South's SOAP for the Day
S-Read Mark 13.
O-Without knowing when God will return, we must always be ready for Him to return.
A-Do you live your life like Jesus could return at any time?
P-Pray that you will not be found sleeping when Jesus returns.
Chapter 13 begins with one of the disciples marveling at the architecture of the temple. As Mark describes it, this disciple is mesmerized by the temple. He almost comes off like a five year old marveling at the circus. Jesus quickly puts the disciple in his place, stating that the temple itself will be completely destroyed, all the stones strewn about, not one on top of another.
Jesus then returns to the Mount of Olives, the place where his triumphal entry began a few days ago. Mark tells us that the closest three disciples to Jesus, (Peter James, and John) and Andrew sit down with Jesus to discuss all that he has been talking about. They have heard Jesus say three times now that he will be killed. They have witnessed his condemnation of the temple over the last few days. And they just heard him say that the temple was physically going to be destroyed. I think they are beginning to put everything together in their minds, maybe thinking that everything Jesus is talking about is going to happen in one shot. And, think about it. If someone is going to come in and destroy a temple, there is going to be much calamity happening in the process.
I wonder why the disciples want to know this. Is it because they want to be prepared so they can survive such a thing? Or, is the inquiry more focused on how they can get ahead in it?
Jesus responds to their question. he tells them of many things that will happen as the time comes. He mentions things like earthquakes, rumors of wars and wars themselves, nation lashing out against nation, and so on. "These are the beginning of the birth pains." We must notice that he is telling them to not be deceived by these things. He continues on,
You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
I wonder what these disciples are thinking at this point. They really haven't seen this happen to Jesus. They've seen the tension between him and the religious leaders, but nothing has ever escalated to this level. I also wonder if they think back to Jesus' response to James and John about sitting at his right hand and left. Jesus' response to them then was, "Are you able to drink the cup I drink..." That is, can you take on the persecution and punishment that I am going to receive. He followed that up with, "You will drink..." Are their eyes wide open now, knowing they are all in here?
One thing that really catches my attention here is the statement that they will be flogged in the synagogue. The synagogue is the Jewish center of community life. It is where the Jews go to pray and to corporately hear Scripture read and taught. Yet, in this place, they will be flogged. The gospel will stand opposed to these places? Yes. It happened. It still happens today. I've had friends in ministry who have been chewed up and beat down by the churches they serve because they were doing Kingdom focused things.
Jesus does give the disciples assurance that the Holy Spirit will be with them and speak through them. That, as we see later on in Acts, gives them a tenacious faith in the Gospel as they spread the good news. The persecution that Jesus talks about and the persecution they feel later helps them to know they are on The Way.
We will continue in a little while with the second part of this chapter.
One thing that really catches my attention here is the statement that they will be flogged in the synagogue. The synagogue is the Jewish center of community life. It is where the Jews go to pray and to corporately hear Scripture read and taught. Yet, in this place, they will be flogged. The gospel will stand opposed to these places? Yes. It happened. It still happens today. I've had friends in ministry who have been chewed up and beat down by the churches they serve because they were doing Kingdom focused things.
Jesus does give the disciples assurance that the Holy Spirit will be with them and speak through them. That, as we see later on in Acts, gives them a tenacious faith in the Gospel as they spread the good news. The persecution that Jesus talks about and the persecution they feel later helps them to know they are on The Way.
We will continue in a little while with the second part of this chapter.
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