Sermon preached at HCBC (Jan 19, 2020). To listen click here. Also available on your favorite podcast app.
Introduction
How many of you think this passage is about the end of the world? It may surprise you to learn, then, that the majority of NT scholars do not think this passage is about the end of the world. In fact, I’ll go a step further. A close reading of the passage makes it nearly impossible to understand the passage that way. So, I want to challenge what is often the popular conception of the passage. Let me point out a couple of features that demonstrate this point.
1. The question Jesus is answering. The disciples see the buildings and marvel at them. Jesus tells them in v. 2 that the buildings will be destroyed. In v. 4, they ask, “When will these things be?”
2. The timing of the event. Jesus explains the timing of the event throughout the passage, but the most important indicator is in v. 30.* The generation of people he is speaking to will see all of this happen.
So what is the passage about? The passage is about God’s coming judgment on Israel’s religion. This is apparent in v. 3 when Jesus sits on the Mt of Olives. That’s east of the city of Jerusalem. In Ezekiel, the LORD announced that he would leave the Temple and sit east of the city. This was a prophecy of judgment against Israel. Jesus is warning his disciples that judgment is coming. In the meantime, they will suffer for preaching the name of Jesus.
In an ever-changing and chaotic world, our security and stability are in Christ.
While this passage is specifically spoken to the disciples who will endure an onslaught of persecution, we can extract key principles for our own uncertain times. The Bible speaks of the latter times. Do you know when that begins? With the ministry of Jesus. We have been in the latter times for almost 2000 years. Christians have long understood this, so we must get away from the fearful thinking of, “Now this event proves we really are in the latter times.” Every generation of Christians has lived in the latter times, the last days. The Kingdom has come. Now we await the final return of the King. Turmoil in the interim is to be expected.
1. Don’t be distracted or alarmed (vv. 3–8)
In an ever-changing world, it’s easy to look for hope in the wrong places. Jesus says, “There are people who will lead you astray. They will offer you answers. They will offer you hope. They promise to be saviors.” Jesus says, “Don’t let them deceive you.” Look at vv. 5–6.*
This is a warning for us. Don’t hope in the wrong things. Don’t think the right politician will fix things. Don’t look for a savior when things seem chaotic. There’s only one savior. His name is Jesus. The psalms remind us of this often. Psalm 146:3 says: Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.
Don’t be alarmed when bad news comes. Look at vv. 7–8.* Don’t be alarmed. These things are to be expected. The world is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s in turmoil.
So, don’t be distracted or alarmed. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus. In an ever-changing and chaotic world, our security and stability are in Christ.
2. The Spirit empowers us to endure (vv. 9–13)
Look what Jesus tells his disciples in v. 9.* Be on guard. This doesn’t mean be on guard in order to avoid trouble. It means be on guard spiritually because it’s the only way to stand.
The Bible speaks often of being watchful, being vigilant. As in 1 Pet 5:8: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Pay attention because there’s a real battle happening.
What’s at stake? We could lose our faith and quit trusting in the Lord. We could all into a pattern of unrepentant sin. We could be misled and believe lies. Jesus speaks here of intense pressure to maintain the faith. Look again at v. 9.* There may come a time when faith in Jesus costs you something. Notice what he says at the end of the verse: “for my sake,” “to bear witness before them.” You may have to bear witness in the face of opposition. The gospel must be proclaimed.
When such opposition comes, the Spirit will empower us with wisdom to bear witness. Look at v. 11.* Do not be anxious. Don’t try to figure it out ahead of time. Don’t plan for how you’re going to get through it. Why? Because you aren’t alone. The Spirit will give you the grace you need. The Spirit will enable you to endure. So, it is imperative that we daily submit to the Spirit. What does that mean?
It means that every day when our feet hit the ground, we realize we will fail miserably, lose our faith, destroy our souls, give in to the pressure, unless we receive God’s grace. The Christian life is basically a project in learning to submit to the Holy. It’s a process of learning to rely less on ourselves and rely more on God’s Spirit. Do you pray and read the Bible because you feel obligated? Or do you pray and read because you know you won’t survive without it? That’s the difference. Being on guard means constantly watching your soul.
Now the opposition may be severe. The people closest to you—your very family—may abandon you. Look at v. 12.* But there’s a promise in v. 13.* Here’s the promise: It will be worth it. Jesus is better than anything this life has to offer. There’s security in the face of opposition. His name is Jesus. In an ever-changing and chaotic world, our security and stability are in Christ.
I’ll say more about endurance when we tie this all together, but for now let’s go on to the third point.
3. God is still sovereign (vv. 14–23)
Look at v. 14.* What was in the mind of Mark’s readers when they heard the phrase “abomination of desolation”? It’s a phrase mentioned three times by Daniel. But there’s a major event that happened about 200 years before Mark wrote.
The ruler Antiochus IV wanted to enforce Greek culture on Jerusalem. This led to a bitter fight as faithful Jews insisted on worshiping Yahweh alone. Antiochus has an altar to Zeus erected in the temple and sacrifices were to be made before an image of the king. This event is what often received the label of the abomination of desecration. This would have been in the mind of every first century Jew when they heard the phrase. The point is that it’s something despicable before God and it results in destruction. Jesus, like the OT prophets, uses this phrase to refer to Israel’s own idolatry.
The OT prophets also speak of Israel’s failure as an abomination against God that will bring desolation. Jesus is talking about the judgment that’s coming. “Let the reader understand” doesn’t mean you and me. It means remember the prophetic warnings.
We read passages like this and tend to get fearful. That’s not the proper response though. Jesus isn’t trying to freak everyone out. He’s offering a warning. He describes a terrible situation. What’s dangerous about a terrible situation? The ultimate danger is that our faith would be waylaid, that we would lose sight of Jesus and his gospel. See look what he warns about in vv. 21–22.* In times of distress, our soul is susceptible to deception. Think about it. Some of you may pray when something really bad happens. But many of us try to figure it out. We begin to rely on our own wisdom. We look for escape, for hope. But Jesus issues a familiar command in v. 23: “Be on guard.”
Our job is to watch our spiritual state, to make sure we are not caught off guard by the troubles of the world around us. But how do we do that? Is there some truth in this text that can help us? Yes. There is. Look at vv. 19–20.* God remains in control. He still sovereign over evil in the world. In an ever-changing and chaotic world, our security and stability are in Christ.
Conclusion
Do you know the name Ernest Shackleton? He was a British explorer who wanted to be the first person to reach the South Pole. He didn’t do that, so he then decided he wanted to be the first to cross Antarctica at the South Pole. On August 1, 1914, Shackleton left London on his ship Endurance. In January 1915, the Endurance was trapped in ice. Shackleton and his crew had to leave the ship and set up camp on the floating ice. In April 1916, he and his crew took the three small boats and headed for a small uninhabited island. After seven days they reached it, but were still without hope of survival. To save his crew, Shackleton took five others back onto the water to make for the island of South Georgia. After trekking to a whaling station, he organized a rescue effort. In August 1916, he returned for his crew. Every single member of the 28-men team survived despite nearly two years stranded in the Artic. The name of the ship was Endurance. That came from Shackleton’s family motto: “By endurance we conquer.”
Remember what Jesus says, “He who endures until the end will be saved.” The world is messy and complicated. We can expect things to go wrong. But we fix our eyes on Jesus, rely on the Spirit, and remember that God is still sovereign. Romans 12:12 has some instruction for us: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. The word translated be patient is the same word Jesus uses when he says, “He who endures until the end will be saved.” What does endurance look like in the Christian life? Constant, dogged, persistent, tenacious, relentless, incessant, stubborn reliance on the Holy Spirit. That’s endurance.