Our chapter for today contains a block of teaching from Jesus known as the Olivet discourse. Despite studying it on many occasions, I find it one of the most challenging passages in the Mark’s Gospel. In this brief blog it’s impossible to explore the themes fully but I would encourage you to seek out a commentary or online sermon if you would like to explore this passage in more depth.
As the disciples admired the splendour of the temple, Jesus declared that, “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Mark 13:2). The disciples were shocked to hear that the mighty temple they admired was to be reduced to rubble. Rather than keeping their confusion to themselves, they wisely asked the questions:
“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”
Mark 13:4
Jesus warned the disciples that as the destruction of the temple drew near they would have to deal with false teachers, rumours of wars and natural disasters such as earthquakes and famines. He shared that they would be persecuted for their beliefs and would be held to account by governors and kings. Despite everything they might face Jesus insisted that “the gospel must be preached to all nations” (Mark 13:10). No matter what happened, they were to continue spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.
We know from the history books that the destruction of the temple took place in AD70 as the historian Josephus writes about the siege of Jerusalem. All that Jesus predicted came to pass and there was great suffering during the the invasion of Israel. The disciples must have struggled to understand what Jesus meant by all this, just as modern-day Christians grapple with passages in the Bible referring to the end times.
“The judgement that fell on the Temple is a foretaste, according to other passages in the New Testament, of the judgement that will fall on the whole world. This time there are to be no signs (despite the regular attempts to speculate on such things), no advance warnings. Just the ongoing command to God’s people in Christ to be faithful to him, not to compromise with the standards and fashions of the present age, but to keep awake, watching, as Paul again says, for the day to dawn, in whose light the dim flickering candles of the present age will be needed no more.”
Tom Wright - Mark for Everyone.
Something to think about…
As you think about the challenging passage we have explored today, reflect on the words of Charles Wesley.
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil,
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!
Charles Wesley
Kay Moorby
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