Mark 13:1-8
Four pastors
explain explains one Scripture passage
1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” 2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” 5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
kalpo Kuldīgas draudzē
Included in these 8 verses are 3 great thoughts which would be suitable for separate sermons. But why did Mark intend for us to read them one after the other? Why did Jesus say it this way?
First thought – everything that is on earth, will perish. All that will remain will be what Jesus would have had put in us. One may think that this pertains more to the non-believers, but is it so? What is Jesus telling us through the Holy Spirit? Is He saying that each of us may have such temples built by our own hands? Or maybe by our own ministry or beliefs?
Maybe Jesus reveals to us that these temples will not last, and you should not focus on them! Possibly, we have been focusing too much on these outer matters and conditions, but Jesus is knocking on the door and saying – don’t build it, look for Me!
Second thought – Watch out that no one deceives you! Jesus tells us to be aware! How can we be aware? By spending more time with God – reading the Bible, seeking Him – His will.
Third thought – the end of times. The time that may frighten us, that brings with it wars, earthquakes, volcano eruptions. However, Jesus tells us – Do not be afraid. I am not saying that this is the end – this is only the beginning!
I think that two things are intertwined in the eight verses:
- God wants to encourage us to not be afraid about what is happening around us. You don’t have to ignore it – be aware, but don’t worry about it. Be peaceful at heart.
- Focus on Jesus. We are all awaiting the second coming of Jesus. But will Jesus find us upon return just the way He wants us to be? He will recognize us by the love and peace inside of us! Amen
kalpo Tašu draudzē
A very interesting start of the scripture – disciples are coming out of the temple and begin admiring its surroundings. This made me think how easy it is to become amazed by the final product / end result, something that has been created by someone else or a ministry started by someone else, but how much harder it is to become amazed about something in faith. I don’t see it, but I believe that it will be. And Jesus reminds everyone that what you are seeing now is not permanent. Jesus wants us to turn our eyes to something more important. Sometimes we think in extremes, for example, by saying “I live for today and I don’t care what happens tomorrow!” However, Jesus says – what you see today, tomorrow may very well not exist anymore. He is inviting us to turn our thoughts, faith, and sights towards eternal values. Of course, this scripture passage talks also about the end of the age, which started with the moment when Jesus was resurrected to heaven. No one knows the day, the hour, when Jesus will come after us. No doubt, in the current times, there are some signs, amazing and warning signs. And, how silly it would be if I, as a driver, would ignore any warning signs on the side of the road signs by saying – I live for today, I don’t care, because God is with me, I will be alright! That would be stupid. God’s Word – the Bible also includes signs of warning about coming days, acknowledging that the second coming of Jesus is very close. What should we do? Let us immerse more into God’s Word in this time of grace and keep in mind the words of Jesus – don’t worry, it has to be this way. Be at peace! But how can we keep peace, this fruit of the Spirit – reliance? It is easy – by pressing closer to Jesus! Press closer through worship, Bible studies. Jesus will say to those who will come closer to Him – I know you, come! Let us not be afraid of the signs of the end of the age because there is no fear in love. May we all be recognized by Jesus!
kalpo Mātras draudzē
Words from the second verse spoke to me – ““Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.”” We are living at a time when many church buildings have been repurposed into exhibition or concert halls. At the same time – many are open, and some churches are rarely open due to lack of people nearby looking for God or His presence. Nowadays, some are complaining, others are puzzled, but God does not live in buildings, He is in our hearts. If we browse historical materials – many church buildings were destroyed by a single bomb. Everything created by people’s hands gets destroyed. Does not matter how beautiful the building might be, sooner or later it will be demolished. Jesus needs your humble heart. Through the centuries, generation to generation, since the resurrection of Jesus, people are looking for signs of the end of the age. Would our hearts and faith change upon seeing them? This is the time when we are invited to move away from theories in the church pews towards practical deeds. Are we spending enough time in prayers or spreading the Gospel? This is the time when I am inviting us all to look into our hearts and prepare them for Christ’s second coming.
kalpo Cēsu draudzē
As for me personally, I am tired of these interpreters of signs. Some are interpreting one way, and others are doing it their way. One thinks that something has already come to pass, but the other is still waiting for it to happen. It is nothing new. 2,000 years ago, Paul also was thinking that everything will come true very soon. I have to agree that the end of the age is all the time and I have to agree that God has a different sense of time than we do. However, when thinking about the end of the age, I recall what pastor Juris Rubenis once said – “Dear human being, stop worrying about the end of the world because your personal ending may come at any given moment.”
A lot is happening around us. Maybe we need to focus more on our personal end of the world because no one knows the time when God will come with the new world. There are different signs and interpretations, therefore God is inviting us to focus more on our faith. I find it amazing that Jesus said to His disciples – do you see these buildings, these stones? Alright, you can look, but be clear that it all will be destroyed. I think that God wants to ask us – what do you possess now? Nothing. In reality, from material things, there is nothing permanent in our lives, feelings and relationships are also not permanent. I know that it is good to think that relationships with our loved ones are there to stay, but it is not so, because one day they may reach an endpoint. We can wisely discuss about signs and enjoy life but let us remember that everything is just a pile of rocks that will vanish. And many of us are living not with built stone walls but rather with piles of stones of which God is saying – get rid of them! And it is not only materially, but also spiritually. Become free of self-made piles of stones. Let us live not by interpretations of life but in genuine relationship with God, in His power and wisdom.
