Posted by DJL on Oct 12, 2012 in Daily Bread | 1 comment “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. What they were to do instead was to be faithful to His call, work and walk faithfully in His service, and watch and wait for His return. Heaven and earth shall pass away Which may be understood either affirmatively, as what will be at the second coming of Christ; or comparatively, rather than any thing said by Christ should; and so shows the certainty and irreversibleness of his predictions, as it follows: but my words shall not pass away; They had the outward ‘leafy’ appearance of religious devotion with all the Jewish rituals and ceremonies; but they bore no true spiritual fruit of trust in Him. He said; “When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.” In Luke’s Gospel, when he relates this story to us, he has it that Jesus also said that this was true of all trees. You might remember that it hadn’t been too long before the events of this story that the Lord Jesus and His disciples had encountered a fig tree. This mistake Christ set right, and showed that the day of Christ's coming, and the day of judgment, shall be after that tribulation. The second question is answered in the remainder of Mark 13. i. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (vv. In this fourth section of Mark's "little apocalypse", Jesus finally answers the disciples' questions concerning the destruction of the temple. In Chapter 11 of Mark’s Gospel, we’re told that Jesus and His disciples were making their way into the Temple for the second time early in the morning—the day after He had made His ‘triumphant entry’ into the city. (Read Mark 13:24-27) The disciples had confounded the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. ", 18245 NW Germantown Road But that’s when I believe Jesus—like a tender physician—lets us know that it will only hurt for a short time. All better.”. And I don’t think that it’s mere coincidence that Jesus—once again—teaches His disciples a lesson from a fig tree. I believe that we can find a spiritual parallel to this in that, under the hand of our loving God, something painful that He brings us through is only going to be painful for a short while. Mark 13:24-31. Now, some people take Jesus not to be referring to the generation alive in the first century but to a future generation yet to be born, but that is not the most obvious reading of the text. It’s a way that He taught spiritual truth by comparing important concepts with well-known, everyday-life situations or things. This is an issue we will consider more next week. All better.”. But first—in this morning’s passage—He assures His followers that the turbulent events that precede His coming will begin to happen suddenly, and will be completed very quickly. Jesus made this point even more clearly when He Himself applied the parable to His hearers. My fellow-elders are George Drye, Brent Flint, and Ben Murphy, each of whom also resides in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. 9:17-19 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is … Mark 13:28-31 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” Jesus’ answer—given to us in the rest of Mark 13—is what we have come to know as the Olivet Discourse. Parable of the Budding Fig Tree (Mark 13:28-31 Teaching Outline), Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29 Teaching Outline), Who Can Stand? 27 But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.”, As William Lane put it, “While heaven and earth will be cataclysmically destroyed, Jesus’ word is established forever. It truly is all better. Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’ 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 ‘Tell us, when will these things [ταῦτα. (Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.), We’ve all, throughout our lives, have had experience with doctors. Jesus’ statement here is therefore just one more way in which He assumed His own deity and equality with God the Father in His teaching. Those who believe the prophecies of the end times are entirely symbolic agree with option 1. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, ... meaning, and purpose as the people of God. Yet, as we have seen, before His ascension Jesus made it clear that the things the Holy Spirit would bring to remembrance and teach them would. from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Then would be the need for God’s people to quickly flee for their lives to the mountains; because the whole ungodly world-system will have turn murderously against them. 29 Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, [ a]recognize that [ b]He is near, right at the [ c]door. Most useful and thought provoking. 3. For the woman or man in Christ, the painful trials of life—while necessary in the Father’s wise plan for our lives—are painful only for a while. View all posts by Keith Throop. Mark 13:31. Jesus, seeing Peter’s meaning, proceeds to give, first, a generous answer, then a word of warning. Together, by the grace of God, we make up one pretty good pastor! But they also had symbolic significance. Perhaps you remember what happened just before Jesus went back up to the Father—after He was raised from the dead. Yet, all around the Savior, there was opposition. A sign of the eternal summer approaching When Dr. Rees preached last in North Wales a friend said to him-one of those who are always reminding people that they are getting old-“You are whitening fast, Dr. Rees.” (W.H[97]). NKJ Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Mark 13:28-31. (Mark 13:28-30 NASB) James Stuart Russell said, "Words have no meaning if this language, uttered on so solemn an occasion, and so precise and express in its import, does not affirm the near approach of the great event which occupies the whole discourse of our Lord." But then, He went on to describe—in verses 14-23—the terrible times that would come upon the earth just prior to His return. ], I am currently serving as the primary teaching elder of Immanuel Baptist Church in Bloomington, Illinois, where I have been since 1993. I believe that these are the “these things” that Jesus is saying would begin to happen. 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. But Jesus answered and said; “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. And the nation of Israel did need to happen for the Jews to return to their homeland and for laws to be passed that would say no working on the Sabbath, and for a Temple to be built. And, by the way, my last name has a silent 'h' and is pronounced 'troop.' So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” 19 He answered him and said, “O. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. AN AFFIRMATION OF ITS SWIFT COMPLETION. I believe that they are the things that He has mentioned in verses 14-27—things that characterize the end of this present age. Rather, the word “this” applied to the context of what He was speaking. But I’ll bet that, for every one of us, our first real conscious encounter with a doctor came during a time when we were very young, and when we were probably just a little scared, and when—as he or she was treating us—that wise and tender physician looked us gently in the eye and said, “Now; this will only hurt for a minute.”, Those are nice words; but I also have to admit that there were times when they made things worse for me. But what was really most important would never pass away, as He went on to make clear. I usually had my eyes closed; and it made me jumpy at every move of the doctor’s hand and the smell of every drop of rubbing alcohol he poured—until it was done; and afterward, he or she would say, “There. He specifically says that “this generation” will not pass away until these things take place. I agree. Entering the promised land, 11:1-16:20. The disciples didn’t know it; but it would actually be a time period of many centuries in length. For now I will just say that it is one of the reasons why I am not going to spend time this morning trying to understand all the specific details of the prophecy leading up to the teaching of the parable. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? In Romans 8:18, Paul wrote; For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18). Leading up to this passage, we have in view the closing days of the tribulation period.These cataclysmic events seem to correspond with the vial judgments of Revelation 16. After prophesying about His return and the events that would precede it, Jesus taught the Parable of the Budding Fig Tree. It may have to be done, but He would rather not say it. Mark 12:28-34 EXEGESIS: MARK 11-16. This interpretation must spiritualize Mark 13:19-27, which says that Jesus would return in glory soon after the abomination of desolation. Now; let me offer a little side thought. Then, right after the teaching and application of the parable, He said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (vs. 32). When you see the trees in the spring putting forth leaves, you know two things for sure. 25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. For now I will just say that I don’t see how there there can be any doubt that, when Jesus said “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place,” He intended a near future fulfillment in the lifetimes of those who heard His teaching. Before that time, the land was barren; and no one really wanted it. Prophecies concerning the kingdom of Israel, 13:1-37 . 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8). This would have been a very startling statement to anyone who had not already accepted Jesus as the divine Son of God, for in it Jesus claims for His own words what can only be said of the words of God Himself. This would have been a very startling statement to anyone who had not already accepted Jesus as the divine Son of God, for in it Jesus claims for His own words what can only be said of the words of God Himself. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21, NKJ Acts 1:7-8 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. (I’m too proud to ask, though.). 26 They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. And just like the child who is about to get a needed shot, His people wince just a bit at the thought of it—anticipating that pain. We too see such opposition growing with each passing day. In addition, the interpretation I have offered reflects the way Jesus had referred to that generation on several earlier occasions. We start with the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16–17) and rely on the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (John 14:16–17). We see Jesus’ application of the parable beginning in verse 29: Some of you may have a slightly different translation of this verse. Mark 12:28-31 Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. His promises remain, no matter what! Their unfolding wont stretch out over several centuries—such as in the period in which we’re now living; but rather, will happen within a mere generation’s space of time. False teachers with supernatural powers will convince people they are Jesus returned. It sounds as if Jesus was saying that we can take it for absolute certain that the people living in His day would see all these things come to pass. A Meditation on Psalm 130:1-3. It will be very costly and very painful to be a follower of Jesus in those times. James 1:5 promises that if we lack wisdom, we only need to pray. [⇑ See verse text ⇑] This is not as much a comment on the end times as an oath that what Jesus says is true. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”, Of course, Jesus had promised them at an earlier time that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26). It will be a time that we have come to call “the Great Tribulation”—a tribulation, He said, “such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be” (v. 19). Preached Sunday, February 19, 2017 from Mark 13:28-31 Theme: When the events of the end of the age begin to happen, they will—in mercy—be fulfilled quickly. 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