13:9-13 Still speaking to his disciples, Jesus warns them, Take heed to yourselves. Discipleship will involve suffering. Consider this job description for the disciples: They will be delivered up to councils; and in the synagogues they shall be beaten: and they shall be brought before rulers and kings for his sake, to give testimony against them. They would be punished by Jews and Gentiles alike! Yet their main task was clear—the gospel must first be published among all nations for Jesus' sake. And they would not be abandoned. When they were [delivered] up, they were to take no thought, to have no worry, beforehand about what they would speak, because they should say whatsoever would be given them in that hour . . .: for it would not be them that spoke, but the Holy Ghost. The promise is not that they will avoid these trials, but that they will be given the strength to be faithful witnesses. Yet their witnessing would lead to deep family divisions— brother betraying brother to death, and the father the son; and children rising up against their parents, causing them to be put to death. They would be hated of all men for Jesus' name's sake. The heartening news was that those who would endure unto the end would be saved.
13:14-20 Jesus next describes one sign to watch for. There will be a time when ye shall see the abomination of desolation—something thought to be an idolatrous image or person desecrating the Temple—
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it doesn't belong, inside.1 It will be the very embodiment of evil, the anti-Christ, a symbol of evil in the world. When this happens, everyone should leave Judaea at once and flee to the mountains. If someone is on the housetop, don't stop to go down into the house to grab any thing to take along. A dire description continues in these verses, setting a grim tone. But again, all is not lost, for these days have been shortened, limiting the suffering, for the elect's sake. Good will prevail, and evil will be overcome.
This will be
a time to be faithful.
13:21-23 Having heeded the sign, though, the elect must still be wary of those who promote false teachings. If any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: for false Christs and false prophets shall rise. They shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. This will be a time to be very faithful, and not to be misled. The disciples are warned to be on their guard, to take heed. Because Jesus has foretold them all these things, they should realize such events are not to be feared. They can remain steadfast, knowing that God's plan is being fulfilled.
13:24-27 The final act will come after that tribulation, when the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. It is not clear whether these words are meant literally or metaphorically. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Angels will be sent, and his elect will be gathered from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. If this is supposed to answer the disciples' question "When?" it certainly raises a lot more questions about the "what." But Mark leaves them unanswered. Nevertheless, it is wonderful assurance for those who endure, that whatever trials and tribulations they might be experiencing will be rewarded when the Son of man comes with power. It will all have been worth it.
13:28-31 In the next section, Jesus uses a parable of a fig tree to affirm that upheaval is not the final word. When her branch is yet tender, and leaves are starting to come out, all know that summer is near. In the same way, when people shall see these things come to pass, they will know that it2 is nigh, even at the doors. This will be a joyous, hope-filled time, as evidenced by the promise of new life in the fig tree.
But then he adds, Truly I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
13:32-37 The next section reiterates the unpredictability of that day and hour. No one knows "When?" not even the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but only the Father. All are to stay alert. They must always take . . . heed, watch and pray. They know not when the time is. When the signs come, it will be too late to prepare. Jesus affirms this point with another parable in which the Son of man is as a man who has taken a far journey, and left his house, giving authority to his servants. Each one has his own work to do, a regimen to follow, and the porter is to watch. They all know the owner will return some day—at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning. Traveling at night was unheard of, but it illustrates the unpredictability and the need to be prepared at all times, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping, caught unaware, somnolent, ineffectual, idle—words antithetical to faithfulness and discipleship. Though Jesus is speaking to the disciples, he says, What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
In the segments to come, we will find out just how well the disciples received this message. Could they "watch"? Were they always prepared? As we begin the passion narrative, some of the answers will hurt.
