence is no longer there. It means God’s judgement has fallen upon his people.
That’s what we see in the OT isn’t it. After repeated warnings from the prophets, God’s presence finally leaves the first temple, and it’s destroyed and his people are sent into exile. It’s an act of judgement from God.
Jesus is saying to his disciples, judgement is coming again. Peter, James, John and Andrew can see that can’t they? So they ask Jesus for a sign so they know when it’s about to happen and can get themselves ready.
It’s easy to forget that judgement is still coming, isn’t it? The Jerusalem temple was destroyed nearly 2000 years ago, but we’re still waiting for Jesus to come a second time. It feels like it’s never going to happen. And when we get that feeling we can start living as if it is true.
The truth it’s going to happen. And when it happens everyone, every person who has ever lived will be called to give account to Jesus. That’s reality. Whether you are a Christian or not, you will be called to account. Are you ready?
Jesus answers the disciples question in vss 5-27, he tells them exactly what to expect as they wait. And he begins in vs 5-13 not so much with signs, but almost with anti-signs. As if to say these things are not it.
- Jesus tells his disciples what to expect (vss 5-27)
As we read this, we should remember that the immediate horizon of what Jesus is saying is the physical destruction of the Temple in AD 70. That’s the immediate fulfilment of this prophecy.
So, we know 40 years after Jesus’ crucifixion in AD 70 The Roman army, under the leadership of a general called Titus, destroyed Jerusalem. They came in brutally massacred a huge proportion of the population and destroyed the temple. They knocked it to the ground. There’d been a rebellion against Rome in Jerusalem and Rome came and flexed their muscles. And Jerusalem was decimated.
So, when Jesus talks here, that is the immediate event that he is looking forward to.
- General disorder (vss 5-8)
And the first thing he says in vs 7 is; “Watch out that no one deceives you.”
He says, in that time leading up to the destruction of the temple, many are going to come claiming to be the Messiah, there’s going to be wars and rumours of wars, there’s going to be natural disasters. But Jesus says. Don’t be deceived. Don’t be led astray.
They maybe reminders that judgement is coming, but they themselves are not it.
Jesus knows how rife the topic of end times and judgement and Christ’s return is with potential for deception. He knows how distracting the topic can be.
We all know people don’t we, whose favourite book of the bible is Revelation almost to the exclusion of all others. And all they ever want to talk about is all the signs of the end that they can see.
We all lean that way a little bit don’t we, it’s hard not to read current events as heralds of the end. From our point of view, we can too easily overestimate the significance of the things we see going on around us.
The reality is there has always been false prophets and Messiah, there has always been wars and rumours of wars, and natural disasters. And there will continue to be until Christ returns.
Jesus’ point is don’t get sucked into those things. Don’t be distracted. Don’t be scared. They are not the end. They remind us that the end is coming, is necessary. Like the beginning of birth pains. They tell us that there is a delivery coming sometime in the future. They don’t tell us when, they just tell us it’s happening. Don’t get sucked in. Stick to what you’ve been called to do. Keep following Jesus and keep spreading the gospel. That’s the message.
Jesus moves from a general state of affairs that affect everyone in vss 5-8 to some things specific to Christians vss 9-13
- b) Christian Suffering (vss 9-13)
Jesus talks a lot about persecution and division in family, and political strife. And it reads like an executive summary of the book of Acts. The book of Acts records the spread the gospel in the 30 years or so after Jesus ascended to heaven. Before the destruction of the temple. And what we see in the book of Acts is the gospel spreading through the cloud of persecution.
Jesus is giving his disciples a realistic picture of what is to come for them. It’s not going to be all sunshine and rainbows. Adversity and persecution are the norm for Christians. Even today, as we spread the gospel, we can expect hardship. That’s not unusual. Jesus warns his follower in advance so that they will persevere even as those challenges come.
Though the immediate context of what Jesus is saying here is the destruction of the temple. We can see those near and far prophetic horizons coming together, can’t we? Because all those things that Jesus is talking about are still going on today.
There are people claiming that they can save us from whatever they perceive as the problem. Climate change, inequality or whatever. There’s still wars and rumours of wars. Even in these past weeks we’ve seen some strange happenings in the Russian Ukraine war and the ways in which the USA and Europe are involved. There are natural disasters. There is persecution and turmoil for Christians all around the world including in Australia.
Jesus’ message to us is the same as it was to the disciples standing on that hill. Don’t be discouraged. Keep following Jesus. Don’t be lead astray. This is like the beginning of birth pains, but it won’t last forever. Delivery is coming.
- c) Destruction of the Temple
Now in vss 14-23 Jesus gets really specific about the destruction of the temple. This is the thing that the disciples are to watch out for. He says in vs 14:
When you see the abomination that causes desolation standing where he does not belong, let those in Judea flee to the mountains.
The abomination that causes desolation sounds a bit strange to our ears, but it is a loaded term that comes from the book of Daniel in the OT. (9:7, 11:31, 12:11).
Basically, it refers to a coming scandal that would defile and profane the Jerusalem temple.
Exactly which specific event it refers to in the destruction of the Jerusalem temple is unclear, at least to us. Mark inserts that little interpretive comment there in vs 14 where he says, “let the reader understand”. Which looks a bit like “if you know, you know type comment.” Maybe exactly what Jesus is talking about was much clearer to the original readers of this gospel than it is to us.
What seems pretty clear though is that it is a real event, that happened in time in the first century, related to the war in Jerusalem. Now I say that because it doesn’t make much sense to talk about fleeing to the mountains and fleeing in haste if it is Christ’s final return. Then there will be no escaping.
Jesus disciples need to be prepared for a time of unequalled suffering when the temple is destroyed. But it’s important to realise that it is not a time where God is defeated or has lost control.
Notice Jesus says in vs 20;
“If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect whom he has chosen he has shortened them.”
Even that intense time of suffering God has set a time for and his mercy keeps it short for the sake of those he loves. Not all will die in the destruction of Jerusalem, because God will spare some. That’s what the disciples need to know.
Now because the immediate horizon of this particular prophecy is the physical destruction of the Jerusalem temple, does it mean that this passage has no relevance for us?
Of course not. The destruction of the Jerusalem temple doesn’t exhaust the fulfilment of this prophecy.
In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul talks about the man of lawlessness or the Anti-Christ coming to deceive before Jesus returns. It talks about him setting himself up in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God. And the warning Paul gives is almost identical to the warning that Jesus gives his disciples here. Don’t be deceived by signs and wonders. The parallels are inescapable.
What we have in vss 14-23 is those near and far horizons coming together again. The destruction of the temple foreshadows the end of all things. It’s a picture of what is to come. Jesus has revealed it in advance so we can prepare.
- d) Hope (vss 24-27)
So far it all sound pretty horrible both in the immediate judgement in the destruction of the temple and in the long-term Judgement upon Christs return? What’s the motivation for Christians to persevere? What’s the hope?
That comes in vss 24-27. Jesus stretches the vision to the days after the destruction. In vs 24 he to the days following the distress. Evidently those days have not come yet because Jesus still hasn’t returned. But what does he say. From vs 26:
… ‘People will see the Son of Man (That’s Jesus) coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds. From the end of the earth to the ends of the heavens.’
Jesus is coming back to collect his people from every corner of the globe. He is coming to rescue them from the distress. After that day there will be no more sorrow or weeping. The suffering will be done. Those who endure will be saved.
Like The joy of holding a newly delivered baby, far exceeds any pain that is suffered in delivery. The trials and tribulations of this life will quickly fade when Jesus comes to collect, those who are his.
This is what Jesus wants us who believe to fix our eyes on through suffering. This is the great promise. Our suffering is not for nothing. There is great reward for those who persevere in following Jesus. Whatever trial or tribulation Jesus calls you go through be comforted by this Jesus is coming. He will deliver.
Jesus finishes this section by telling his disciples how they can prepare for what’s to come.
3) Jesus explains how to prepare for what’s to come (vss 28-37)
The message is simple isn’t it. Be on guard! Be alert! Stay Awake! Be ready!. Because you don’t know when that time will come, and you don’t want to be caught napping.
Vs 37 is really what it’s all about. Jesus says;
What I say to you, I say to everyone. Watch! Or Stay Awake! Be Ready.
Jesus could return at any time. And when does it will be sudden and unexpected. He could come back 5 mins from now! And if you say to yourself, no way, that’s not going to happen. That’s exactly the attitude Jesus is warning against. We should expect it.
So, the question is, are you ready? What does that even mean?
Well first and foremost it means belonging to Jesus. Do you believe in him? Do you trust him and him alone to save you from the judgement that’s to come? Do you trust that because he died in your place on the cross, your sins are forgiven in full? Are you living life for him?
If you’re here today and you’re not a Christian listen to this warning. Right now, you are not ready. You will not be delivered. For you the suffering will continue. But turn to Jesus trust him alone to save you from righteous wrath against your sin, and you’ll be ready.
If you are a Christian, are you living your life today, right now how you want to be found when Jesus returns. Are you living a life of thankfulness and praise for what Jesus has done for you. Are boldly and urgently proclaiming the gospel to those who aren’t ready? Are you showing grace and mercy and love, the love of Jesus to those around you. Are you following Jesus as his disciple?
Conclusion
Jesus will return, we are two thousand years closer to his return then when he left. And when he returns it will be sudden and it will be without warning. But for those who are ready, who belong to Jesus, who covered by his blood, it will be brilliant. It will be the day of our salvation. Are you ready?