1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,280 What gives you hope? The end of the semester drawing 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:11,680 nearer, the stock market doing well, the weather cooling off so 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:13,920 that you don't have to fear being too hot and humid outside 4 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,760 for another eight months. There's a world of difference 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,960 between hoping in something certain and hoping in something 6 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,840 uncertain. Hoping in something uncertain 7 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,840 always leaves you looking to. Shore up that hope. 8 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,920 Looking for signs that things are going to play out as you 9 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,880 want. You're watching the trend lines 10 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,200 and your mood. Your overall well-being even can 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:43,920 kind of. Rise or fall with them? 12 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,760 If you're rooting for the home team, you're feeling a lot. 13 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,160 Better if they're up. By 14 at the end of the third 14 00:00:50,160 --> 00:00:52,800 quarter, then a third down by 20. 15 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:59,760 The problem is in this life. Most good things we hope. 16 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,519 For are uncertain. As the old saying has it, the 17 00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,240 only certainties in life are death and taxes. 18 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:12,320 Taxes usually are at best unpleasant. 19 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:15,880 Death of. Course is much worse. 20 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:23,240 Where can you find certain hope? Where can you find a hope so 21 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,720 certain that it will enable you to endure not just this life's 22 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,200 uncertainties, but its disappointments, losses? 23 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:37,360 Setbacks, even devastations. This morning we continue our 24 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,920 series in Mark's. Gospel with chapter. 13 verses 1 25 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,480 to 13 If you don't have a Bible, you can raise your hand and 26 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,640 someone will bring you one. If you just forgot a Bible. 27 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,240 Don't have one this morning? That's totally fine. 28 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:48,880 If you don't have a Bible like at home that you can read, you 29 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,160 can put up a hand. Take it, read it, we'll talk 30 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:52,200 with you about it all. Right. 31 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,640 I guess nobody needs one this morning in this passage. 32 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,200 Mark 13 one to 13. Jesus. 33 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,840 Turns his attention and ours. Toward the future. 34 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:09,720 He speaks of the future. With certainty, Jesus knows the 35 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,680 future better than you. Or I know the present or the. 36 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,400 Past and he begins to. Teach his disciples about 37 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:19,560 what's. Coming in the future. 38 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,960 To give us a. Certain hope that will enable. 39 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:26,400 Us to faithfully follow him. Amid all of life's. 40 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:32,400 Uncertainties he teaches about. Our certain end to. 41 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:39,360 Help us endure to the end. Almost all of chapter. 13 is a 42 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,240 single discourse, a single block of. 43 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:43,080 Teaching in the. Greek. 44 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,600 It is 39 straight sentences in a row. 45 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,520 It's the longest gathered up chunk of teaching in Mark's 46 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:50,320 Gospel. Since way back in chapter 4 with 47 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:51,200 all the. Parables. 48 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,120 So this teaching is really, really important. 49 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,240 It's also a little bit. Tricky to. 50 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,080 Interpret. I'll read our. 51 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,160 Verses for this morning and then we'll do a little bit of work 52 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,120 setting up the big. Picture of the whole chapter 53 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,080 before we walk through the passage. 54 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:16,000 Mark 13, verses 1 to 13. And as he came out of the 55 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,680 temple, one of his disciples said to him, Look, teacher, what 56 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:25,000 wonderful stones, and what wonderful buildings, And Jesus 57 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,360 said to him. Do you see these? 58 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,600 Great. Buildings there will not be left 59 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:33,240 here 1 stone upon another that will not be thrown down. 60 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,000 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, 61 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,520 Peter and James and John and Andrew. 62 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,120 Asked him privately. Tell us. 63 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,360 When will these things be, and what will be the sign when all 64 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,120 these things are about to be accomplished? 65 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,880 And Jesus began to say to them, See that no one leads you. 66 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,000 Astray. Many will come in my name saying 67 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,200 I am he and they will lead many astray. 68 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,720 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be 69 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,680 alarmed. This must take place. 70 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,680 But the end is not. Yet for nation will rise against 71 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,480 nation and Kingdom against Kingdom. 72 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,560 There will be earthquakes in various places. 73 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,560 There will be famines. These are but the beginning. 74 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,960 Of the birth pains. But be on your guard. 75 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,280 For they will. Deliver you over to councils. 76 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,840 And you will be. Beaten in synagogues, and you 77 00:04:36,840 --> 00:04:41,160 will stand before governors and kings for my sake to bear 78 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:47,360 witness before them. And the gospel must first be 79 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:53,720 proclaimed to all nations, And when they bring you to trial and 80 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,520 deliver you over. Do not be anxious. 81 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,240 Beforehand what you are to. Say. 82 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:01,720 But say whatever is. Giving you in that hour for it 83 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,600 is not you who. Speak with the Holy Spirit and 84 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,600 brother will deliver Brother over to death and the Father his 85 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,800 child. And the. 86 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,720 Children will rise against parents and have them put to 87 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,520 death and you will be hated. By all. 88 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:24,680 For my name's sake, but the one who endures to the end. 89 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:32,920 Will be saved. In the 1st 2 verses Jesus 90 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,200 predicts. That the temple in Jerusalem 91 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,200 will be destroyed? That's a shocking statement. 92 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,880 It means that the whole of Jerusalem will effectively be 93 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,480 destroyed. Because if anyone's going to get 94 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,240 in and destroy the temple. Well, that's what they would 95 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,720 have most protected, you know, the Jewish people. 96 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,440 Defending their most prized. Building the place where? 97 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,360 God made His presence known to them. 98 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,360 So this promise of the. Destruction of the Temple is 99 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,280 also saying Jerusalem. Itself is going to be laid 100 00:05:59,280 --> 00:06:01,640 waste. It's a big deal. 101 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,160 It's hard to overstate how big a deal it. 102 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,160 Is so in. Private afterward in verse 4/4 103 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,360 of Jesus Disciples. Ask him two questions about. 104 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,120 This. Predicted destruction of the 105 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,720 temple. When will it happen and what 106 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:17,560 will be the sign that it's about to happen? 107 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,280 The temple being. Destroyed is a huge deal. 108 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,000 Could we get a little? Advance. 109 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,480 Notice so that we know. How to prepare? 110 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:31,960 That's their two fold. Question in verse 4 Jesus begins 111 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:33,600 to answer their question in verse. 5. 112 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:35,720 Now, over the next three sermons, we'll walk through the 113 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,040 whole speech in detail, but for now, I just want to give you a. 114 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,640 Preview. Of its structure. 115 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:47,400 We know from history that the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, 116 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,880 right around 40. Years after Jesus spoke these 117 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,120 words, that was at the. Conclusion of Rome's war 118 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:54,720 against. Judea, the Jewish people rose. 119 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:56,280 Up and try to get independence from Rome. 120 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,200 Rome squashed the rebellion as part of that as a conclusion. 121 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,240 Of that they invaded Jerusalem. They laid waste the. 122 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,320 City. They destroyed the temple so 123 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:08,040 Jesus prophecy was. Fulfilled within the space. 124 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:15,280 Of one generation but in this chapter, Jesus doesn't only talk 125 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,360 about the time leading up to and including the temple's 126 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,560 destruction in 70 AD some of what he. 127 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:28,840 Says clearly refers to his. Personal bodily return that did 128 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:32,320 not happen in. 70AD. That has still not happened. 129 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,120 We as believers are. Waiting for it. 130 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,880 So the biggest? Question to resolve in. 131 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,440 Interpreting the whole chapter is. 132 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:44,160 This when is Jesus talking about the temple of destruction in 70 133 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,280 AD and also the events in the generation? 134 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:50,240 Leading up to it. And when is he talking about his 135 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,160 personal bodily return from heaven? 136 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:56,360 To help us get our bearings, I'm going to sketch how I understand 137 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,520 the structure. Of the whole chapter, there are 138 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,680 4 sections. Verses 5 to 23 meaning once 139 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,000 Jesus starts his. Speech 4 sections verses. 5 to 140 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:17,760 23 verses. 24 to 27 verses. 28 to 31 and verses. 32 to 30. 141 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,760 Seven if we're dividing things up by. 142 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,640 Topic by the focus. Even by some of the grammar and 143 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:30,160 what Jesus is talking about. 5 to 2324 to 2728 to 31. 32 to 37 144 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,280 Four sections. In these 4 sections, Jesus 145 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,200 switches. Back and forth between. 146 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:37,720 Discussing the temple's destruction. 147 00:08:38,159 --> 00:08:41,240 And the time leading up to it. And then on the other hand, his 148 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,120 personal bodily return, temples destruction. 149 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,640 Bodily return, Temples, destruction. 150 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,640 Bodily return the. Structure of the whole chapter I 151 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,080 would suggest is. ABAB alternating between those 152 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,800 topics. Here's a few details in support 153 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,360 of that to help us get our bearings. 154 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:03,680 Verses 5 to 23 consistently focus on the destruction of the 155 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:06,840 temple and what the time period leading up. 156 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,200 To it will be like. In verses 5 to 13. 157 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,600 Jesus tells his disciples all. Kinds of things that will happen 158 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:20,840 to them that will not be signs. Of the temple's impending. 159 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,400 Destruction. He tells them things that will 160 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,360 happen, but as he says, the end is not yet. 161 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:31,200 Then, in verses 14 to 23, he provides all kinds of specific, 162 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,360 detailed warnings that pertain to the events surrounding the 163 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:36,440 temple's. Destruction. 164 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,600 So for. Instance in verse 14, after 165 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,680 saying a whole bunch of stuff that's going to happen, but it's 166 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:43,840 not time for the temple's destruction, then he says in 167 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:48,080 verse 14, But when you see the abomination of desolation 168 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,960 standing where he ought not to be, let the reader understand. 169 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:55,720 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, whatever 170 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,080 the abomination of desolation is. 171 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:58,520 And that's a problem for another sermon. 172 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,120 Whatever that abomination of desolation is, when you see it, 173 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,080 it's go time. Literally get out of Jerusalem. 174 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:11,480 This is the sign that it's about to happen now, so then people 175 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,600 should flee. Notice that it's those who are 176 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:17,720 in Judea, the region surrounding Jerusalem in the South. 177 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:22,480 Part of Israel. It's only relevant to those 178 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,640 people directly relevant, right? These are instructions for those 179 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:30,040 people in that place at that time Jesus is telling them to 180 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:31,920 get out. And some early Christians. 181 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,160 Did just that, the. Tribulation in those. 182 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,160 Days if you flip. Over in your bibles verses 19 183 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,680 and 20 in those days. There will be this severe. 184 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,600 Tribulation. It's talking about what is going 185 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:48,320 on around Jerusalem's fall and the Temple's destruction. 186 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,960 That's the tribulation of. Those days, that's what. 187 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:53,000 Jesus. Warns in the next couple. 188 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,200 Verses about. False Christs and false Messiahs 189 00:10:56,200 --> 00:11:00,360 and people being LED astray. That's verses 5 to 23. 190 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:06,040 Then in verses 24 to 27, Jesus refers to what comes after that. 191 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,920 Tribulation. He doesn't say how long after. 192 00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:12,400 He doesn't strictly say it's immediately. 193 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,960 After and he describes the. Universe coming apart at the 194 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,480 seams, stars falling from heaven, the sun of the moon 195 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,560 being darkened. And he says in verse 26 then 196 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:26,040 they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great 197 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:27,920 power and glory. This is what people will. 198 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:29,720 See. They will behold. 199 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,560 The risen, exalted Christ with their own eyes. 200 00:11:32,680 --> 00:11:37,360 He's coming back bodily. This is a different event from 201 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,080 what he's talking about. About 70 AD. 202 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:44,880 Then in verses 28 to 31, he switches back. 203 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,320 His parable about this fig tree shooting out branches before. 204 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,080 Summer is telling his disciples that he's given them enough 205 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,560 information to answer their question about how to know when 206 00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:54,960 the destruction of the temple is coming. 207 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,960 When you see the signs, then you'll know when you see the. 208 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,520 Fig tree put out branches. You know summer is coming. 209 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,720 That's why he says in this section in verse 30 that this 210 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,920 generation will not pass away until all these things take 211 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:10,840 place. When Jesus says all these. 212 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,200 Things he's talking about all the things associated with 213 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:18,040 Rome's destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, everything 214 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,360 pertaining to the destruction of the Temple. 215 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:24,600 Did take place. Within that generation, then the 216 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:28,040 last section. Verses 32 to 30. 7 Jesus shifts 217 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,920 his focus again. In verse 32. 218 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:35,120 He's not talking about those days in the plural, but that day 219 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,880 or that hour. And what he says about it is 220 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,720 that no one. Knows when it is coming. 221 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,240 This is. Different from the destruction 222 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,360 of the temple, Jesus gives a sign. 223 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,320 That's the immediate tip off that it's coming. 224 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:52,520 But about. That day, he says no one. 225 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:57,160 Knows there's no sign to prepare for it, which means. 226 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,240 You have to be ready for it to happen at any time. 227 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,360 What's the point of that parable? 228 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:06,360 Now we'll see all this in more detail. 229 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:07,680 As we walk. Through the passage in the next 230 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:10,160 3 sermons, I'm just going to. Borrow the next section 231 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:11,400 changing. Up the sermon card a little bit, 232 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:13,480 just borrowing the next section, sticking it with the next 233 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:15,360 sermon. So it'll include verses 24 to 234 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,040 27. So we get the balance of 7080 235 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:21,080 and Jesus second coming. But in our passage for this 236 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:26,560 morning, verses 1 to 13, what's going on in these verses? 237 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:32,200 Jesus is preparing his. Disciples for what to expect. 238 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,000 In the time period between his resurrection and the destruction 239 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,680 of Jerusalem. He's. 240 00:13:39,680 --> 00:13:44,360 Calibrating their expectations for their next 40 years of 241 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:50,360 following him. He's teaching them what's going 242 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,000 to be uncertain and what's going to be certain. 243 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,240 He's showing them. Where to put their hope? 244 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,920 And he's doing all this with an end in view. 245 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,280 The end immediately in view. Is the destruction of the temple 246 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:06,800 but the things Jesus tells them to? 247 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:11,440 Expect are also what? We should continue to expect 248 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,360 before the end of the world, Jesus had some of the same 249 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,120 warning, some of the same teachings when he sent. 250 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,680 Out his disciples. In an earthly kind of shorter 251 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,920 mission that they would go and do during his earthly ministry 252 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,480 and come back some of the same trials, some of the same 253 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:25,880 challenges. So what? 254 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:27,880 Jesus Disciples. Experienced even during that 255 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,280 time period what they would experience for the 40 years 256 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,120 leading up to the fall of Jerusalem. 257 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,520 It's all the same stuff. That we will continue to 258 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,600 experience. Until he comes. 259 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,080 So the question our passage answers for this morning. 260 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,720 What should you expect before the end? 261 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,280 What? Should you expect before the 262 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,880 end? Our passage has three. 263 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:56,040 Sections So we'll consider Jesus answer in three parts .1 verses 264 00:14:56,040 --> 00:15:00,560 1 to. 4 Destruction. Destruction. 265 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,080 The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus promised. 266 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:09,000 It would be. Destroyed 4 decades later, it 267 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,920 was looking at it. Verses one and two. 268 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:15,920 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples 269 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,280 said to him, Look, teacher, what wonderful stones, and what 270 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,480 wonderful buildings, And Jesus said to him. 271 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:23,000 Do you see these? Great. 272 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,920 Buildings there will not be left here, 1 stone upon another that 273 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,480 will not be thrown down. This disciple marveling at the 274 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,480 temple, it's not like he was a tourist who'd never seen it 275 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,560 before. He would have attended the 276 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:36,880 festivals in the temple. All of his. 277 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:38,960 Life the yearly. Pilgrimages Jesus and his 278 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:40,400 disciples have been going back and forth. 279 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,240 The point is that the temple was such an. 280 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,480 Impressive building that the effect. 281 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,760 Of seeing it never wore off, sort of never got old. 282 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,720 He's still impressed. He's still amazed after seeing 283 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,200 it. Day by day, Jesus. 284 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:59,880 Though is leaving the temple and he's not going to come back. 285 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,680 It's like when. Ezekiel sees the glory of God 286 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,920 leaving. Solomon's temple. 287 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,080 Now this temple was the temple that Herod built on the site of 288 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:11,520 the temple. Built by Zerubbabel. 289 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,240 During the return from exile a few centuries prior. 290 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:18,720 Construction began in 20 BC. And it contended it continued 291 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,760 through the time of Jesus and even three more decades beyond. 292 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:27,080 This temple was made of white marble and covered in gold. 293 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,480 Plating. It resembled a snow capped 294 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,240 mountain. When the sun shone on it, it was 295 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,400 so bright you couldn't look directly at it. 296 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,280 It was nearly double the size. Of Solomon's temple, there have 297 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,480 been foundation stones discovered even in recent 298 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:45,200 excavations that are 25 feet long, even 40 feet long, a 299 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,680 single stone. That big? 300 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,400 This was a massive incredible. Structure. 301 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,800 It was far more impressive than even some of the seven wonders 302 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,800 of the ancient world. It's no wonder Jesus disciple 303 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,280 was impressed. But Jesus wasn't. 304 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,560 He essentially says to his disciple, I've seen enough. 305 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:10,520 Jesus considers not the physical appearance of the temple. 306 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:15,599 But it's spiritual reality. And he finds that. 307 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:18,760 Spiritual reality sorely lacking the people. 308 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,200 'S hearts are turned against God. 309 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,079 Their leaders have rejected Jesus. 310 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,160 They've corrupted the worship that God. 311 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:30,600 Commands into a false pretense of worship, and so as a 312 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:35,400 judgement against his people, God is going to destroy the 313 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,360 temple that he himself ordained. It's certain it's not. 314 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:42,040 Possible. It's not likely. 315 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:47,360 It's guaranteed by looking beyond the. 316 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:52,760 Appearance to the reality. Jesus teaches us that the glory 317 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:56,000 of God's. Dwelling in the New Covenant era 318 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:00,400 is not a beautiful. Building but a beautiful people. 319 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,520 The glory of God. 'S temple is not an impressive 320 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:12,880 structure, but sanctified persons, those whom God indwells 321 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:17,040 and sanctifies by his. Spirit are the created beauty. 322 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,160 That shows off the. Creator's beauty. 323 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:27,320 There is more real spiritual beauty in this room than there 324 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,920 was in the whole Jerusalem Temple 2000 years ago. 325 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,360 So Jesus predicted. The destruction of the temple 326 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,640 and it happened. 40 years later, he says. 327 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:42,760 There will not be left here 1 stone upon another that will not 328 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,360 be thrown down, and that was. Fulfilled to the T. 329 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,320 The Jewish historian Josephus wrote an extensive history of 330 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:53,640 Rome's. 4 year war with Judea. And he tells us that the Romans 331 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,920 first burned the temple, and then? 332 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,840 Afterward, Caesar ordered the whole. 333 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,520 City and the temple to be. Raised. 334 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,920 To the ground, Josephus writes. All the rest of the wall. 335 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,320 Encompassing the city was so completely leveled to the 336 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,120 ground. As to leave future visitors to 337 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,840 the spot. No ground for believing that it 338 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,880 had ever been. Inhabited. 339 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:19,320 How can Jesus know the. Future because he is the Son of 340 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,160 God. Incarnate, he knows. 341 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,680 Everything. His prophecy was fulfilled. 342 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,480 Exactly. So take that as an 343 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,480 encouragement. To believe. 344 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,000 Everything else he's told. Us about. 345 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,640 The future. What Jesus said would happen, 346 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:40,880 did happen. What Jesus said will happen. 347 00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:45,320 Will happen. Believe Jesus is. 348 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,920 Teaching about the future. More than you believe the news. 349 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:51,520 Believe Jesus is teaching more than you believe. 350 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,120 Whoever it is who shores up your hopes. 351 00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:56,520 In that uncertain thing you really long for. 352 00:19:57,560 --> 00:19:59,200 Believe in Jesus. More than you believe in your 353 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:04,520 favorite pundit. Trust Jesus above everyone. 354 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,720 Now in verses 3 and 4, some of Jesus. 355 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:11,320 Disciples follow up about this. Prediction as he sat on the 356 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:12,760 mount of. Olives opposite the temple. 357 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,800 Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, tell 358 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,960 us when will these things be, and what will be the sign when 359 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,280 all these things are about to be accomplished? 360 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,880 Here's their two-part question. When will it happen? 361 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,560 And what will be the? Sign note that both questions 362 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:35,160 are about Jesus's prediction of the temple's destruction. 363 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,320 That's what they're asking. About Jesus disciples. 364 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:43,280 Are not changing the subject, and neither does Jesus. 365 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,640 There's some ways of reading this chapter that effectively 366 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,240 make Jesus sound like a politician who's asked a 367 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,040 question and then used it as a springboard to talk about other 368 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:53,640 stuff he really wants to talk about without really addressing 369 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,880 their question. There's some ways of reading the 370 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:57,440 chapter to make it sound like he's changing the. 371 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,120 Subject, but they are. Asking about the temple's 372 00:21:00,120 --> 00:21:02,640 destruction, When and what's the sign? 373 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:04,960 And that's what Jesus. Answers. 374 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:09,240 Now he does give them more and we'll talk about that. 375 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:11,520 But he's. Fundamentally answering those 376 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,040 questions, now his. Answers to these two. 377 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,720 Questions lie outside the bounds of the verses we're studying 378 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:18,800 this morning. But just to reiterate, he 379 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,640 answers the question about a sign in verse 14. 380 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,360 It's the abomination of desolation. 381 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:26,920 That's the sign. And he answers the question 382 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,600 about when, when he says within this generation. 383 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,240 So that's not a super specific answer. 384 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:37,080 It's not like, you know, April 14th, 1765 or something, but 385 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,120 that is a firm time limit within this generation. 386 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,640 So they ask about. When and what's the sign? 387 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:49,720 And he then eventually tells them the sign and the when, but 388 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,360 he takes a long way around. He gives them. 389 00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:53,760 More than they bargained. For. 390 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,760 He does use it as an opportunity to teach them more, to give them 391 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,240 more in the context of answering their questions. 392 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,160 So he starts. By telling them a whole lot of 393 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:08,520 things that will happen but will not be signs of this coming 394 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:10,800 disaster. He's equipping them. 395 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,040 He's preparing. Them and answering their 396 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:14,960 question. He's also asking questions they 397 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,040 should have been asking but weren't. 398 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:21,680 Point number. 2 deceivers. And. 399 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,840 Disturbances verses 5 to 8, what should you expect? 400 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:33,520 Before the end, deceivers and disturbances, look again at 401 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:39,760 verses 5 and 6 and Jesus began to say to them, See that no one 402 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:43,960 leads you astray. Many will come in my name saying 403 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,560 I am He, and they will lead many astray. 404 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,160 Here Jesus warns the disciples against false. 405 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,800 Teachers. Many people will try to lead 406 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,960 them away from Jesus true teaching and true way of life. 407 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:58,840 The threat of false teachers. Was a live 1 and the first 408 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:01,960 generation after Jesus and it remains a live 1 today. 409 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,440 Specifically, Jesus warns about people. 410 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,360 Coming in his name, this could mean two different things. 411 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:11,240 It could refer to other Jewish. Figures claiming to be the 412 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,200 Messiah. That's the name. 413 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:15,120 That's the title that rightly belongs only to. 414 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,160 Jesus. And we know of at. 415 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,440 Least two other. 1st century Jewish leaders who made some 416 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,040 type of messianic claim for themselves from the New 417 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,200 Testament itself. In Acts 5, Rabbi Gamaliel 418 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,680 reminds his fellow Pharisees of two men, Faeudus and Judas the 419 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,080 Galilean. Each one rose up and claimed a 420 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:35,840 large following. Each one LED some type of 421 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:39,800 uprising against Rome. Each one eventually came to 422 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,080 nothing and their followers were scattered. 423 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,280 Now Jesus teaching could. Also refer to. 424 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:50,480 People literally claiming to speak for him or even speak as 425 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:52,720 him. There's no evidence of that type 426 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,280 of heresy between 30 and. 70AD. But there isn't the following 427 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,440 centuries. In the late 2nd century, a 428 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:02,360 professing Christian named Montanus in North Africa. 429 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,480 Claimed to be a. Prophet and declared I am the. 430 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,720 Father the Word and the. Paraclete. 431 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:12,040 And he founded a whole movement around his teachings about 432 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:17,040 Christian prophecy. Jesus point is to be on guard 433 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,400 against false teachers. That's as necessary for us today 434 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,840 as it was for those. Disciples, then suffering and 435 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,960 trials. Can render us especially 436 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,640 susceptible to false. Teaching. 437 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:34,840 If things in your life aren't going how you want, you might 438 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,880 start to think maybe. I've been getting my theology. 439 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,960 Wrong. All this time, some teacher 440 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:47,480 could come in and promise you results, answers, rewards, power 441 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,520 control when you're confused about what's going on in your 442 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,680 life or in the world. Around you, it's easy to grab 443 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,520 hold of some. Attractive teaching that seems 444 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:00,040 to make sense of the chaos and the disorder. 445 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,560 If you feel powerless, it's easy to reach. 446 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:06,040 For any teaching. That seems to give you. 447 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:07,560 More. Power. 448 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:13,720 If your faith. Is being shaken right now if you 449 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:15,160 are. Going through a spiritual 450 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:18,440 earthquake? What false promises are you? 451 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,680 Tempted. To grab hold of. 452 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,240 In order to not. Be deceived by falsehood. 453 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,520 You need to know the truth intimately and thoroughly. 454 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:31,480 You need to know a deep in your heart. 455 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,480 How can you grow in your knowledge of the truth? 456 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:38,920 So as to guard against. False teaching saturate your 457 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,440 mind in Scripture. Read it widely. 458 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,000 Read it deeply. Consider carefully how. 459 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,200 Much content you consume. That. 460 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:52,320 Shapes your worldview. News, Entertainment. 461 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:58,960 Podcast, social media, music. Consider carefully whose content 462 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,320 you consume and why. Is it edifying? 463 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,520 Is it true? How much do you trust the person 464 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,440 talking? And why do you trust? 465 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,440 Them. Pray for spiritual. 466 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:14,040 Wisdom and insight. As you study God's. 467 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,760 Word. And look out for ways in which 468 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:21,320 other professing believers seem to be drifting toward worldly 469 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,680 values or aligning themselves. With worldly priorities. 470 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,360 Not so that you can judge them and pronounce how superior you 471 00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:30,000 are to them. But so that. 472 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,240 You can guard your own heart, see ways in which others might 473 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:37,160 be beginning to be LED astray. Guard against those all the. 474 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,560 More diligently and of course. As members of the church. 475 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:44,520 We want to help each other grow and prepare. 476 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:46,360 And protect. One another against false. 477 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:49,120 Teaching by helping each other do all these things. 478 00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:53,920 In verses 7 and 8. Jesus tells his disciples. 479 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,360 How to respond? To their day's. 480 00:26:56,360 --> 00:27:00,080 Equivalent of news headlines when you. 481 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,040 Hear of wars and. Rumors of wars, do not be 482 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:07,240 alarmed, this must take place, but the end is not yet for 483 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:11,080 nation will rise against nation. And Kingdom against Kingdom. 484 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:13,520 There will be earthquakes in various places. 485 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:16,160 There will be famines. These are but the beginning. 486 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:20,680 Of the birth pains. Jesus is telling his disciples 487 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,120 that there will be geopolitical disturbances. 488 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,880 There's no news media in the ancient world, so word of major 489 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,320 events took a long time to arrive, sometimes months. 490 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:31,960 And of course, if it's. Traveling over land by word of 491 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,160 mouth by month, you can get. Garbled early reports of. 492 00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:37,480 Big scary things that are going on. 493 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:40,520 Jesus is also. Telling his disciples that there 494 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:44,120 will be natural disturbances, earthquakes, famines. 495 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:48,880 We live in a fallen. Cursed world we will regularly 496 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,040 hear of. And witness and suffer from. 497 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,360 The effects of the fall. And the curse. 498 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:59,480 Was true of that first. Generation remains true for us. 499 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:01,960 So what are? All these disturbances. 500 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:07,280 Jesus is very clear. They are not signs of the coming 501 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,920 end of the temple. With apologies. 502 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:14,440 To the ESVS editorial subject. Heading Everything Jesus 503 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,520 mentions here is precisely not. A sign of the end. 504 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,280 And that's the point. It's going to happen, but it's 505 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:24,160 not the end. Jesus says in verse 7 this must 506 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,200 take place, but the end is not yet. 507 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:28,440 Verse 8. These are but the beginning of 508 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,880 the birth pains. The birth pains of what? 509 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:33,600 In the first instance, the coming destruction of the 510 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,200 temple. But there's a sense in which. 511 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:39,320 This whole era is one of birth pains. 512 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:41,560 That's what Paul. Teaches in Romans 8. 513 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:47,040 Creation itself awaits Christ's return, and create when Christ 514 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,760 returns creation itself. Will be set free from futility. 515 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:54,960 Creation itself will be born again. 516 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:01,160 How should we respond to disturbances like these and 517 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:05,080 verse 7, Jesus? Tells us do not be. 518 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:14,000 Alarmed, there are powerful financial incentives to turning 519 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,880 every possible newsworthy happening into a. 520 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,640 Cause of as much alarm for you as. 521 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:25,640 Possible alarm will keep you. Watching alarm will keep you 522 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,720 clicking. Alarm will keep you tuning in 523 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:32,480 and listening. It's part of our natural human 524 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:34,400 fight or flight response. This sounds bad. 525 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:36,760 This sounds scary. I better pay attention. 526 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:41,160 That's a way to exploit you. That's a way to harvest. 527 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:45,640 Your attention for dollars, of course there's responsible 528 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:47,920 journalism of. Course, there's people trying to 529 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:49,840 serve. The public by getting out 530 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,480 important analysis and factual reporting of. 531 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,040 Course. But but in the. 532 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:57,920 Various forms of media that. Most. 533 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:01,280 Compete for our attention, their intention. 534 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,440 Is the opposite of Jesus's. When you hear these. 535 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:07,760 Things don't be. Alarmed. 536 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,000 So consider carefully what type of strategies of. 537 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:15,760 Resistance, defense, critical engagement, or simply opting out 538 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,480 and turning off. You might want to practice. 539 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:22,800 Toward this world's ever. Expanding army of Alarm 540 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:27,440 merchants. Keep calm, carry on. 541 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,160 Don't lose your head. Why? 542 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:32,720 How can Jesus? Tell you not to be. 543 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:37,720 Alarmed because he's sovereign? Because he's reigning over all 544 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:39,920 of history. Because he told you. 545 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,960 Beforehand, what to expect? Forewarned is forearmed. 546 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:49,320 And because Jesus is with you in every trial, because he will 547 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:50,120 reward. You. 548 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:54,720 At the end of every trial. None of these alarming trials. 549 00:30:55,560 --> 00:31:01,280 Can take away your reward. If you're not a believer in 550 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:04,280 Jesus, what tends to. Disturb you? 551 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:10,600 Changing political trends, Wars dragging on, Conflicts 552 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,800 escalating. What is it that goes on in the 553 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,240 world around us that makes you feel unsafe or angry? 554 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:19,440 And where do you turn for comfort? 555 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:25,240 Where do you turn for? Security, where do you? 556 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:32,720 Turn for hope Jesus point about all these disturbances is that 557 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:35,400 they are not signs of the end. When you see these things 558 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:36,640 happening, you. Can't say? 559 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:38,680 Well, just about. Closing time. 560 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,160 Guess we're about done here. Though. 561 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,120 Jesus is talking to this. 1st generation of believers. 562 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:46,920 About what's coming within a generation's time, the principle 563 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:47,920 holds for us. Too. 564 00:31:48,760 --> 00:31:52,360 Jesus teaches that you cannot read the nearness of His coming 565 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:56,400 off of news headlines about. Wars or earthquakes? 566 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,680 Wars and rumors of wars do not indicate that the clock is 567 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:02,360 winding down toward his return. Verse 7. 568 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,760 This must take place. But the end is not. 569 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:10,280 Yet there's major relief in knowing whenever you do know. 570 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,680 That the end is near. Say you're doing a workout. 571 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,160 That requires you to repeat. A certain. 572 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,680 Set of exercises a. Certain number of times you 573 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,360 might begin that workout. Feeling energetic and 574 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:25,120 optimistic. You're feeling good, you have 575 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:26,680 energy. You got this. 576 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,920 Let's say it's five sets by set. Three, you might be thinking, 577 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,680 why did I ever decide? To do this, there's. 578 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:38,760 No way I'm going to finish. I hate exercise and vow never to 579 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:41,360 do it again. So you. 580 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:44,320 Make it through set 4, then you go. 581 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:48,800 Oh, there's only one left. Just one more of each of those 582 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:49,960 things. I can do that. 583 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:52,800 The end is near. I have arrived. 584 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:57,600 At the sign of the end, just one more set what Jesus is saying 585 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,400 about all these disturbances. False. 586 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:01,120 Teaching. Kingdoms against each other, 587 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:04,520 Famines, earthquakes. He's saying none of these things 588 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,720 should. Provide that relief of. 589 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:10,880 Knowing you're at the final set, that's not how this. 590 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:15,360 Works. Instead, what is Jesus doing? 591 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,280 Instead of saying. Don't worry, you're almost 592 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:22,120 there. He's saying you have to keep 593 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:27,400 going without knowing when the end. 594 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:29,880 Will come. You have to keep going without 595 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:31,640 knowing when your own end will come. 596 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:35,240 You have to keep going without knowing when the end of all of 597 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:39,000 this will come. How can you do that? 598 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:43,800 Only by continually renewing. Your faith in Jesus. 599 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:46,600 Only by continually depending on. 600 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:51,320 Jesus, don't look to. Signs of the end for relief 601 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:56,600 Instead keep. Looking at Jesus because plenty. 602 00:33:56,680 --> 00:34:01,200 More challenges are coming down the Pike. 603 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:12,400 What else .3 Persecution, proclamation and perseverance. 604 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:17,400 Persecution, proclamation, and perseverance. 605 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:21,600 That's what Jesus teaches us to look for. 606 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:25,440 That's what Jesus tells us. We'll need to do that's. 607 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:33,880 What Jesus tells us we'll need in verses 9 to 13, starting with 608 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:36,480 verse 9. But be on your guard. 609 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:39,400 For they will. Deliver you over to councils and 610 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:42,520 you'll be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before 611 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:48,239 governors and kings for my sake to bear witness before them here 612 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,080 Jesus promises. That his followers. 613 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:52,600 Will be formally. Persecuted for their faith. 614 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:55,960 By different authorities, the first two he names are Jewish. 615 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:57,480 Authorities. The Councils. 616 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:01,360 He refers to are Jewish. Town councils and then, of 617 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:02,920 course, synagogues. Were places of. 618 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,360 Worship and instruction in every Jewish town. 619 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:09,840 The Apostle Paul, for instance, 5 times suffered the punishment 620 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:14,040 of 39 lashes, which was the most severe penalty that a synagogue 621 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:18,160 authority could administer. Remember that all the first 622 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:21,560 followers of Jesus were Jewish. So here they're being 623 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:23,800 persecuted. By their fellow Jews, people 624 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:25,440 they share history with. Their. 625 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:28,120 Kinship. Even their religion the 626 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:29,200 difference. Of course is that. 627 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:32,080 These Jews believe in Jesus as the Messiah, and those Jews 628 00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:34,480 don't. Even today. 629 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:40,120 Sometimes professing Christians persecute other Christians and 630 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:41,760 we could look to. History for all sorts of sad. 631 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:46,680 Examples of this including American history in Virginia in 632 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:51,000 the 18th century, persecutions that Baptists suffered. 633 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,760 At the hands of fellow. Christians included being pelted 634 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:58,960 with apples and stone, being ducked and nearly drowned by 20 635 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:04,240 men, having a meeting broken up by a mob and being shot with a 636 00:36:04,240 --> 00:36:10,600 shotgun, sometimes professing. Believers persecute fellow 637 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:14,120 believers. The third category of 638 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:16,520 persecution. That Jesus meant promises you 639 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:19,080 will stand before governors and kings for my sake refers to 640 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:20,520 Pagan. Authorities. 641 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,480 Roman regional governors. Even the Emperor. 642 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:26,960 As we saw the apostle Paul. In Rome, because he appealed to 643 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:29,760 the emperor, he'd stood. Trial before several other. 644 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:32,360 Roman authorities and he's appealed to the biggest one. 645 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:37,680 Jesus is teaching his first. Disciples and all his disciples 646 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:40,320 to. Expect persecution. 647 00:36:40,720 --> 00:36:45,000 Persecution is not an aberration, but the norm. 648 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:48,000 Why? Should Christians expect to be? 649 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:52,120 Persecuted because we follow a crucified. 650 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,760 Messiah because Jesus himself was persecuted. 651 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:57,760 Look at. That phrase in verse 9. 652 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:03,920 They will deliver you over. Who else did that happen to? 653 00:37:06,240 --> 00:37:10,040 Like his disciples would be, Jesus was delivered over to the 654 00:37:10,040 --> 00:37:12,320 authorities. Jesus was. 655 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:16,720 Betrayed by someone he counted. As a brother he was. 656 00:37:16,720 --> 00:37:20,920 Arrested, turned over to a council and stood. 657 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:26,200 Before a ruler for judgement, he was exposed to the. 658 00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:31,720 Shame and reviling and contempt. Of the crowds. 659 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:37,760 He was killed, but that wasn't the end of him. 660 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:41,600 All that. Was part of God. 661 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:45,800 'S plan of salvation, all that injustice, all that miscarriage 662 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:49,000 of justice, it was necessary in order for Jesus to come to the 663 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:53,200 place where being publicly condemned by the authorities. 664 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:56,120 He would stand in our. Place bearing our condemnation 665 00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:59,800 for our sins. Which God was justly. 666 00:37:59,960 --> 00:38:04,240 Pouring out his wrath on. Jesus's death. 667 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:09,480 Was a human injustice. That made way for God's saving 668 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:13,520 divine justice. He paid the full. 669 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:15,600 Price for the sins of all those who had turned from sin and 670 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:17,680 trust in Him. That's the heart of the good 671 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:19,920 news, that's what Jesus. Came to do that's. 672 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,560 What's going to be worth? It for all these believers to go 673 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:24,440 around the Mediterranean telling people. 674 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:27,440 About it cost to their livelihoods, their well-being. 675 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,960 Their comfort and often their. Lives. 676 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:32,200 This is the whole. Purpose of Jesus coming the 677 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:33,480 whole. Purpose of the Gospel of Mark. 678 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:36,440 And the whole purpose of why he's calling us to endure. 679 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:39,520 Because of what he did for us. So that we can then. 680 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:42,480 Live lives that glorify Him, Jesus. 681 00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:45,240 Did all of this. So that if you turn from sin and 682 00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:48,120 trust. In him you will be saved. 683 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:51,200 He rose from the dead, proving that he has power over death, 684 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,520 entering into a whole new Deathless. 685 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:55,840 Mode of life as a. Preview of. 686 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:58,960 What will happen to every believer as a preview of what 687 00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:00,520 will? Happen to all of creation. 688 00:39:00,520 --> 00:39:03,600 When he returns, this is the good news of Christianity. 689 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:05,760 This is the heart of this book. This is the heart of the whole 690 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:07,960 Bible, This. Is why we're here this. 691 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:10,080 Morning. Because of what Jesus came to 692 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:11,360 do, that was all. Started. 693 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:16,880 By him being delivered over just as so many. 694 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:19,920 Of his disciples to follow. Would be. 695 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:23,920 Brothers and sisters, true. Faith is. 696 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:25,720 Always a threat to false. Religion. 697 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:28,040 Be willing to. Suffer for your faith. 698 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:30,040 Be prepared to suffer for your faith. 699 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:34,480 Don't seek persecution. Don't compromise to avoid 700 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:37,440 persecution. Instead, be prepared to. 701 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:42,120 Faithfully endure persecution. Notice how persecution often 702 00:39:42,120 --> 00:39:46,040 backfires. Look at the end of verse 9 and 703 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:48,680 you will stand before governors and kings for my sake to bear 704 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:51,920 witness before them. Disciples will stand trial 705 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:53,160 before. Authorities because. 706 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:58,280 Of their witness to Christ. Their trial before authorities 707 00:39:58,280 --> 00:39:59,960 will. Give them an even bigger. 708 00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:03,440 Stage on which to. Then bear witness to Christ 709 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:06,720 proclamation very often. Leads to persecution. 710 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:11,880 Persecution, in turn, can lead to more proclamation. 711 00:40:12,520 --> 00:40:14,480 God. Can advance the Great 712 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:16,800 Commission. In ways we would not. 713 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:22,080 Predict or expect that's. Why verse 10 follows verse 9 and 714 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:25,840 the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations when 715 00:40:25,880 --> 00:40:27,280 Jesus says. First here. 716 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:30,560 I don't think he means first as in before his return. 717 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:33,720 I think he means means first, as in before the Temple's 718 00:40:33,720 --> 00:40:36,480 destruction in 70AD, the book of Acts tells. 719 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:37,920 US. That there is a sense. 720 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:40,040 In which the Gospel. Did make it to the whole world, 721 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:43,480 the whole Mediterranean world before 70? 722 00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:47,600 AD. Persecution won't halt. 723 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:53,040 The spread of the gospel. Instead, it will often speed the 724 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:55,080 spread of the. Gospel. 725 00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:57,680 Consider what Paul said. About his imprisonment. 726 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:00,520 To reassure the. Philippians and Philippians 112. 727 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,600 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened. 728 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:05,880 To me. Has really. 729 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:10,800 Served to advance the gospel. And throughout the book of. 730 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:13,760 Acts when Paul stands trial. Before various authorities. 731 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:16,600 Both Jewish and Pagan, he. Uses his trials as. 732 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:18,280 Opportunities to preach the gospel. 733 00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:21,120 We heard a little tiny version of that from the end of Acts 28 734 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:24,520 when Paul says he's on. Trial for the hope of Israel. 735 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:27,200 Give Paul a chance, let him unpack it. 736 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:28,560 Let him double click. What's that hope? 737 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:30,520 Of Israel, it's. The crucifixion and resurrection 738 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:32,880 of Jesus. It's how Jesus came to fulfill 739 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:35,400 all of God's promises. In that trial, Paul? 740 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:37,040 'S telling people what he's on trial. 741 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:41,520 For and it's the gospel. You might be thinking, but 742 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:44,000 that's Paul. I'm not an apostle. 743 00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:47,080 I can barely. Evangelize my friends and 744 00:41:47,080 --> 00:41:49,280 family. I get so scared, I get so 745 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:50,840 anxious. I I I struggle with. 746 00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:54,400 People pleasing. How can I know I wouldn't give 747 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:57,320 up my faith in Christ under persecution? 748 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:02,760 Don't be. Afraid Jesus has you covered. 749 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:07,320 Verse 11. When they bring you to trial and 750 00:42:07,320 --> 00:42:12,160 deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are 751 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:13,840 to. Say, but say whatever is. 752 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:16,320 Giving you in that hour, for it is not you who speak. 753 00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:21,720 But the Holy Spirit? Persecution is an intense trial, 754 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:25,680 so Jesus here promises intense. Help. 755 00:42:26,600 --> 00:42:30,320 The Holy Spirit's help. As many commentators. 756 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:32,720 Observe this verse. Is not an. 757 00:42:32,720 --> 00:42:36,920 Excuse for lazy preachers. But a promise? 758 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:42,720 For persecuted believers. Jesus is saying you don't need 759 00:42:42,720 --> 00:42:44,960 to worry about what to say because the. 760 00:42:44,960 --> 00:42:48,160 Holy Spirit will give you words. To say. 761 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:50,760 There's a broader principle in play here. 762 00:42:51,200 --> 00:42:52,920 You don't need to fear persecution. 763 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:57,320 Why not? Because when you're persecuted 764 00:42:57,720 --> 00:42:59,760 it. Will not be your strength that 765 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:02,680 sustains you. It'll be God's. 766 00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:05,240 God is the one who will grant you endurance. 767 00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:07,080 God. Will grant you faithfulness. 768 00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:10,080 God will grant you. Courage how you endure 769 00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:12,200 persecution. Will depend, and not on your 770 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:15,120 strength, but on God. 'S. 771 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:19,640 God won't hang you out to dry. God won't abandon. 772 00:43:19,640 --> 00:43:21,960 You when you need him. Most. 773 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:24,840 He'll sustain you. He'll equip you. 774 00:43:25,720 --> 00:43:27,760 As we heard. Earlier in Isaiah 46. 775 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:35,960 He'll carry you. Where will this persecution come 776 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:37,640 from? It'll come from a. 777 00:43:37,640 --> 00:43:41,120 Variety of sources. Verses 12 and 13 tell us a few 778 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:44,840 more. And brother will deliver brother 779 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:46,840 over to death of the father, his child. 780 00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:50,120 And children will rise against parents and have them put to. 781 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:55,440 Death and you'll be hated. By all for my name's sake, but 782 00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:59,840 the one who endures to the end. Will be saved. 783 00:44:01,400 --> 00:44:04,880 Jesus demands your ultimate allegiance. 784 00:44:05,720 --> 00:44:11,680 Jesus demands your highest. Loyalty following Christ should 785 00:44:11,680 --> 00:44:15,240 make us. More loving family members. 786 00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:18,400 It should make us better brothers and sisters. 787 00:44:19,160 --> 00:44:22,600 It should make us more. Submissive children. 788 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:29,280 But Jesus always takes first. Place, because Jesus always 789 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:31,120 takes first place. There will be. 790 00:44:31,120 --> 00:44:36,480 Times when family members take that as an insult, they will 791 00:44:36,480 --> 00:44:40,880 interpret our love for him. As hatred. 792 00:44:41,480 --> 00:44:46,800 Of them following. Jesus also puts a. 793 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:49,200 Target on each of our. Backs. 794 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:51,960 If any of your family members don't follow Jesus, there could 795 00:44:51,960 --> 00:44:55,360 be times when they want to distance themselves from you so 796 00:44:55,360 --> 00:44:58,080 they don't wear the same. Target that you do. 797 00:44:59,280 --> 00:45:02,040 Very early on in Christian history, within the first couple 798 00:45:02,040 --> 00:45:05,240 generations, we learn that Christians were sometimes given 799 00:45:05,240 --> 00:45:08,440 up, informed on. Betrayed to. 800 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:13,160 Authorities by others that. Certainly included family. 801 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:15,600 Members it sometimes even included. 802 00:45:15,600 --> 00:45:20,240 Fellow professing believers. Someone who's trying to get into 803 00:45:20,240 --> 00:45:21,640 a. Ruler's good graces, or at 804 00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:23,280 least. Avoid getting on a ruler's bad. 805 00:45:23,280 --> 00:45:26,760 Side is motivated to give. Someone else up. 806 00:45:27,640 --> 00:45:31,880 In order to do that. Jesus warning that some 807 00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:36,240 believers will be. Betrayed by their own families. 808 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:39,360 But not only by their own families. 809 00:45:39,360 --> 00:45:41,560 Verse 13. You'll be hated by. 810 00:45:41,560 --> 00:45:45,920 All for my name's sake. When Jesus says all, he doesn't 811 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:47,880 mean literally every person you ever meet. 812 00:45:48,200 --> 00:45:51,840 Instead, he means. People from every sector of. 813 00:45:51,840 --> 00:45:54,960 Society all kinds of people from all kinds of. 814 00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:58,920 Places rulers religious. Leaders, neighbors, family 815 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:02,320 members, friends, colleagues, everyone in between. 816 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:07,000 Jesus's. Statement. 817 00:46:07,520 --> 00:46:10,680 Should. Prepare you for the icy. 818 00:46:10,680 --> 00:46:15,560 Plunge of having a friend or family member turn their back on 819 00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:17,560 you. Because of your commitment. 820 00:46:17,560 --> 00:46:20,160 To follow. Christ because you believe. 821 00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:23,120 In him. And because you intend to live 822 00:46:23,120 --> 00:46:28,080 by all his teachings. These are bracing words from 823 00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:31,400 Jesus. They should brace you for the 824 00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:33,160 shock. Of having your. 825 00:46:33,160 --> 00:46:36,240 Employment put into question or even terminated. 826 00:46:36,480 --> 00:46:40,480 Because of what you refused. To endorse for his sake. 827 00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:47,240 All sorts of people will. Find all sorts of reasons. 828 00:46:47,800 --> 00:46:53,440 To make your life harder because you follow Jesus as Lord, and 829 00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:56,440 especially because. You insist that he's the only 830 00:46:56,440 --> 00:46:58,080 Lord. He's your. 831 00:46:58,080 --> 00:47:00,480 Only Lord and you insist. That he is. 832 00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:04,960 Their only Lord too. What should? 833 00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:10,240 You do about persecution. Don't fear it, don't seek it. 834 00:47:11,560 --> 00:47:14,760 Don't buckle under. It, but endure it as. 835 00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:19,240 Jesus says at the at. The end of verse 13, but the one 836 00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:22,200 who endures to the end. Will be saved. 837 00:47:23,080 --> 00:47:25,640 The end of what? The end of your life. 838 00:47:26,240 --> 00:47:28,120 All true believers persevere to the. 839 00:47:28,120 --> 00:47:32,160 End, and only those who persevere to the end are true. 840 00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:34,800 Believers. So this last phrase is both an. 841 00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:37,280 Exhortation and a comfort you must endure. 842 00:47:37,960 --> 00:47:39,600 And all. Those who endure will. 843 00:47:39,600 --> 00:47:42,080 Be saved. You can't. 844 00:47:42,080 --> 00:47:44,240 Guarantee that you'll prosper financially. 845 00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:46,720 You can't guarantee that you'll be in good. 846 00:47:46,720 --> 00:47:49,360 Health. You can't guarantee that your 847 00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:51,320 family and friends will become Christians. 848 00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:55,880 You can't guarantee that every. Instance of persecution will 849 00:47:55,880 --> 00:47:58,720 bring some obvious blessing or evident spiritual fruit. 850 00:47:58,840 --> 00:48:01,520 What can you do? Endure. 851 00:48:02,120 --> 00:48:07,320 By faith in Christ. What should you expect before 852 00:48:07,320 --> 00:48:10,560 the end? Not just deceivers. 853 00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:16,840 And disturbances, but persecution, proclamation and 854 00:48:16,840 --> 00:48:20,440 perseverance. You will suffer for Christ. 855 00:48:20,440 --> 00:48:24,280 'S sake. That suffering will give you an 856 00:48:24,280 --> 00:48:25,720 opportunity to bear witness to his. 857 00:48:25,720 --> 00:48:32,080 Grace, and by His grace. You can and you must faithfully 858 00:48:32,080 --> 00:48:37,440 endure all the way to the end. What's certain in this life? 859 00:48:38,280 --> 00:48:40,520 What's certain for every human being? 860 00:48:41,080 --> 00:48:44,840 Is that you'll face hardships. What's certain for every human 861 00:48:44,840 --> 00:48:47,040 being is that unless Jesus comes back first. 862 00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:51,520 You will die. And what's certain for believers 863 00:48:51,520 --> 00:48:55,040 in. Jesus is that you will face 864 00:48:55,200 --> 00:48:59,960 extra hardships for his sake. There's the hardships. 865 00:48:59,960 --> 00:49:01,320 You face from living in a fallen. 866 00:49:01,320 --> 00:49:04,200 World, there's the extra hardships. 867 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:08,320 You face because you're a. Christian By becoming a 868 00:49:08,320 --> 00:49:15,320 Christian, for now, you sign up for more suffering, not less. 869 00:49:16,360 --> 00:49:19,720 In what ways and how much you'll suffer, that's uncertain to you, 870 00:49:19,720 --> 00:49:24,800 but it is certain to God. You don't know, but he does. 871 00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:30,040 And you can trust him. What's certain in the midst of 872 00:49:30,040 --> 00:49:33,920 all this, Jesus knows the future. 873 00:49:34,520 --> 00:49:36,360 And he holds your future in his. Hands. 874 00:49:37,520 --> 00:49:40,600 Jesus loves. You Jesus gave himself. 875 00:49:40,600 --> 00:49:45,800 For you and Jesus will be with. You in all your trials. 876 00:49:47,160 --> 00:49:54,600 Jesus died for you, Jesus rose again for you, and Jesus will. 877 00:49:55,440 --> 00:50:07,720 Return. Let's pray, Heavenly Father, we. 878 00:50:08,240 --> 00:50:11,360 Praise you for your grace. In Revealing. 879 00:50:11,720 --> 00:50:14,440 These aspects of the future to us both. 880 00:50:14,440 --> 00:50:17,520 What's already been? Fulfilled the ways in which 881 00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:19,400 these things will. Continue throughout the age 882 00:50:19,400 --> 00:50:24,240 until Jesus comes back. Father, we pray that all of us 883 00:50:24,240 --> 00:50:27,680 who are. Believers would endure by faith, 884 00:50:28,600 --> 00:50:31,880 trusting your promises and obeying your commands. 885 00:50:32,760 --> 00:50:34,240 Father, we pray. For those who don't yet know 886 00:50:34,320 --> 00:50:37,000 Jesus, they would turn. And be saved. 887 00:50:37,800 --> 00:50:40,040 We pray in His. Name Amen.