Rise and Follow: 30 Days in MarkSample

So we’re finally at the end of this crazy chapter in Mark 13 and you’re probably thinking to yourself, ‘this makes no sense and it’s completely berserk’ and guess what? The disciples living the Bible in real time thought the same thing! As a matter of fact, Mark doesn’t even mention their reaction because they were probably completely stunned by the words coming out of Jesus’ mouth.

Jesus had just directed his followers to look toward the horizon, to the coming reality. Up to this point, they’ve had tunnel vision—and understandably so, their attention has been on their rabbi, his miracles, and non-stop ministry.

But Jesus is about to go to the cross, and he knows that if they’re going to carry on his mission, they need to see the bigger picture. They need to know what’s coming and the disciples have to be on their guard.

He starts his teaching by warning them about the things that will happen in their own generation—there will be wars and rumors of wars. Followers of Jesus will be persecuted. People will claim to be the Messiah. And terrible trials will come to the people of Judea.

From our vantage point, we know that all of these things did happen in their generation. Within only a few decades, the Jewish people, led by some “so-called” “messiahs & saviors”, revolted against the Romans, leading to all of the horrors of war for the people living in Judea. Then, in 70 AD, the revolt ended with the destruction of the Temple.

For these Jewish disciples, all of this might’ve seemed like nothing short of the apocalypse.

Except—Jesus had prepared them, saying— “These things must happen, but the end is still to come.”

When THE End comes – when people will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds – THAT time is not for anyone to know except the Father.

Since the destruction of the Temple, God’s people have continued to experience trials as we await the coming of God’s kingdom – every generation since then has had their fair share of earthquakes and famines and wars and wannabe saviors.

And Jesus, in the conclusion of his teaching, is urging his disciples to be awake and alert, always living their lives as if his return was right around the corner.

This urgent anticipation should drive us to be faithful to the end, even through the tensions of our time, to persevere in his mission no matter the circumstances.

Reflection Questions:

• What might be distracting you from focusing on the bigger picture of God’s mission in the world?
• What would your life look like if you lived expecting Jesus to return at any moment? How would your priorities change?