What gives you hope? The end of the semester drawing
nearer, the stock market doing well, the weather cooling off so
that you don't have to fear being too hot and humid outside
for another eight months. There's a world of difference
between hoping in something certain and hoping in something
uncertain. Hoping in something uncertain
always leaves you looking to. Shore up that hope.
Looking for signs that things are going to play out as you
want. You're watching the trend lines
and your mood. Your overall well-being even can
kind of. Rise or fall with them?
If you're rooting for the home team, you're feeling a lot.
Better if they're up. By 14 at the end of the third
quarter, then a third down by 20.
The problem is in this life. Most good things we hope.
For are uncertain. As the old saying has it, the
only certainties in life are death and taxes.
Taxes usually are at best unpleasant.
Death of. Course is much worse.
Where can you find certain hope? Where can you find a hope so
certain that it will enable you to endure not just this life's
uncertainties, but its disappointments, losses?
Setbacks, even devastations. This morning we continue our
series in Mark's. Gospel with chapter. 13 verses 1
to 13 If you don't have a Bible, you can raise your hand and
someone will bring you one. If you just forgot a Bible.
Don't have one this morning? That's totally fine.
If you don't have a Bible like at home that you can read, you
can put up a hand. Take it, read it, we'll talk
with you about it all. Right.
I guess nobody needs one this morning in this passage.
Mark 13 one to 13. Jesus.
Turns his attention and ours. Toward the future.
He speaks of the future. With certainty, Jesus knows the
future better than you. Or I know the present or the.
Past and he begins to. Teach his disciples about
what's. Coming in the future.
To give us a. Certain hope that will enable.
Us to faithfully follow him. Amid all of life's.
Uncertainties he teaches about. Our certain end to.
Help us endure to the end. Almost all of chapter. 13 is a
single discourse, a single block of.
Teaching in the. Greek.
It is 39 straight sentences in a row.
It's the longest gathered up chunk of teaching in Mark's
Gospel. Since way back in chapter 4 with
all the. Parables.
So this teaching is really, really important.
It's also a little bit. Tricky to.
Interpret. I'll read our.
Verses for this morning and then we'll do a little bit of work
setting up the big. Picture of the whole chapter
before we walk through the passage.
Mark 13, verses 1 to 13. And as he came out of the
temple, one of his disciples said to him, Look, teacher, what
wonderful stones, and what wonderful buildings, And Jesus
said to him. Do you see these?
Great. Buildings there will not be left
here 1 stone upon another that will not be thrown down.
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,
Peter and James and John and Andrew.
Asked him privately. Tell us.
When will these things be, and what will be the sign when all
these things are about to be accomplished?
And Jesus began to say to them, See that no one leads you.
Astray. Many will come in my name saying
I am he and they will lead many astray.
And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be
alarmed. This must take place.
But the end is not. Yet for nation will rise against
nation and Kingdom against Kingdom.
There will be earthquakes in various places.
There will be famines. These are but the beginning.
Of the birth pains. But be on your guard.
For they will. Deliver you over to councils.
And you will be. Beaten in synagogues, and you
will stand before governors and kings for my sake to bear
witness before them. And the gospel must first be
proclaimed to all nations, And when they bring you to trial and
deliver you over. Do not be anxious.
Beforehand what you are to. Say.
But say whatever is. Giving you in that hour for it
is not you who. Speak with the Holy Spirit and
brother will deliver Brother over to death and the Father his
child. And the.
Children will rise against parents and have them put to
death and you will be hated. By all.
For my name's sake, but the one who endures to the end.
Will be saved. In the 1st 2 verses Jesus
predicts. That the temple in Jerusalem
will be destroyed? That's a shocking statement.
It means that the whole of Jerusalem will effectively be
destroyed. Because if anyone's going to get
in and destroy the temple. Well, that's what they would
have most protected, you know, the Jewish people.
Defending their most prized. Building the place where?
God made His presence known to them.
So this promise of the. Destruction of the Temple is
also saying Jerusalem. Itself is going to be laid
waste. It's a big deal.
It's hard to overstate how big a deal it.
Is so in. Private afterward in verse 4/4
of Jesus Disciples. Ask him two questions about.
This. Predicted destruction of the
temple. When will it happen and what
will be the sign that it's about to happen?
The temple being. Destroyed is a huge deal.
Could we get a little? Advance.
Notice so that we know. How to prepare?
That's their two fold. Question in verse 4 Jesus begins
to answer their question in verse. 5.
Now, over the next three sermons, we'll walk through the
whole speech in detail, but for now, I just want to give you a.
Preview. Of its structure.
We know from history that the temple was destroyed in 70 AD,
right around 40. Years after Jesus spoke these
words, that was at the. Conclusion of Rome's war
against. Judea, the Jewish people rose.
Up and try to get independence from Rome.
Rome squashed the rebellion as part of that as a conclusion.
Of that they invaded Jerusalem. They laid waste the.
City. They destroyed the temple so
Jesus prophecy was. Fulfilled within the space.
Of one generation but in this chapter, Jesus doesn't only talk
about the time leading up to and including the temple's
destruction in 70 AD some of what he.
Says clearly refers to his. Personal bodily return that did
not happen in. 70AD. That has still not happened.
We as believers are. Waiting for it.
So the biggest? Question to resolve in.
Interpreting the whole chapter is.
This when is Jesus talking about the temple of destruction in 70
AD and also the events in the generation?
Leading up to it. And when is he talking about his
personal bodily return from heaven?
To help us get our bearings, I'm going to sketch how I understand
the structure. Of the whole chapter, there are
4 sections. Verses 5 to 23 meaning once
Jesus starts his. Speech 4 sections verses. 5 to
23 verses. 24 to 27 verses. 28 to 31 and verses. 32 to 30.
Seven if we're dividing things up by.
Topic by the focus. Even by some of the grammar and
what Jesus is talking about. 5 to 2324 to 2728 to 31. 32 to 37
Four sections. In these 4 sections, Jesus
switches. Back and forth between.
Discussing the temple's destruction.
And the time leading up to it. And then on the other hand, his
personal bodily return, temples destruction.
Bodily return, Temples, destruction.
Bodily return the. Structure of the whole chapter I
would suggest is. ABAB alternating between those
topics. Here's a few details in support
of that to help us get our bearings.
Verses 5 to 23 consistently focus on the destruction of the
temple and what the time period leading up.
To it will be like. In verses 5 to 13.
Jesus tells his disciples all. Kinds of things that will happen
to them that will not be signs. Of the temple's impending.
Destruction. He tells them things that will
happen, but as he says, the end is not yet.
Then, in verses 14 to 23, he provides all kinds of specific,
detailed warnings that pertain to the events surrounding the
temple's. Destruction.
So for. Instance in verse 14, after
saying a whole bunch of stuff that's going to happen, but it's
not time for the temple's destruction, then he says in
verse 14, But when you see the abomination of desolation
standing where he ought not to be, let the reader understand.
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, whatever
the abomination of desolation is.
And that's a problem for another sermon.
Whatever that abomination of desolation is, when you see it,
it's go time. Literally get out of Jerusalem.
This is the sign that it's about to happen now, so then people
should flee. Notice that it's those who are
in Judea, the region surrounding Jerusalem in the South.
Part of Israel. It's only relevant to those
people directly relevant, right? These are instructions for those
people in that place at that time Jesus is telling them to
get out. And some early Christians.
Did just that, the. Tribulation in those.
Days if you flip. Over in your bibles verses 19
and 20 in those days. There will be this severe.
Tribulation. It's talking about what is going
on around Jerusalem's fall and the Temple's destruction.
That's the tribulation of. Those days, that's what.
Jesus. Warns in the next couple.
Verses about. False Christs and false Messiahs
and people being LED astray. That's verses 5 to 23.
Then in verses 24 to 27, Jesus refers to what comes after that.
Tribulation. He doesn't say how long after.
He doesn't strictly say it's immediately.
After and he describes the. Universe coming apart at the
seams, stars falling from heaven, the sun of the moon
being darkened. And he says in verse 26 then
they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great
power and glory. This is what people will.
See. They will behold.
The risen, exalted Christ with their own eyes.
He's coming back bodily. This is a different event from
what he's talking about. About 70 AD.
Then in verses 28 to 31, he switches back.
His parable about this fig tree shooting out branches before.
Summer is telling his disciples that he's given them enough
information to answer their question about how to know when
the destruction of the temple is coming.
When you see the signs, then you'll know when you see the.
Fig tree put out branches. You know summer is coming.
That's why he says in this section in verse 30 that this
generation will not pass away until all these things take
place. When Jesus says all these.
Things he's talking about all the things associated with
Rome's destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, everything
pertaining to the destruction of the Temple.
Did take place. Within that generation, then the
last section. Verses 32 to 30. 7 Jesus shifts
his focus again. In verse 32.
He's not talking about those days in the plural, but that day
or that hour. And what he says about it is
that no one. Knows when it is coming.
This is. Different from the destruction
of the temple, Jesus gives a sign.
That's the immediate tip off that it's coming.
But about. That day, he says no one.
Knows there's no sign to prepare for it, which means.
You have to be ready for it to happen at any time.
What's the point of that parable?
Now we'll see all this in more detail.
As we walk. Through the passage in the next
3 sermons, I'm just going to. Borrow the next section
changing. Up the sermon card a little bit,
just borrowing the next section, sticking it with the next
sermon. So it'll include verses 24 to
27. So we get the balance of 7080
and Jesus second coming. But in our passage for this
morning, verses 1 to 13, what's going on in these verses?
Jesus is preparing his. Disciples for what to expect.
In the time period between his resurrection and the destruction
of Jerusalem. He's.
Calibrating their expectations for their next 40 years of
following him. He's teaching them what's going
to be uncertain and what's going to be certain.
He's showing them. Where to put their hope?
And he's doing all this with an end in view.
The end immediately in view. Is the destruction of the temple
but the things Jesus tells them to?
Expect are also what? We should continue to expect
before the end of the world, Jesus had some of the same
warning, some of the same teachings when he sent.
Out his disciples. In an earthly kind of shorter
mission that they would go and do during his earthly ministry
and come back some of the same trials, some of the same
challenges. So what?
Jesus Disciples. Experienced even during that
time period what they would experience for the 40 years
leading up to the fall of Jerusalem.
It's all the same stuff. That we will continue to
experience. Until he comes.
So the question our passage answers for this morning.
What should you expect before the end?
What? Should you expect before the
end? Our passage has three.
Sections So we'll consider Jesus answer in three parts .1 verses
1 to. 4 Destruction. Destruction.
The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus promised.
It would be. Destroyed 4 decades later, it
was looking at it. Verses one and two.
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples
said to him, Look, teacher, what wonderful stones, and what
wonderful buildings, And Jesus said to him.
Do you see these? Great.
Buildings there will not be left here, 1 stone upon another that
will not be thrown down. This disciple marveling at the
temple, it's not like he was a tourist who'd never seen it
before. He would have attended the
festivals in the temple. All of his.
Life the yearly. Pilgrimages Jesus and his
disciples have been going back and forth.
The point is that the temple was such an.
Impressive building that the effect.
Of seeing it never wore off, sort of never got old.
He's still impressed. He's still amazed after seeing
it. Day by day, Jesus.
Though is leaving the temple and he's not going to come back.
It's like when. Ezekiel sees the glory of God
leaving. Solomon's temple.
Now this temple was the temple that Herod built on the site of
the temple. Built by Zerubbabel.
During the return from exile a few centuries prior.
Construction began in 20 BC. And it contended it continued
through the time of Jesus and even three more decades beyond.
This temple was made of white marble and covered in gold.
Plating. It resembled a snow capped
mountain. When the sun shone on it, it was
so bright you couldn't look directly at it.
It was nearly double the size. Of Solomon's temple, there have
been foundation stones discovered even in recent
excavations that are 25 feet long, even 40 feet long, a
single stone. That big?
This was a massive incredible. Structure.
It was far more impressive than even some of the seven wonders
of the ancient world. It's no wonder Jesus disciple
was impressed. But Jesus wasn't.
He essentially says to his disciple, I've seen enough.
Jesus considers not the physical appearance of the temple.
But it's spiritual reality. And he finds that.
Spiritual reality sorely lacking the people.
'S hearts are turned against God.
Their leaders have rejected Jesus.
They've corrupted the worship that God.
Commands into a false pretense of worship, and so as a
judgement against his people, God is going to destroy the
temple that he himself ordained. It's certain it's not.
Possible. It's not likely.
It's guaranteed by looking beyond the.
Appearance to the reality. Jesus teaches us that the glory
of God's. Dwelling in the New Covenant era
is not a beautiful. Building but a beautiful people.
The glory of God. 'S temple is not an impressive
structure, but sanctified persons, those whom God indwells
and sanctifies by his. Spirit are the created beauty.
That shows off the. Creator's beauty.
There is more real spiritual beauty in this room than there
was in the whole Jerusalem Temple 2000 years ago.
So Jesus predicted. The destruction of the temple
and it happened. 40 years later, he says.
There will not be left here 1 stone upon another that will not
be thrown down, and that was. Fulfilled to the T.
The Jewish historian Josephus wrote an extensive history of
Rome's. 4 year war with Judea. And he tells us that the Romans
first burned the temple, and then?
Afterward, Caesar ordered the whole.
City and the temple to be. Raised.
To the ground, Josephus writes. All the rest of the wall.
Encompassing the city was so completely leveled to the
ground. As to leave future visitors to
the spot. No ground for believing that it
had ever been. Inhabited.
How can Jesus know the. Future because he is the Son of
God. Incarnate, he knows.
Everything. His prophecy was fulfilled.
Exactly. So take that as an
encouragement. To believe.
Everything else he's told. Us about.
The future. What Jesus said would happen,
did happen. What Jesus said will happen.
Will happen. Believe Jesus is.
Teaching about the future. More than you believe the news.
Believe Jesus is teaching more than you believe.
Whoever it is who shores up your hopes.
In that uncertain thing you really long for.
Believe in Jesus. More than you believe in your
favorite pundit. Trust Jesus above everyone.
Now in verses 3 and 4, some of Jesus.
Disciples follow up about this. Prediction as he sat on the
mount of. Olives opposite the temple.
Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, tell
us when will these things be, and what will be the sign when
all these things are about to be accomplished?
Here's their two-part question. When will it happen?
And what will be the? Sign note that both questions
are about Jesus's prediction of the temple's destruction.
That's what they're asking. About Jesus disciples.
Are not changing the subject, and neither does Jesus.
There's some ways of reading this chapter that effectively
make Jesus sound like a politician who's asked a
question and then used it as a springboard to talk about other
stuff he really wants to talk about without really addressing
their question. There's some ways of reading the
chapter to make it sound like he's changing the.
Subject, but they are. Asking about the temple's
destruction, When and what's the sign?
And that's what Jesus. Answers.
Now he does give them more and we'll talk about that.
But he's. Fundamentally answering those
questions, now his. Answers to these two.
Questions lie outside the bounds of the verses we're studying
this morning. But just to reiterate, he
answers the question about a sign in verse 14.
It's the abomination of desolation.
That's the sign. And he answers the question
about when, when he says within this generation.
So that's not a super specific answer.
It's not like, you know, April 14th, 1765 or something, but
that is a firm time limit within this generation.
So they ask about. When and what's the sign?
And he then eventually tells them the sign and the when, but
he takes a long way around. He gives them.
More than they bargained. For.
He does use it as an opportunity to teach them more, to give them
more in the context of answering their questions.
So he starts. By telling them a whole lot of
things that will happen but will not be signs of this coming
disaster. He's equipping them.
He's preparing. Them and answering their
question. He's also asking questions they
should have been asking but weren't.
Point number. 2 deceivers. And.
Disturbances verses 5 to 8, what should you expect?
Before the end, deceivers and disturbances, look again at
verses 5 and 6 and Jesus began to say to them, See that no one
leads you astray. Many will come in my name saying
I am He, and they will lead many astray.
Here Jesus warns the disciples against false.
Teachers. Many people will try to lead
them away from Jesus true teaching and true way of life.
The threat of false teachers. Was a live 1 and the first
generation after Jesus and it remains a live 1 today.
Specifically, Jesus warns about people.
Coming in his name, this could mean two different things.
It could refer to other Jewish. Figures claiming to be the
Messiah. That's the name.
That's the title that rightly belongs only to.
Jesus. And we know of at.
Least two other. 1st century Jewish leaders who made some
type of messianic claim for themselves from the New
Testament itself. In Acts 5, Rabbi Gamaliel
reminds his fellow Pharisees of two men, Faeudus and Judas the
Galilean. Each one rose up and claimed a
large following. Each one LED some type of
uprising against Rome. Each one eventually came to
nothing and their followers were scattered.
Now Jesus teaching could. Also refer to.
People literally claiming to speak for him or even speak as
him. There's no evidence of that type
of heresy between 30 and. 70AD. But there isn't the following
centuries. In the late 2nd century, a
professing Christian named Montanus in North Africa.
Claimed to be a. Prophet and declared I am the.
Father the Word and the. Paraclete.
And he founded a whole movement around his teachings about
Christian prophecy. Jesus point is to be on guard
against false teachers. That's as necessary for us today
as it was for those. Disciples, then suffering and
trials. Can render us especially
susceptible to false. Teaching.
If things in your life aren't going how you want, you might
start to think maybe. I've been getting my theology.
Wrong. All this time, some teacher
could come in and promise you results, answers, rewards, power
control when you're confused about what's going on in your
life or in the world. Around you, it's easy to grab
hold of some. Attractive teaching that seems
to make sense of the chaos and the disorder.
If you feel powerless, it's easy to reach.
For any teaching. That seems to give you.
More. Power.
If your faith. Is being shaken right now if you
are. Going through a spiritual
earthquake? What false promises are you?
Tempted. To grab hold of.
In order to not. Be deceived by falsehood.
You need to know the truth intimately and thoroughly.
You need to know a deep in your heart.
How can you grow in your knowledge of the truth?
So as to guard against. False teaching saturate your
mind in Scripture. Read it widely.
Read it deeply. Consider carefully how.
Much content you consume. That.
Shapes your worldview. News, Entertainment.
Podcast, social media, music. Consider carefully whose content
you consume and why. Is it edifying?
Is it true? How much do you trust the person
talking? And why do you trust?
Them. Pray for spiritual.
Wisdom and insight. As you study God's.
Word. And look out for ways in which
other professing believers seem to be drifting toward worldly
values or aligning themselves. With worldly priorities.
Not so that you can judge them and pronounce how superior you
are to them. But so that.
You can guard your own heart, see ways in which others might
be beginning to be LED astray. Guard against those all the.
More diligently and of course. As members of the church.
We want to help each other grow and prepare.
And protect. One another against false.
Teaching by helping each other do all these things.
In verses 7 and 8. Jesus tells his disciples.
How to respond? To their day's.
Equivalent of news headlines when you.
Hear of wars and. Rumors of wars, do not be
alarmed, this must take place, but the end is not yet for
nation will rise against nation. And Kingdom against Kingdom.
There will be earthquakes in various places.
There will be famines. These are but the beginning.
Of the birth pains. Jesus is telling his disciples
that there will be geopolitical disturbances.
There's no news media in the ancient world, so word of major
events took a long time to arrive, sometimes months.
And of course, if it's. Traveling over land by word of
mouth by month, you can get. Garbled early reports of.
Big scary things that are going on.
Jesus is also. Telling his disciples that there
will be natural disturbances, earthquakes, famines.
We live in a fallen. Cursed world we will regularly
hear of. And witness and suffer from.
The effects of the fall. And the curse.
Was true of that first. Generation remains true for us.
So what are? All these disturbances.
Jesus is very clear. They are not signs of the coming
end of the temple. With apologies.
To the ESVS editorial subject. Heading Everything Jesus
mentions here is precisely not. A sign of the end.
And that's the point. It's going to happen, but it's
not the end. Jesus says in verse 7 this must
take place, but the end is not yet.
Verse 8. These are but the beginning of
the birth pains. The birth pains of what?
In the first instance, the coming destruction of the
temple. But there's a sense in which.
This whole era is one of birth pains.
That's what Paul. Teaches in Romans 8.
Creation itself awaits Christ's return, and create when Christ
returns creation itself. Will be set free from futility.
Creation itself will be born again.
How should we respond to disturbances like these and
verse 7, Jesus? Tells us do not be.
Alarmed, there are powerful financial incentives to turning
every possible newsworthy happening into a.
Cause of as much alarm for you as.
Possible alarm will keep you. Watching alarm will keep you
clicking. Alarm will keep you tuning in
and listening. It's part of our natural human
fight or flight response. This sounds bad.
This sounds scary. I better pay attention.
That's a way to exploit you. That's a way to harvest.
Your attention for dollars, of course there's responsible
journalism of. Course, there's people trying to
serve. The public by getting out
important analysis and factual reporting of.
Course. But but in the.
Various forms of media that. Most.
Compete for our attention, their intention.
Is the opposite of Jesus's. When you hear these.
Things don't be. Alarmed.
So consider carefully what type of strategies of.
Resistance, defense, critical engagement, or simply opting out
and turning off. You might want to practice.
Toward this world's ever. Expanding army of Alarm
merchants. Keep calm, carry on.
Don't lose your head. Why?
How can Jesus? Tell you not to be.
Alarmed because he's sovereign? Because he's reigning over all
of history. Because he told you.
Beforehand, what to expect? Forewarned is forearmed.
And because Jesus is with you in every trial, because he will
reward. You.
At the end of every trial. None of these alarming trials.
Can take away your reward. If you're not a believer in
Jesus, what tends to. Disturb you?
Changing political trends, Wars dragging on, Conflicts
escalating. What is it that goes on in the
world around us that makes you feel unsafe or angry?
And where do you turn for comfort?
Where do you turn for? Security, where do you?
Turn for hope Jesus point about all these disturbances is that
they are not signs of the end. When you see these things
happening, you. Can't say?
Well, just about. Closing time.
Guess we're about done here. Though.
Jesus is talking to this. 1st generation of believers.
About what's coming within a generation's time, the principle
holds for us. Too.
Jesus teaches that you cannot read the nearness of His coming
off of news headlines about. Wars or earthquakes?
Wars and rumors of wars do not indicate that the clock is
winding down toward his return. Verse 7.
This must take place. But the end is not.
Yet there's major relief in knowing whenever you do know.
That the end is near. Say you're doing a workout.
That requires you to repeat. A certain.
Set of exercises a. Certain number of times you
might begin that workout. Feeling energetic and
optimistic. You're feeling good, you have
energy. You got this.
Let's say it's five sets by set. Three, you might be thinking,
why did I ever decide? To do this, there's.
No way I'm going to finish. I hate exercise and vow never to
do it again. So you.
Make it through set 4, then you go.
Oh, there's only one left. Just one more of each of those
things. I can do that.
The end is near. I have arrived.
At the sign of the end, just one more set what Jesus is saying
about all these disturbances. False.
Teaching. Kingdoms against each other,
Famines, earthquakes. He's saying none of these things
should. Provide that relief of.
Knowing you're at the final set, that's not how this.
Works. Instead, what is Jesus doing?
Instead of saying. Don't worry, you're almost
there. He's saying you have to keep
going without knowing when the end.
Will come. You have to keep going without
knowing when your own end will come.
You have to keep going without knowing when the end of all of
this will come. How can you do that?
Only by continually renewing. Your faith in Jesus.
Only by continually depending on.
Jesus, don't look to. Signs of the end for relief
Instead keep. Looking at Jesus because plenty.
More challenges are coming down the Pike.
What else .3 Persecution, proclamation and perseverance.
Persecution, proclamation, and perseverance.
That's what Jesus teaches us to look for.
That's what Jesus tells us. We'll need to do that's.
What Jesus tells us we'll need in verses 9 to 13, starting with
verse 9. But be on your guard.
For they will. Deliver you over to councils and
you'll be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before
governors and kings for my sake to bear witness before them here
Jesus promises. That his followers.
Will be formally. Persecuted for their faith.
By different authorities, the first two he names are Jewish.
Authorities. The Councils.
He refers to are Jewish. Town councils and then, of
course, synagogues. Were places of.
Worship and instruction in every Jewish town.
The Apostle Paul, for instance, 5 times suffered the punishment
of 39 lashes, which was the most severe penalty that a synagogue
authority could administer. Remember that all the first
followers of Jesus were Jewish. So here they're being
persecuted. By their fellow Jews, people
they share history with. Their.
Kinship. Even their religion the
difference. Of course is that.
These Jews believe in Jesus as the Messiah, and those Jews
don't. Even today.
Sometimes professing Christians persecute other Christians and
we could look to. History for all sorts of sad.
Examples of this including American history in Virginia in
the 18th century, persecutions that Baptists suffered.
At the hands of fellow. Christians included being pelted
with apples and stone, being ducked and nearly drowned by 20
men, having a meeting broken up by a mob and being shot with a
shotgun, sometimes professing. Believers persecute fellow
believers. The third category of
persecution. That Jesus meant promises you
will stand before governors and kings for my sake refers to
Pagan. Authorities.
Roman regional governors. Even the Emperor.
As we saw the apostle Paul. In Rome, because he appealed to
the emperor, he'd stood. Trial before several other.
Roman authorities and he's appealed to the biggest one.
Jesus is teaching his first. Disciples and all his disciples
to. Expect persecution.
Persecution is not an aberration, but the norm.
Why? Should Christians expect to be?
Persecuted because we follow a crucified.
Messiah because Jesus himself was persecuted.
Look at. That phrase in verse 9.
They will deliver you over. Who else did that happen to?
Like his disciples would be, Jesus was delivered over to the
authorities. Jesus was.
Betrayed by someone he counted. As a brother he was.
Arrested, turned over to a council and stood.
Before a ruler for judgement, he was exposed to the.
Shame and reviling and contempt. Of the crowds.
He was killed, but that wasn't the end of him.
All that. Was part of God.
'S plan of salvation, all that injustice, all that miscarriage
of justice, it was necessary in order for Jesus to come to the
place where being publicly condemned by the authorities.
He would stand in our. Place bearing our condemnation
for our sins. Which God was justly.
Pouring out his wrath on. Jesus's death.
Was a human injustice. That made way for God's saving
divine justice. He paid the full.
Price for the sins of all those who had turned from sin and
trust in Him. That's the heart of the good
news, that's what Jesus. Came to do that's.
What's going to be worth? It for all these believers to go
around the Mediterranean telling people.
About it cost to their livelihoods, their well-being.
Their comfort and often their. Lives.
This is the whole. Purpose of Jesus coming the
whole. Purpose of the Gospel of Mark.
And the whole purpose of why he's calling us to endure.
Because of what he did for us. So that we can then.
Live lives that glorify Him, Jesus.
Did all of this. So that if you turn from sin and
trust. In him you will be saved.
He rose from the dead, proving that he has power over death,
entering into a whole new Deathless.
Mode of life as a. Preview of.
What will happen to every believer as a preview of what
will? Happen to all of creation.
When he returns, this is the good news of Christianity.
This is the heart of this book. This is the heart of the whole
Bible, This. Is why we're here this.
Morning. Because of what Jesus came to
do, that was all. Started.
By him being delivered over just as so many.
Of his disciples to follow. Would be.
Brothers and sisters, true. Faith is.
Always a threat to false. Religion.
Be willing to. Suffer for your faith.
Be prepared to suffer for your faith.
Don't seek persecution. Don't compromise to avoid
persecution. Instead, be prepared to.
Faithfully endure persecution. Notice how persecution often
backfires. Look at the end of verse 9 and
you will stand before governors and kings for my sake to bear
witness before them. Disciples will stand trial
before. Authorities because.
Of their witness to Christ. Their trial before authorities
will. Give them an even bigger.
Stage on which to. Then bear witness to Christ
proclamation very often. Leads to persecution.
Persecution, in turn, can lead to more proclamation.
God. Can advance the Great
Commission. In ways we would not.
Predict or expect that's. Why verse 10 follows verse 9 and
the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations when
Jesus says. First here.
I don't think he means first as in before his return.
I think he means means first, as in before the Temple's
destruction in 70AD, the book of Acts tells.
US. That there is a sense.
In which the Gospel. Did make it to the whole world,
the whole Mediterranean world before 70?
AD. Persecution won't halt.
The spread of the gospel. Instead, it will often speed the
spread of the. Gospel.
Consider what Paul said. About his imprisonment.
To reassure the. Philippians and Philippians 112.
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened.
To me. Has really.
Served to advance the gospel. And throughout the book of.
Acts when Paul stands trial. Before various authorities.
Both Jewish and Pagan, he. Uses his trials as.
Opportunities to preach the gospel.
We heard a little tiny version of that from the end of Acts 28
when Paul says he's on. Trial for the hope of Israel.
Give Paul a chance, let him unpack it.
Let him double click. What's that hope?
Of Israel, it's. The crucifixion and resurrection
of Jesus. It's how Jesus came to fulfill
all of God's promises. In that trial, Paul?
'S telling people what he's on trial.
For and it's the gospel. You might be thinking, but
that's Paul. I'm not an apostle.
I can barely. Evangelize my friends and
family. I get so scared, I get so
anxious. I I I struggle with.
People pleasing. How can I know I wouldn't give
up my faith in Christ under persecution?
Don't be. Afraid Jesus has you covered.
Verse 11. When they bring you to trial and
deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are
to. Say, but say whatever is.
Giving you in that hour, for it is not you who speak.
But the Holy Spirit? Persecution is an intense trial,
so Jesus here promises intense. Help.
The Holy Spirit's help. As many commentators.
Observe this verse. Is not an.
Excuse for lazy preachers. But a promise?
For persecuted believers. Jesus is saying you don't need
to worry about what to say because the.
Holy Spirit will give you words. To say.
There's a broader principle in play here.
You don't need to fear persecution.
Why not? Because when you're persecuted
it. Will not be your strength that
sustains you. It'll be God's.
God is the one who will grant you endurance.
God. Will grant you faithfulness.
God will grant you. Courage how you endure
persecution. Will depend, and not on your
strength, but on God. 'S.
God won't hang you out to dry. God won't abandon.
You when you need him. Most.
He'll sustain you. He'll equip you.
As we heard. Earlier in Isaiah 46.
He'll carry you. Where will this persecution come
from? It'll come from a.
Variety of sources. Verses 12 and 13 tell us a few
more. And brother will deliver brother
over to death of the father, his child.
And children will rise against parents and have them put to.
Death and you'll be hated. By all for my name's sake, but
the one who endures to the end. Will be saved.
Jesus demands your ultimate allegiance.
Jesus demands your highest. Loyalty following Christ should
make us. More loving family members.
It should make us better brothers and sisters.
It should make us more. Submissive children.
But Jesus always takes first. Place, because Jesus always
takes first place. There will be.
Times when family members take that as an insult, they will
interpret our love for him. As hatred.
Of them following. Jesus also puts a.
Target on each of our. Backs.
If any of your family members don't follow Jesus, there could
be times when they want to distance themselves from you so
they don't wear the same. Target that you do.
Very early on in Christian history, within the first couple
generations, we learn that Christians were sometimes given
up, informed on. Betrayed to.
Authorities by others that. Certainly included family.
Members it sometimes even included.
Fellow professing believers. Someone who's trying to get into
a. Ruler's good graces, or at
least. Avoid getting on a ruler's bad.
Side is motivated to give. Someone else up.
In order to do that. Jesus warning that some
believers will be. Betrayed by their own families.
But not only by their own families.
Verse 13. You'll be hated by.
All for my name's sake. When Jesus says all, he doesn't
mean literally every person you ever meet.
Instead, he means. People from every sector of.
Society all kinds of people from all kinds of.
Places rulers religious. Leaders, neighbors, family
members, friends, colleagues, everyone in between.
Jesus's. Statement.
Should. Prepare you for the icy.
Plunge of having a friend or family member turn their back on
you. Because of your commitment.
To follow. Christ because you believe.
In him. And because you intend to live
by all his teachings. These are bracing words from
Jesus. They should brace you for the
shock. Of having your.
Employment put into question or even terminated.
Because of what you refused. To endorse for his sake.
All sorts of people will. Find all sorts of reasons.
To make your life harder because you follow Jesus as Lord, and
especially because. You insist that he's the only
Lord. He's your.
Only Lord and you insist. That he is.
Their only Lord too. What should?
You do about persecution. Don't fear it, don't seek it.
Don't buckle under. It, but endure it as.
Jesus says at the at. The end of verse 13, but the one
who endures to the end. Will be saved.
The end of what? The end of your life.
All true believers persevere to the.
End, and only those who persevere to the end are true.
Believers. So this last phrase is both an.
Exhortation and a comfort you must endure.
And all. Those who endure will.
Be saved. You can't.
Guarantee that you'll prosper financially.
You can't guarantee that you'll be in good.
Health. You can't guarantee that your
family and friends will become Christians.
You can't guarantee that every. Instance of persecution will
bring some obvious blessing or evident spiritual fruit.
What can you do? Endure.
By faith in Christ. What should you expect before
the end? Not just deceivers.
And disturbances, but persecution, proclamation and
perseverance. You will suffer for Christ.
'S sake. That suffering will give you an
opportunity to bear witness to his.
Grace, and by His grace. You can and you must faithfully
endure all the way to the end. What's certain in this life?
What's certain for every human being?
Is that you'll face hardships. What's certain for every human
being is that unless Jesus comes back first.
You will die. And what's certain for believers
in. Jesus is that you will face
extra hardships for his sake. There's the hardships.
You face from living in a fallen.
World, there's the extra hardships.
You face because you're a. Christian By becoming a
Christian, for now, you sign up for more suffering, not less.
In what ways and how much you'll suffer, that's uncertain to you,
but it is certain to God. You don't know, but he does.
And you can trust him. What's certain in the midst of
all this, Jesus knows the future.
And he holds your future in his. Hands.
Jesus loves. You Jesus gave himself.
For you and Jesus will be with. You in all your trials.
Jesus died for you, Jesus rose again for you, and Jesus will.
Return. Let's pray, Heavenly Father, we.
Praise you for your grace. In Revealing.
These aspects of the future to us both.
What's already been? Fulfilled the ways in which
these things will. Continue throughout the age
until Jesus comes back. Father, we pray that all of us
who are. Believers would endure by faith,
trusting your promises and obeying your commands.
Father, we pray. For those who don't yet know
Jesus, they would turn. And be saved.
We pray in His. Name Amen.