Tough Disciples for Tough Times Mark 13:1-13

Tough Disciples for Tough Times 1 As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.” 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately,

Tough Disciples for Tough Times 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 6 “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.

Tough Disciples for Tough Times 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Mark 13:1-8)

Various Views Preterism: Everything in Mark 13 was fulfilled leading up to 70 A.D. Futurism: Everything in Mark 13 will be fulfilled in the years right before Christ’s 2nd Coming Partial-Preterism: Most of Mark 13 is about the time leading up to 70 A.D., but part of it is about Christ’s return Two Horizons/Eclectic: Multiple fulfillments are possible in some cases (Acts 2, “day of the Lord,” Isaiah 61)

Living in Light of the Future “What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’” (Mark 13:37)

The Setting 1 As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.” (Mark 13:1-2)

“Herod’s” Temple 1 As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.” (Mark 13:1-2)

The Questions 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:3-4)

1. Don’t Be Deceived 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 6 Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many.” (Mark 13:5-6)

2. Don’t Be Afraid 7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Mark 13:7-8)

2. Don’t Be Afraid “We may think that the imagery of ‘birth pains’ contradicts Jesus’ statement that the time of His coming is unknown (24:36), since such pains signify the imminent birth of a baby. But the metaphor of ‘birth pains’ is used to highlight a different facet of the prenatal process, that the onset of childbirth is not steady but is a repeated phenomenon, coming in waves over and over again. The baby does not come on the first pang, but once the pains begin, all know that the unstoppable process has commenced. We do not know if the baby will come on the fifth, the fifteenth, the fiftieth, or the five hundredth.

2. Don’t Be Afraid Periods of wars and rumors of wars, tragic earthquakes, and famines wash over the landscape of history in repeated pains. Each reminds us that the end is coming, but no one knows when until the Son of Man appears. Throughout the labor we must remain on guard. Some will try to mislead believers that these pains are the end. But Jesus warns His disciples not to be deceived. The first appearance, especially the tragedies they will witness in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, are the beginning of birth pains, but they will continue to recur and will characterize the entire age.” – Michael Wilkins

3. Don’t Miss An Opportunity 9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 10 The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:9-11)

3. Don’t Miss An Opportunity 9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 10 The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” (Mark 13:9-10)

3. Don’t Miss An Opportunity “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11)

4. Don’t Give Up 12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” (Mark 13:12-13)

4. Don’t Give Up 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

4. Don’t Give Up You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Mark 13:13) 34 …“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35)

Tough Disciples for Tough Times Don’t be deceived Don’t be afraid Don’t miss an opportunity to witness Don’t give up “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)

Tough Disciples for Tough Times Mark 13:1-13