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Study No.11 : Things to Come : Mark 13:1-8

A. Find Out:

        

1. What building did the disciples comment upon? v.1

2. What did Jesus say would happen to them? v.2

3. What 2 things did the disciples ask? v.4

4. What did Jesus say they must watch out for? v.5

5. List the things Jesus said would yet happen? v.6-8

6. What did he say they were? v.8c

 

B. Think :

1. What attitude of one of the disciples was it that prompted Jesus to

     prophesy?

2. What further attitudes prompted him to speak about the end times?

3. But how did Jesus view all these things?

 

C. Comment :

     As they leave the temple one of the disciples comments on the grandeur of the buildings; he is obviously somewhat overawed by the majesty of these man-made structures. Jesus basically says, "Don't get excited about these, they won't be here very long". In AD70 the temple was destroyed by the Romans! It is very easy to get swept up with grandeur but the kingdom of God isn't about that.

      As they are sitting, looking across the valley and seeing the temple buildings, curiosity prompts them to raise the subject again. We often feel we need to know what the future holds. In his reply Jesus says, first of all, just make sure you are not deceived by future events. Things will happen which might lead you to believe wrongly. Don't! Impostors will come. Don't believe them! You'll hear of strife, uprisings, natural disasters, lots of unsettling things, but never the less, don't be deceived, this is not the end!

    Those things are like the labour pains of a woman before childbirth. They are merely the signs of something greater to come. It is what will follow that should excite us, which is the hope of Jesus return.

 

D. Application?

1. Praise God that the future is in His hands (read Rev 5:1-5, 6:1 etc.)

2. Ask the Lord to settle your heart about future things that you may rest

     in Him over them.

 

     

Study No.12 : Persecution Promised : Mark 13:9-13

A. Find Out:    

       

1. What does Jesus say will first happen to them? v.9a

2. What does he say they will be? v.9b

3. Where will the Gospel be preached? v.10

4. Who will enable them to speak? v.11

5. What will happen to families? v.12

6. Why will men hate his disciples? v.13

 

B. Think :

1. What things does Jesus say will happen to his followers?

2. Look up the following to balance the picture: Romans 8:38,39 / John

    14:12 / Matthew 13:11

3. How and when does Jesus promise help?

 

C. Comment :

      At first sight this is not a very encouraging passage, but it is better to be forewarned and prepare than be caught off guard when things don't turn out as we might prefer! Now this was spoken specifically to the apostles but it has had much wider application through the centuries and probably in the days to come. First Jesus promises them opposition but in the midst of that they will be his witnesses. There is a positive side to every negative in the Christian life. Jesus then gives two more positive pointers, first that the Gospel will go world-wide, and second that His Holy Spirit will be there to help them speak in every situation.

      In the last days, Jesus says, families will be divided either because of the Gospel (see Matthew 10:34 -36), or simply because there is strife in them. Yes there will be opposition for Jesus' followers but that will be in the midst of a world of strife where men are opposing men generally, so it's better to be opposed for the most worthwhile cause! It is important that when we see negatives in the Christian life, we get them in perspective and in balance.

 

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that if we are going to be opposed by others, it will be for

     THE best cause in the world!

2. Thank Him for the truth of Rom 8:38,39.

  

    

Study No.13 : Destruction : Mark 13:14-20

A. Find Out:

        

1. What, says Jesus, will be set up where? v.14a

2. What should the people of Judah do then? v.14b

3. What must people not do? v.15,16

4. When should we pray for it to happen? v.18

5. How bad would the trouble be? v.19

6. Why has the Lord shortened these days? v.20

 

B. Think :

1. How would you summarise the events that Jesus is describing?

2. What indication is there of the Lord in it all?

3. Why should Jesus be saying these things?

 

C. Comment :

      In Daniel 9:27 we read of an "abomination" set up in the temple in Jerusalem . History says that that might have happened about 150 years before Jesus, that perhaps it was repeated at the fall of Jerusalem in AD70, but whether any of the accompanying events described have happened is unlikely. It may yet have to be fulfilled. Whatever the truth of this, what is clear is that Jesus was warning of a coming holocaust of gigantic proportions that would affect Jerusalem and Judea . Described as unique days of distress, the picture is quite horrific.

      The question that comes to mind is "Couldn't God stop such a thing happening?" The answer is clearly yes, but the Lord allows such things as acts of judgement, never harshly but after careful consideration and after constant warnings (see the studies on Jeremiah in this series). The Lord is obviously overseeing it all because He will limit the length of this time for the sake of His chosen ones who will have to pass through it (like Jeremiah did at the time of the exile). We must remember that God is sovereign in power and wisdom, and His ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30 ).

 

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that His grace is sufficient for us even in the midst of

     turmoil!

2. Commit your way into His hands (Psa 37:5,6)

  

Study No.14 : When Christ Comes : Mark 13:21-27

A. Find Out:

           

1. What will false prophets do? v.22

2. With what purpose? v.22

3. When will sun and moon change? v.24

4. When will the Son of Man come? v.26a

5. How will he be seen? v.26b

6. Why will he send his angels out? v.27

 

B. Think :

1. What abilities does the enemy clearly have?

2. What is his aim?

3. How are we to overcome that?

 

C. Comment :

     Jesus continues speaking about the times to come. He has, you may remember, just spoken about an unparalleled time of distress. Now, he says, if men say they are the returned Christ, don't believe them! I will return in the clouds so everyone will see me! Such a time will be a time of DECEPTION when men will come who are not God's prophets but who nevertheless have miraculous powers from the enemy, Satan. Jesus warns us not to believe people merely because they have miraculous power, but only when they speak the truth of the gospel, as laid down in Scripture, and live lives of holiness. Following that time will come universal upheaval which, if it is meant literally, means darkening the whole earth. If it is meant figuratively, it means spiritual darkness, an equally grim time! Then, and only then, will Jesus return in glorious splendour to take his people to himself.

     Note that God's people will still be on the earth after the tribulation mentioned previously. There is no reference to them being taken before, but remember, these times are in God's hands and His grace is still sufficient for His people for such a time - whenever it is! Again, we need to remember, however hard times get God's grace is big enough to match them!

 

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and insight to overcome deception.

2. Thank Him again that HE is overseeing all history.

 

Study No.15 : Be Ready : Mark 13:28-37

A. Find Out:

          

1. When did they naturally know Summer was near? v.28

2. When will we know that the end is near? v.29

3. Who also knows when the end will be? v.32

4. What are we therefore commanded to be? v.33

5. To whom does Jesus liken us? v.34

6. What does he therefore warn against? v.35,36

 

B. Think :

1. What is the key point being made by Jesus here?

2. What is to be our attitude towards "future" things?

3. What is to be our attitude towards daily living?

 

C. Comment :

      We come to Jesus closing words about the end times that he speaks for our encouragement AND challenge. In these verses Jesus first says that in the same way that we observe natural events and draw conclusions, so we should watch out for the events he has been speaking about and conclude that the end is coming shortly afterwards.

      When that exact end will be, he says, only the Father knows, so people predicting Jesus' return are foolish and should be ignored. According to Jesus we should simply get on with what he has given us to do, alert to his presence always, ready for his return. It is a call primarily to stick with what we've been given to do and leave His return, which is guaranteed, to Him! "This generation" that he speaks about, probably would be better taken to mean all those of the church age, i.e. after his first coming. If that application is used then it makes a more sensible rendering, "Christians will not disappear from the earth until I return again", i.e. don't worry about the church being wiped out, it won't be. Instead of seeing these verses as "gloom and doom", let us therefore see them as verses of hope and assurance that Jesus speaks to bring us much encouragement!

 

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He IS going to return.

2. Ask the Lord to help you persevere in faith with all He's given you to do

    in your life.

  

Study No.16 : Plotting Against Jesus : Mark 14:1,2,10,11

A. Find Out:

          

1. How long was it before Passover? v.1a

2. What were the chief priests looking to do? v.1b

3. Why didn't they want to move during the Feast? v.2

4. Why did Judas go to them? v.10

5. How did they respond to him? v.11a

6. So what did Judas start looking for? v.11b

 

B. Think :

1. How do we see that the arrest of Jesus was deliberately planned

     beforehand?

2. How strong were the religious leaders' feelings in respect of Jesus?

3. What was Jesus' standing with the people?

 

C. Comment :

      In these few verses we see the prologue to the arrest, trial and death of Jesus, and see quite clearly that it was not an on-the-spur-of-the-moment thing. First we see the religious leaders have, in response to Jesus' activities, been building up their hatred for him. Nothing less than hatred can account for plans to kill Jesus. These are the religious LEADERS of the day, the people supposedly closest to God!!! It only shows how barren was their 'religion' that it could come to this.

      Not only that, but we see that they want to do it in a sly way, that will not upset public opinion which was obviously on Jesus' side. In others words any action they take must not be in full public view when the crowds might react against them. They need someone on the inside who can tell them when such a time will be, and so when Judas volunteers to help them they are delighted. They even promise him money. This is sin in its worst form - plotting to kill God! Whatever these men's motives they were deceived into believing they were right. What a shocking warning!

 

D. Application?

1. Do we let anyone "get under our skin" so that we are upset even by their

    appearance?

2. If that IS so, confess it to the Lord and ask His forgiveness and cleansing

     from it

 

Study No.17 : Jesus Anointed : Mark 14:3-9

   

A. Find Out:

          

1. In whose home was Jesus? v.3a

2. What did the woman have in the jar? v.3b

3. What did she do with it? v.3c

4. Why did some people say it was a waste? v.4,5

5. What did Jesus say she was doing? v.8

6. How did Jesus describe her act? v.6

 

B. Think :

1. What do you think motivated this woman to do this?

2. What did the reaction of some indicate they felt about Jesus?

3. How do you think she felt after Jesus had spoken?

 

C. Comment :

     Jesus is relaxing in the home of a man who had not been one of the most respected in society. A leper (healed possibly by Jesus?) was not normally accepted by society at large, but Jesus accepted him and was having a meal with him. A woman comes (part of the house party?) similarly not of a high repute in society (see other Gospels) and pours out the one thing of real value she has - over Jesus! Jesus must have seen what she was doing and willingly submitted to it. Others were scandalised! At this point hearts are revealed! On one side are the people who appear righteous as they think of all the good that could have been done with the money it could have been sold for. On the other side are those who just love Jesus and who see that he is worthy of anything of value they can pour out for him.

      In the room there were two lots of "sinners": the obvious ones who were the lowest members of society and the religious sinners. Sinners are all the same! Yes, there will come a time to bless the poor, but Jesus won't be around much longer. Something within her (God speaking to her?) prompts her to act in this unselfish, totally generous manner, and for this she receives the Lord's commendation. Great!

 

D. Application?

1. Are we stingy in our giving or do we give to the Lord with full and loving

     hearts?

2. Pour out your love to Him today.

 

Study No.18 : Preparing for Passover : Mark 14:12-21

   

A. Find Out:

          

1. What had started? v.12a

2. What did the disciples naturally ask? v.12b

3. How did Jesus tell them to go about it? v.13-15

4. What did Jesus predict at supper? v.18

5. How did the disciples react? v.19

6. How did he say he would go? v.21a

 

B. Think :

1. What does this passage show us several times about Jesus?

2. What appears to be the disciples view of all this?

3. How did Jesus show that this was not something that had just been

     planned?

 

C. Comment :

      When Passover came Jesus' disciples naturally expected that they would keep it, for Jesus observed all that the Jews normally observed. Their questions indicate that it is natural for him to take the lead and them to follow in all things. The means of getting a room for the supper show that either Jesus had already prepared this with someone or he has foreknowledge and knows what will happen and who will have an available room. Whichever it is it shows Jesus who is in complete control of the situation.

      At the Passover supper, Jesus starts sharing more fully with the disciples what will shortly happen - with his full knowledge! One of them is going to betray him, and the thought of this horrifies them. Oh yes, Jesus reiterates, one of you here, but understand it will all be in accordance with what the Scriptures have said. This is not an out-of-control happening, this is God's pre-planned and carefully prepared strategy to save the world that is being enacted here. Men are playing a large part in it and are exercising their free wills but God planned this long ago! This was planned before the world was made (Revelation 13:8b). There are no mistakes in all this!

 

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He was in complete control

2. He IS in control today!

Study No.19 : Warning of Desertion : Mark 14:22-31

A. Find Out:

          

1. What did Jesus say the bread & wine represented? v.12-14

2. What did he next predict? v.27a

3. What confirmed this? v.27b

4. What would he do after he had risen? v.28

5. Who denied he would ever leave Jesus? v.29

6. What did Jesus tell him? v.30

 

B. Think :

1. How is this again seen to be part of God's pre-planned programme?

2. What was the point of the bread and wine?

3. What specific things was Jesus predicting here?

 

C. Comment :

      In these verses we see the origin of what we call "Communion" or "The Lord's Supper", the taking of bread and wine, explained. (See also 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). In it Jesus says very simply, you must take me into your very inner beings, you must rely on my sacrifice for you for your salvation. Christianity is not about solemn ritual or following rules, but about taking Jesus into your very inner being as Lord and Saviour. Jesus then predicts a) that the disciples will desert him, b) that he will die, rise again and go back up to Galilee to meet them, c) Peter will deny him three times soon.

      In this Jesus shows his clear foreknowledge of future events, some of which involve him and some of which affect his disciples. The Scriptures, for those with eyes to see, had predicted their being scattered and Jesus points this out to them now. Note there is no negative feeling in Jesus towards them though. It is one thing to know the future, it is another to maintain a right attitude towards other in it. That is probably why the Lord so often doesn't give us lots of insight into the future.

 

D. Application?

1. Perhaps God doesn't reveal the future to you because He knows you

     wouldn't cope with it!

2. Rest in His love for today and leave tomorrow to Him. He can be trusted

    with it.

 

Study No.20 : Jesus Prays : Mark 14:32-42

   

A. Find Out:

          

1. Where did Jesus go to pray? v.32

2. What did he feel? v.33

3. How great did he say his sorrow was? v.34

4. What did he ask the 3 to do? v.34

5. What did he ask his Father? v.35,36

6. But what did he conclude in his prayer? v.36c

7. What did he find his disciples doing? v.37

 

B. Think :

1. What was Jesus' attitude towards his Father's will?

2. Why do you think he took the 3 with him?

3. How did they fail him?

 

C. Comment :

      Before the events leading up to his death really got under way, Jesus takes time to pray and seek his Father in heaven. He takes with him his three closest disciples, perhaps for comfort, perhaps to give him warning, perhaps to teach them something about prayer. As Jesus prays, they appear to manage to stay awake to hear at least the opening words of his praying. Jesus appears to have prayed an hour in the first of the three times of prayer, at least. Only in John's Gospel do we get a fuller account of what he prayed.

      Sometimes the enemy appears to be able to come with a spirit of weariness and perhaps that happened here, or perhaps they were just tired out. Whatever the cause, Jesus was left alone in his time of very real need. Mankind let him down! As he prays Jesus shows his humanity, not in any way looking forward to what he knows is coming, and yet he submits himself to his Father's will. As he comes to the end of his third time of prayer, when yet again the disciples have been unable to stick with him, the enemy comes to claim him. Prayer proceeded the most difficult time of his life. He needed it! So do we!

 

D. Application?

1. Do we understand the importance of keeping close contact with our

    Father in heaven, especially when times are difficult?

2. Share your heart with Him today.

   

RECAP No.2  "The Last Hours & Days"  Mark 13 & 14

    

SUMMARY :  

       

In these 10 studies we have seen:

  - Jesus speaking at length about the last days

  - days of strife & difficulty

  - days of deception, days of persecution

  - days of disaster & distress

  - days preceding Jesus return

  - Jesus anointed by the woman

  - At the last supper, Jesus predicting betrayal

  - Praying in Gethsemane

 

COMMENT :

      In these closing days of Jesus' life, he takes the opportunity to warn his disciples about the years that are ahead before he returns again. His words are words of warning and encouragement.

       Then we saw Jesus being anointed, preparing for the ordeal to come, sharing with his disciples over supper and then praying. There are not many hours left and so every minute is precious and filled with significance.

 

LESSONS :

1. The future is in the Lord's hands

2. His grace is sufficient for whatever

3. We should guard against deception

4. Jesus WILL come again

5. He knows the future & is in control

 

PRAY :

1. Ask the Lord to help you rest in all that life holds, secure in the knowledge that HE is

     Lord, He IS in control, He IS working out His plans and His purposes, all for good

     (Rom 8:28)

2. Praise & worship Him for all you have learnt of Him in these studies.

 

PART 3 : The End & the Beginning

      As we move into this last part, the pace of action picks up and death and confusion ensue, and yet God's will is being perfectly enacted out for our salvation. Praise and worship Him as you read it.