Sunday, July 14, 2019

The Question from Mark 13:1-4


SPIRITUA DIARY FOR 11/14/2012 11:25:21 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Question

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Mark 13:1-4

 

            Message of the verses:  “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, 4  ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?’”

 

            As we begin this 13th chapter of the book of Mark I look forward to writing about the events that will unfold here as the words that Jesus speaks here is a prophetic blue print of what would happen on earth after He was crucified, buried, and then rose again to return to His Father.  He makes a statement that speaks of “birth pangs” to help us to understand about the events that will unfold after Jesus returns to heaven. Then at the end of this prophecy speaks of His physical return to planet earth in a time that is described as the worst time to ever happen on planet earth.  There are three places in the Gospels that Jesus speaks of this and they are the same event.  Matthew 24-25, Luke 21:5-36, and Mark 13:1-35.  This event is called “The Olivet Discourse,” and it was the answer to a question asked by the disciples of Jesus, and this is the longest recorded answer to a question that was given by Jesus in all the Gospels.  I just want to begin with the question in Today’s Spiritual Diary.

 

            The Jewish Temple was one of the most, if not the most beautiful building from ancient times.  Herod had rebuilt the temple and it is said that the eastern side of the building was covered with gold and when the sun came up in the morning if you looked intently at the building you could go blind because of the brightness of the sun shining on the gold.  The disciples must have been greatly impressed with the beauty of the building, but as we learned in the last chapter the building was corrupted by the Jewish religious leaders who worshiped there.  The only time that the building was filled with goodness was when Jesus was preaching there in the last week of His life on earth. 

 

            The disciples must have been greatly surprised when Jesus told them that this magnificent building would be torn down stone by stone.  This would happen in just 37 short years as Titus and his Roman Legions would come into Jerusalem and destroy the city and also the temple.  I read that Titus did not want to destroy the temple, but that there was a lot of gold in between the stones and the only way to get to it was to take it apart stone by stone.  This is exactly what Jesus prophesied would happen.

 

            To be sure the eschatology of the disciples was not all correct and so they would learn more about the end times from the answer Jesus would give them.  As we look more closely at this chapter in the days to come we must remember that there are more things that we can learn from it than the end times, for all Scripture is given for our instruction, to learn how better we can serve the Lord. 

 

            This chapter is speaking about a period of time that is called the “tribulation period,” and it is also the 70th week from Daniels prophecy found in Daniel nine 24-27.  In Jeremiah 30:7 we read, “’Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.”  The KJV calls it “Jacob’s trouble.”  Zeph. 1:15-18 says, “15  A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16  A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers. 17 I will bring distress on men So that they will walk like the blind, Because they have sinned against the LORD; And their blood will be poured out like dust And their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the LORD’S wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.”   Isaiah writes the following about this time, “20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until indignation runs its course. 21 For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain.”  These are all OT prophets speaking about the tribulation period, so the disciples would have known something about this period of time, but they thought that Jesus would destroy the Romans and begin the kingdom that was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As we begin to look at this wonderful 13th chapter we can rest assured that the things that Jesus tells us will happen will happen just like He says they will.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to learn contentment, and to continue to study the Word of God so that it will transform my mind from the inside out.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 130:1-4

 

            1 Out of the debts I cried to You, O LORD.  2 Lord, hear my voice!  Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.  3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

 

11/14/2012 12:24:38 PM     

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