I Will Strike the Shepherd

Mark 14:27-52

Over 2,000 years ago, on Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the shouts of praise the crowd. This bolstered the disciples’ confidence and perhaps gave rise to pride in being a follower of Jesus.

This confidence continued building-up as Jesus spent the next few days teaching and showing His integrity in a striking difference from the nation’s leaders.

But at the Passover meal, He had made a troubling pronouncement. He said:

Mark 14:18 (NKJV) Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.

The disciples were shocked and troubled by this statement. They were sure Jesus was going to set up His kingdom and claim the throne over the nation. He would put the Romans and the Gentiles who trampled their nation in their place.

However, for some time, he had been telling them that He was going to die at the hands of the nation’s leaders and the Romans.

A short while after Jesus shocked them by saying one of them would betray Him, they finished the Passover meal, and Mark says they sang a hymn and went out.

To this day, the Passover meal concludes with a hymn. Jesus was following tradition.

On the way to where they were going (the garden of Gethsemane), Jesus said to them:

Mark 14:27-28 (NKJV) ²⁷All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

²⁸But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.

Once again, Jesus’ words upset the disciples, mainly the twelve (eleven since Judas was not with them at this point). As usual, Peter voiced the thoughts of all. He responded:

Mark 14:29 (NKJV) Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.

We all have thoughts like this. We all are tempted to think, “Surely not me!”

Many have expressed the thought that if they had lived in those days and seen the miracles that Jesus performed, they would have believed. We need to remember that many people (perhaps in the millions) witnessed the miracles of Jesus and did not believe. A Biblical principle standouts to me.

Consider 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (NKJV) ¹²Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man

Learn 1 Corinthians 10:13. In it, God promises that He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can endure and that He always provides a way of escape. However, I stopped halfway through the verse to make the connection with verse 12 obvious. When we think we can stand, we are most vulnerable. Notice that verse 13 says that it can be said of any temptation that is common to humanity. That means you and I are capable of doing what the disciples did. I would say that since all of them stumbled, it is likely you and I would have done the same. The Proverbs warn us that pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). One more verse on this subject is Galatians 6:1

Galatians 6:1 (ESV) Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Even when we are helping another person to overcome a sin, we are vulnerable to the same temptation.

Jesus knows that we are weak. He made a way for the disciples to keep from stumbling and showed them the way. He did this by taking them with Him into the garden to pray. When He had prayed for a while, He came and found His disciples sleeping. Then He said:

Mark 14:37–38 (ESV) ³⁷Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? ³⁸Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Simon was the one who boasted though everyone else stumbled, he would not. And here he was — sleeping! Jesus told Simon and those with him that they must watch and pray to avoid falling into temptation. The reason he gives is: even though in our spirits we are willing, our flesh is weak.

Two more times, Jesus went away and prayed by Himself, and each time He came back, He found them praying — oops! I meant sleeping. The third time Jesus said.

Mark 14:41–42 (NKJV) ⁴¹Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.

Notice, Jesus says, “It is enough!” The word translated enough is defined: “to hold back, keep off, to be away, be distant.” These three words in English, “It is enough!” represent one word in the original. This word has been challenging to understand and translate. Some think that Jesus was pointing out the irony of their previous boasting compared to their present sleeping. 

This would not be the first time God used irony. He used irony when He answered Job. Look at Job 38:

Job 38:4–5 (NKJV) ⁴“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding.

⁵Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know!

And then:

Job 38:21 (NKJV) Do you know it, because you were born then,

Or because the number of your days is great?

God was angry with Job because of His arrogance in the face of God. He started His answer to Job with:

Job 38:2 (NKJV) Who is this who darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

The original temptation and the source of sin was pride — the desire to be like God. Pride was also the downfall of angels. Because of pride, one-third of the angels became demons.

Jesus warned His disciples to watch and pray lest they stumble. He rebuked them the first two times He found them sleeping when He said:

Mark 14:37 (NKJV) Are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?

The third time He says:

Mark 14:41 “Enough!” 

“The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.”

Some think that the verb (ἀπέχει) (a difficult word to translate) should be translated, “he is at a distance;” as though Jesus meant, “There is still time for you to sleep. My betrayer is still some distance off.”

However we understand this exclamation on the part of Jesus, it is clear that pride is a deadly temptation. We must do as Jesus instructed — watch and pray.

Many things were happening at the same time.

Isn’t this always true?! Life has a lot of moving parts.

As Jesus taught His disciples, He struggled with His own grief and sorrow. He told His disciples about this struggle and then prayed, telling His Father about His suffering.

In Mark 13:33-34, it says:

Mark 14:33–34 (NKJV) ³³And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. ³⁴Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

The text tells us that He was troubled and deeply distressed, and then, in His own words, Jesus said, “My soul is exccedingly sorrowful, even to death.” 

Jesus was not sorrowful for Himself. He was sorrowful for the pride and failures of His disciples. He was sorrowful for the sin and shame of all of humanity for all time. And, He was sorrowful for what was about to happen. Verses 43 through 52 of Mark 14 tell one of the saddest stories of all time. These verses are a snapshot of what sin has brought to our world. It is a story of greed, betrayal, duplicity, and murder.

We will not go into it because the story is hard enough to stomach, but I wish to point something out. Isaiah 53:3 prophesied of Jesus:

Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV) He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus wept. He did not weep because He was helpless. He wept at the terrible price humanity is paying for our choice to rebel against God. It was the same sentiment He expressed toward Jerusalem.

Matthew 23:37–38 (NKJV) ³⁷“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁸See! Your house is left to you desolate.

How true of humanity! Our house is left to us desolate. All because we will not humble ourselves before God, our Maker.

The final scene of today’s passage says it all.

Mark 14:50 (NKJV) Then they all forsook Him and fled.

We have all had our moments of stumbling. All the disciples stumbled. 

But, Jesus forgave them all.

I want to pay special attention to verses 51 and 52.

Mark 14:51–52 (NKJV) ⁵¹Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, ⁵²and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Can you imagine the shame of this young man? If you have ever felt the hot pang of shame (and I am sure you have), then you have an idea of how miserable this young man must have been. The author understood because Mark wrote of himself.

This was not the only time Mark stumbled. Paul and Barnabas took him with them on their first ministry voyage, but we learn:

Acts 13:13 (NLT) Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Mark failed Paul and Barnabas. So much so that Paul was not willing to take Him on the next journey. Barnabas disagreed, and Paul and Barnabas split over the decision. However, as strongly as Paul opposed giving Mark another chance, at the end of his life, Paul asked for Mark’s help.

2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV) Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

God will always give you another chance -- until you die. Once God has taken you from this life, decision time is over. Do not think that God does not understand what you have gone through. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He redeemed a young man named Mark and made Him “very useful.” 

One closing note: in an invitation to turn to Jesus for help, the Bible says:

Hebrews 4:15–16 (ESV) ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

No matter where you come from, no matter what the failure if Jesus could save those that stumbled that night in the garden, He can save you also. Draw near to Him to receive mercy and find grace.

The Passover Mark 14:1-26

 

As we consider the place of the Passover in Jesus’ final week, we will start with Leviticus 23.

Leviticus 23:1-4 says:

Leviticus 23:1–4 (NLT) 1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as official days for holy assembly. 3“You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of complete rest, an official day for holy assembly. It is the Lord’s Sabbath day, and it must be observed wherever you live. 4“In addition to the Sabbath, these are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the official days for holy assembly that are to be celebrated at their proper times each year. 

The rest of Leviticus 23 gives the rules to be followed in celebrating seven different feasts. Each feast was designed to teach Israel about God. Three of these feasts were pilgrimage feasts. In other words, three of these feasts required that every male in Israel travel to Jerusalem to observe the celebration.

The feasts were:

Passover

Unleavened Bread

First Fruits

Feast of Weeks or Pentecost

The Feast of Trumpets

The Day of Atonement

The Feast of Booths

Each feast reveals a different truth about the gospel and God’s plan for the ages.

God chose Israel to be uniquely His. However, His purpose in doing this includes the salvation of the world. As we make you a quick review of Israel’s feasts, we will observe that each feast pointed to Jesus. The feasts were as follows: (I have taken much of this review of the feasts from Wycliffe’s website.)

1. Passover — Leviticus 23:4-8

 Passover retells the story of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the last plague. In this plague, the angel of death “passed over” the children of Israel who applied the blood of the lamb to their doors. 

2. Unleavened Bread — Leviticus 23:6

This seven-day feast begins on the day following the start of Passover. In their haste to leave Egypt, the Israelites had no time to add leaven (yeast) to their bread. During this time, the Jews eat nothing leavened.

3. First Fruits — Leviticus 23:10

The Feast of First Fruits is the first of three Jewish harvest feasts. 

The priests sacrificed Passover lambs on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, and the first day of Passover was the 15th. The Feast of First Fruits was celebrated on the third day, the 16th of Nisan. This “third day” celebration was the same day that Jesus rose from the dead. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul refers to Jesus as the first fruits of all who have died. 

4. Feast of Weeks or Pentecost — Leviticus 23:16

This feast is the second of the three harvest feasts. It occurs seven weeks after the Feast of First Fruits, so it’s also called Pentecost, which means “50 days.” 

5. Feast of Trumpets — Leviticus 23:24

For this feast, God commands his people to rest. During this time, all regular work is prohibited, and men and women present a food offering to God.

6. Day of Atonement — Leviticus 16, 23:26-32

To make “atonement” is to make restitution for wrongs. This was a day for the Jews to get their hearts, consciences, and lives right before God. Animals were sacrificed for sin, and on this one day of the year, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies. 

7. Feast of Tabernacles or Booths — Leviticus 23:34

 Following the Day of Atonement. The nation celebrated God’s provision and protection during their 40 years in the wilderness with the Feast of Tabernacles. For seven days, people live in temporary structures as they did in the wilderness. During those 40 years, the Lord was with the Israelites in a tent called the tabernacle, so the feast also celebrates his presence as he tabernacles (dwells) with us.

On three of these feasts, God required that all the men of Israel gather in Jerusalem. In Deuteronomy, God said:

Deuteronomy 16:16 (NKJV) Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

The three pilgrimage feasts were:

Passover

the Feast of Weeks

the Festival of Booths

Passover was when Jesus was crucified. The feast of weeks was when the Church was born, and the Festival of Booths will be when Jesus sets up His kingdom.

This brings us back to the final week of Jesus’ ministry to the nation of Israel. All the men of Israel were in Jerusalem for the slaying of the Passover. The whole nation needed to witness the death of the Lamb of God.  This is why Jesus was in Jerusalem. He is the true Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God.

We have noted in previous messages that prophecies often have prefiguring fulfillments. The delivery of the Jews from slavery in Egypt and the Passover celebration all prefigured the Messiah’s coming to deliver His people. 

Since every Jewish male was mandated to be in Jerusalem for the Passover, the city became incredibly crowded. The Jewish historian Josephus said that during Passover, the population of Jerusalem exceeded two million. However, some modern scholars think he exaggerated and suggest that the population grew from 20,000 to 150,000. (https://www.chosenpeople.com/site/passover-in-israel-past-and-present. Accessed March 18, 2021.)

When Jesus came to Jerusalem, the city was bursting with excitement. Much of the excitement was concerning Jesus. The people were wondering if He would come to the feast. In his gospel, John tells us:

John 11:56 (NKJV) Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?”

Jesus rode into this commotion on a donkey’s colt, cleansed the temple, and challenged the nation’s leaders. Mark 14 picks up two days before the Passover Lamb was to be sacrificed and tells us that the nation’s leaders were seeking an opportunity to arrest Jesus and kill Him, but they feared the crowds.

Everything was working toward fulfilling God’s plan, which was prefigured in the feast instituted over a thousand years earlier.

After noting that the leaders were seeking to kill Jesus, Mark takes us to an intimate scene as Jesus finished the day eating with His disciples.  A woman enters this scene. Mary brought in some very costly perfume and poured it on Jesus’ head.

Some of the disciples reacted. John tells us that the complaints came chiefly from Judas because he kept the money and made a practice of borrowing some of it for his personal use. They asked why this perfume was not sold and given to the poor. However, Jesus rebuked them and said that His body needed to be prepared for burial. Here again, God’s plan that His Passover Lamb should be prepared for sacrifice was being fulfilled.

The Passover lamb was always carefully chosen and was without blemish. Here is what the Bible says: 

Exodus 12:5 (NKJV) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

Care was taken so that the lamb would meet these requirements, and then it was carefully prepared for sacrifice. 

With preparations for the lamb to be sacrificed complete, Judas went out to the chief priests to betray Him.

Mark 14:12 brings us to the place where Jesus is ready to be betrayed. However, he must first celebrate Passover with his disciples. Verses 13 and 14 tell how the disciples were directed to find a room to prepare the Passover meal. Jesus did not tell them where, but only that they would be led to the room. He did this to avoid being interrupted by those who wanted to kill him. Only those who were preparing the room knew where it was. Judas had to leave the meal and go find the chief priests and tell them where Jesus was because he did not know in advance.

Passover was in the first month of the Jewish year. The Passover meal was especially significant and is still celebrated today. Each part of the meal signifies and points to the Messiah. It is shocking to realize that Judas determined to betray Jesus at such a sacred time. John 13:27 tells us that Satan entered into Judas. However, this also was according to God’s plan.

Jesus shows that he is fully aware of what is happening. He tells his disciples that one of them would betray him. Eleven of them were wondering if it was them, and we’re asking, “Is it I Lord, is it I?” Judas faked it. He also said, “Is it I?” Matthew tells us that Jesus said, “You said it.” (Matthew 26:25) But to all of them, Jesus said, “It is the one who dips with me into the dish.”

As part of the Seder meal, three pieces of matzo are put into an envelope, each separated by a cloth. We, believers, know that the top one represents God the Father, the middle one represents God the Son, and the bottom one represents the Holy Spirit. The middle one is broken during the meal.

This is what happened to Jesus. He was wounded for our transgressions. Isaiah 53 says of Him:

Isaiah 53:4–5 (NKJV) 4Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

 Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

When Jesus took up the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, He was doing what is still done in the Passover meal today. However, He made it clear that this was His body that was broken. We celebrate the communion, and we should, but when Jesus spoke these words, it was part of a Jewish Passover meal.

Next, we are told Jesus took a cup and said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.” (Mark 14:24) In the Passover meal, there are four times when everyone present drinks a glass of wine. Each cup has its significance. They stand for each of the four promises the Lord makes to His people in Exodus 6:6-7.

Exodus 6:6–7 (NKJV) 6Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 

The first cup is the Cup of Sanctification.

“I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

The second cup is the Cup of Deliverance (also known as the cup of plagues).

“I will rescue you from their bondage.”

The third cup is the Cup of Redemption.

“I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.”

The fourth cup is the Cup of Praise (also known as the cup of the kingdom).

“I will take you as My people.”

Jewish tradition is that the cups are filled with red wine to represent the Passover lamb’s blood.

Jesus took the third cup and said, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.” He was referencing that He was the Passover lamb, the Lamb of God.

Mark ends his account of the Passover meal with an important piece of information. Jesus said:

Mark 14:25 (NKJV) Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

I take it that Jesus declined to drink the fourth cup. He is saving it until the time of praise and rejoicing when He sets up His kingdom.

I want to close with a thought. The blood of the Passover lamb was put on the side post and the top bar of the door, but not on the threshold. It would not have been appropriate to step on the blood of the lamb.

Consider with me the words of Hebrews 10.

Hebrews 10:26–29 (NKJV) 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Seeing that Jesus purposefully and with full knowledge took upon Himself our sins and died to deliver us, dare we refuse His kindness? 

The Great Tribulation

Mark 13

Jesus finished His final days of public ministry in the temple, His Father’s house. He gave His people, the nation of Israel, one last chance to accept Him as their Messiah.

How heavy His heart must have been as He walked away! Matthew gives us a detail that Mark omits. As Jesus walked out of the temple for the last time, He said:

Matthew 23:37–39 (NKJV) ³⁷“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁸See! Your house is left to you desolate; ³⁹for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Even after suffering their rejection, Jesus expressed God’s love for the nation of Israel and mourned their coming hardships.

As He went out of the temple, His disciples observed how majestic the temple was. Impressive stones and buildings caught their attention. This gave Jesus a teaching moment. He said:

Mark 13:2 (NKJV) Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The same is true of all our buildings. Time and nature will break them down. But Jesus was not speaking of time and nature. He was speaking of the consequences of their rejection of the Messiah. He was speaking of the fulfillment of the prophecy given by Moses just before He died.

Deuteronomy 4:26–27 (NKJV) ²⁶I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. ²⁷And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you.

When the disciples heard Jesus say the temple would be destroyed, they did not connect it withMoses’ prophecy. Most likely, they thought that Nebuchadnezzar fulfilled  Moses’ prophecy.

Here is an excellent opportunity for us to be reminded that prophecies often have foreshadowing fulfillments. The nation’s dispersion under the Babylonians looked a little like the nation’s dispersion after the country’s crushing under Hadrian in 132 A.D. They were not the same, yet there were similarities. Keep this in mind as we go through Mark 13. It will be helpful.

Having heard Jesus predict the temple’s destruction, the disciples wanted to know when these events would occur. In answer, Jesus gave them an outline of future events up to the time of His return. We can see the importance of His message because Matthew, Mark, and Luke all report this talk. 

The first point Jesus makes is that there will be many hardships. But hardships, wars, natural disasters, famines, and plagues are not signals of the end. According to Jesus, these are only the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

Jesus takes special care to explain that His followers will suffer much, but this does not signal the end.

He is describing the Church age of which we are part. The Church age started with the events reported in Acts and continues to this day. In Mark chapter 13 verse 13, Jesus tells what will signal the end of the Church age. 

Mark 13:13 (NKJV) And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Pay close attention here! The primary meaning of the word translated “endures” in the passage is “to remain.” Technically Jesus is saying, “Those that remain in the end shall be saved.” (The primary meaning of the word translated “to” is “in,” so I believe it to be consistent to render the phrase “Those that remain in the end.”)

What He says about those who remain is critical. They will be saved.

The next verse addresses the “one reading” to understand. This is because it will be necessary because the one experiencing the events of verses 14 through 27 will not have been part of the Church. The Church will have been “saved.” 

The events described in verses 14 through 27 are the Great Tribulation, which is also called the Day of Wrath, and Jacob’s trouble, along with a number of such names. I wish to point out two important details. The events described have to do with the temple, Judaea, and all flesh suffering tribulation. This tribulation will be the worst the world will ever see. The New Testament is clear that the Church will be delivered from the wrath to come. Thessalonians and Revelation specifically attach deliverance from wrath to the events of the Tribulation. 

Another mark of the Tribulation is false christs. Both before the Tribulation and during the Tribulation, Jesus says there will be many false christs. Look at the differences between Mark 13:5 and Mark 13:22. The difference is that during the Tribulation, the false christs will show signs and wonders to increase deception.

Many translators and commentators have interpreted Mark 13:14-27 as speaking of the suffering of the Jews at the hands of the Romans. However, several issues make this untenable. 

First, the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel would most resemble the statue of Zeus installed in the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes. The name Antiochus gave himself, “Epiphanes,” means “God manifest.” So, just like the prophesied antichrist, he called himself “God.” This is why I pointed out that prophecies often have “foreshadowing” fulfillments. Jesus was talking about events still future, but Antiochus died more than one hundred years before Jesus was born. So, those interpreting Jesus as speaking of Jewish suffering under Rome say the abomination is Rome itself, or the symbols on their flags, or the Roman gods. But the Scripture is clear that the abomination of desolation will be an image set up in the temple. 

The abomination of desolation is one issue that tells us that this time of trouble is yet in the future. Another is the statement in verse 20 that if the Lord hadn’t shortened those days, “no flesh” would be saved. Although important in God’s plan, the Jewish nation cannot be said to be “all flesh.”

The last issue I will point out is that the suffering is said to be the greatest the world will ever see. Simply put, I think the suffering of the Jews at the hands of Hitler’s Germany was as bad as the Jews suffered in 70 and 132 A.D. And the suffering of the Cambodians under Pol Pot was probably as great as well. We have not yet seen the greatest suffering the world will ever see.

The Great Tribulation is called the day of God’s wrath for good reason. It will be more horrible than anything the world has ever seen. That has not happened yet.

After describing the Tribulation, Mark 13:24 says that the sun and the moon will be darkened after the tribulation. Then verses 26 and 27 say:

Mark 13:26–27 (NKJV) ²⁶Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

Some have interpreted this as the same event as described in 1 Thessalonians 4 that we call the rapture. However, a significant difference is that there is no mention of angels being sent out in Thessalonians. Instead, 1 Thessalonians speaks specifically of those who believe in Jesus, both dead and alive, meeting Him in the air.

When Jesus speaks of the angels gathering His elect from the farthest part of the earth, He is speaking of Tribulation saints and the end of the Tribulation. At that time, He will return with power and great glory to destroy His enemies and establish His kingdom.

This is the outline of the age to come as presented to the disciples. The Church age and then the Tribulation were to come. Then after giving this outline, Jesus tells the disciples what the sign will be. 

They are to watch the fig tree. Jesus said:

Mark 13:28–29 (NKJV) ²⁸“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors!

In Scripture, the fig tree is used to signify Israel (not always or exclusively). And this is how Jesus is using the fig tree in this parable. 

In Daniel 9:24, the Scriptures say:

Daniel 9:24 (NKJV) “Seventy weeks are determined

For your people and for your holy city,

To finish the transgression,

 To make an end of sins,

 To make reconciliation for iniquity,

 To bring in everlasting righteousness,

To seal up vision and prophecy,

 And to anoint the Most Holy.

In this passage, the seventy weeks are determined for Daniel’s people and the holy city. Daniel’s people were the Jews, and the holy city is Jerusalem. The events prophesied were specifically prophesied concerning the Jews and Jerusalem. Now, look at what these weeks are supposed to accomplish. These weeks are determined to make an end to sin and to bring in everlasting righteousness. Some say these weeks have already been completed, and Israel’s part in these prophecies has been fulfilled. However, this is not consistent with the rest of Scripture, and sin has not yet ended, nor do we see everlasting righteousness on earth. The Church is not going to usher in the kingdom age. Jesus is going to return in power and great glory and establish His kingdom on earth.

In the meantime, we are to watch. Jesus closed His explanation of the sign of the end of the age with a parable. The parable is about a king who went away with the promise of returning. Listen to how Jesus ended His parable.

Mark 13:35–37 (NKJV) ³⁵Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—³⁶lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping. ³⁷And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Look again at that last verse. “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” 

Jesus tells us all to watch. 

The danger He warns against is sleeping.  Much of the Church is sleeping. Thinking that things will continue as they always have and the error of amillennialism have lulled us to sleep. I fear that I am not as zealous or awake as I should be, as I want to be.

There are seven letters to churches in the book of Revelation. Those churches can represent the stages the Church has gone through. Throughout the Church age, the people of God have moved through these stages. The last letter is written to the Church in Laodicea: the lukewarm church, neither hot nor cold.

Somehow we must wake up. Look at the fig tree. It is budding. This is the season of which Jesus spoke.

Are we going about the Master’s business? Are we watching?

Where Your Heart Is . . .

Mark 12:38 and following (Also Luke 21:1 and following.)

Mark 11:27 says as Jesus was walking in the temple, the Chief Priests, the Scribes, and the Elders came to Him and began to question Him. 

These were the nation’s leaders and had the authority to take away people’s rights to enter the temple. Because of this authority, people feared these leaders. In John 9:22, we see people that were afraid to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah because the leaders had determined to expel anyone who dared to say Jesus was the Messiah. However, Jesus was not intimidated. Mark chapter 12 gives the account of the confrontation between these leaders and Jesus. Although they were the most clever men in Israel, they could not overcome Jesus through argument or trickery. So, while keeping an eye on Him, they did not try to ask Jesus any more questions.

This brings us to Mark 12:41, where Jesus sits down opposite the treasury. At the beginning of the confrontation, Jesus was walking in the temple. Now, this verse tells us that Jesus was sitting. His location was intentional. Jesus had been in the temple often, yet we are not told that He seated Himself here before this.

Through the writings of Rabbis, history tells us the treasury was made of thirteen brass chests. Each one had a mouth shaped like a trumpet to catch money. They were located in the “Court of the Women,” which was also called the outer court. Each “trumpet” was inscribed with what it was for. Nine chests were for the required temple offerings and sacrifices, that is, money donated in place of other sacrifices. Four strongboxes were for freewill offerings, which were used for wood, incense, temple decoration, and burnt offerings.1

Jesus sat watching the people putting money into the offering boxes.

Let’s think about what Jesus was doing.

On the first day of the week, He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt. By this action, Jesus declared to all present that He was the expected Messiah, and the common people received Him as the Messiah. They sang praises to God for David’s kingdom, which they thought was soon to be restored. 

However, Jesus had a kingdom in mind that people could not see. Jesus did not head to the seat of government. He did not confront the Roman governor, and he did not claim the throne. Instead, He went to the temple.

The next day He chased all those who were buying and selling out of the temple.

By focusing on the temple, Jesus was pointing to the spiritual kingdom of God. His heart and mission were fixed on the invisible kingdom of God.

When the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, God sent Moses to deliver them. Then through the period of the judges, God was their king. So, when Israel asked for a king, God told Samuel that they were not rejecting Samuel. Instead, they were rejecting God from ruling over them. Jesus’ generation was doing the same.

The temple was the symbol of God’s presence in Israel. At the time of Moses, during their wilderness travels, the children of Israel saw the cloud by day and fire by night. The cloud and the fire were the visible presence of God. When the temple was built, it replaced the tabernacle. The temple became the reminder of God’s presence in the nation.

However, just like their forefathers, the Jews of Jesus’ day did not want God to rule over them. Their hearts were fixed on the things of this world. They wanted prosperity and freedom and believed they would first have to be delivered from the Romans. They wanted a Messiah who would deliver them from the Romans, and bring prosperity and freedom.

Jesus was the Messiah they were looking for, but it was not time to restore the kingdom to Israel. In Acts 1:6-7, Jesus implies that the time for that is yet to come. However, at this time, when Jesus was in the temple, Jesus had no intention of taking a secular or governmental throne. Instead, He took authority over the temple. Mark 11:16 says, “He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.” How one man could stop a whole marketplace is a question I cannot answer. But Jesus did it. He took control of the temple so that the leaders asked Him by what authority He was acting.

 Jesus’ purpose and mission were to establish the kingdom of God in people’s hearts and minds. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes that Jesus was talking to in the temple had been entrusted with nurturing this kingdom of God. Still, they had instead used their positions for personal gain. In His confrontations with these leaders, Jesus exposed the truth behind their pious behavior; they were hypocrites and fakes. 

Now, He sat watching people give their offerings. And then He called His disciples over to share His observations. 

Now is an excellent place to share an important point. This was Jesus’ last full day of public teaching before going to the cross. Every action He took was meant to communicate crucial truth. He was not sitting because He was tired, but because He wanted to teach something. He had often been in the temple, and He chose this day to cover this subject.

Mark 12:41 says:

Mark 12:41 (NKJV) Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.

At this point, I want to pay close attention to two words in what we just read. The term “saw” is also translated as “watched,” and carried the meaning of observing or analyzing. The root of the word implies the idea of discerning the meaning of what is being watched. This word “watched” is paired with the word “how.” The definition of this word is “in what manner.” In other words, Jesus was watching to discern in what manner the people were putting in their offerings.

Early in His ministry, Jesus taught about giving. He said:

Matthew 6:1–4 (NKJV) ¹Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ²Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

“The Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you.” Jesus taught that giving was done for God and not for people. He also warned against giving for appearance or show. In Mark 12, the text does not say that the rich were giving dramatically or giving for performance. However, in Jesus watching and discerning in what manner the giving is done is implicit the idea that He knows what is in the heart. For example, how did He know that the two mites the widow put in were all that she had?

Mark 11:41 reminds us that God is interested in our giving and watches it.  But He does not observe the offering box to see how much is put in. He sees and knows how much, but He is more interested in the heart doing the giving. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 teaches us some principles for giving.

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (NKJV) ⁶But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

From this, we gather that giving should be planned or purposed. It should be abundant, and it should be done cheerfully.

However, Jesus defines “abundantly” for us with the example of the widow. Although her gift was very small, Jesus said she had put in more than all those giving to the treasury. Mark takes the trouble to explain the value of the coins she put in. She put in two mites, which make a quadrans. Putting this in today’s money is tricky because of inflation and the differences in our economies. However, I will do my best. My numbers are taken from the pulpit commentary, but the commentaries do not all agree on amounts. The quadrans spoken of here was one-fourth of a Roman “as.” An “as” was one-tenth of a denarius. A denarius is often considered the equivalent of one day’s labor. So, if we arbitrarily say that a day of work would bring $100, then the two mites the widow gave would be worth about $2.50. This is not enough to buy a gallon of milk, but Jesus said she put in more than everybody else.

In his account, Luke tells us that Jesus said, “For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings.” (Luke 21:4)

We value things according to our measures. In the thinking of all that were there, the rich were obviously giving much more — larger coins in larger amounts. We have a tendency to judge in the same way. This is why James says:

James 2:1–4 (NKJV) ¹My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. ²For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, ³and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” ⁴have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

The ending of James’ statement is ominous — “with evil thoughts.” We focus on this world and all it contains, but God knows our hearts.

Jesus spent a lot of time trying to help His disciples and the people of His day see where their values were. At one point, He said:

Matthew 6:19–21 (NKJV) ¹⁹“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This statement is at the core of what Jesus was teaching:

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

When he and His disciples left the temple, one of the disciples mentioned the temple’s magnificence. It indeed was a magnificent building. But Jesus warned that it would soon be destroyed.

Out of all the people in the temple that day, one poor widow got it right. While everyone around her was worried about kingdoms, authority, position, possessions, and power, she humbly gave everything she had to God. 

This is what it means to love the Lord our God with all our hearts. Our fixation on the things of this world and its kingdoms is described as evil thoughts by James. Are we willing to trust God with our whole livelihood?

 1. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mark/12-41.htm. Accessed March 5, 2021.