Mark 13:28-37 | Commissioned Servants Of The Returning King

Click "More" for the sermon handout with discussion questions. Click the button below to view and download the full sermon manuscript. Main Argument: All true Christians will vigilantly watch, pray, and work with commissioned authority until Jesus comes again.

STAY AWAKE (Introduction)

JESUS’S PROPHECY TO EYE WITNESSES CONFIRMS HIS PROPHECY FOR ALL . (v28-30,37)

Disciples’s Questions: Mark 13:1-4; Luke 21:5-7; esp. Matthew 24:1-3

1) “When shall these things be?” Answer: Jesus gives prophesy of both “these things” and “those days” that result in the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. (Mark 13:1-30; Matthew 24:1-34; Luke 21:5-31)

2) “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” Answer: Jesus explains that while He will not give a sign of His “parousia,” He will give a sign of Himself being the prophesied Son of Man reigning in heaven (Daniel 7). The sign would be the predicted judgment on Jerusalem. It would ultimately come from His throne in heaven during the lifetime of their generation. (Mark 13:24-30; Matthew 24:29-34; Luke 21:22-32)

3) “What shall be the sign of the end of the age?” Answer: Jesus emphatically declares that there will be no indicators of “that day” when the end of the age will come (also called the new heavens and earth). Instead, He will leave them by going away “on a far journey” and then “suddenly” come again to bring about the consummation of all things. All Jesus’s followers must remain vigilant about their responsibilities, knowing He may come back at any time. (Mark 13:31-37; Matthew 24:35-51; Luke 21:33-36)

Mark 13:28–30

28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Mark 13:37

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Do you remember that prophesy is given to do, not to decode? Let Jesus's fulfilled prophesies both deepen your trust in His future coming and strengthen your obedience in His instruction. 

Q: How does your life reveal genuine faith in Jesus’s words? 

NO ONE KNOWS WHEN JESUS WILL COME AGAIN AND BRING THE PROMISED NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH. (v31-32)

The long-anticipated “day and hour" of “that” (heaven and earth passing away / the end of the age) is (in contrast to the previous prophesies) known by no one but the Father, as Jesus said in Mark 13:31-32,33,35,36.

Mark 13:31–32

31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Don’t get caught up in the deceitful and distracting attempts of predicting Christ's coming. Instead of studying newspaper theology, let us obey the words of Jesus and be about our stewardship until Christ comes according to the purposes of God.

Q: How might you be more concerned about seeking signs Jesus did not give over obeying instruction He did give?

We must not think and act like this present age is our final and full life experience. Seeing Christ face-to-face and dwelling together with Him in the eternal new heaven and earth is the blessed hope of true Christians. Concern yourself with living biblically in this present age for the age to come.

JESUS'S FUTURE COMING BRINGS FULL REDEMPTION FOR HIS SERVANTS AND FINAL JUDGMENT FOR THE FAITHLESS . (v35-37)

Mark 13:35–37

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Jesus characterizes those with faith as those who vigilantly obey His teachings and carry out the work He has given them. Those without faith live now as though Jesus is not presently reigning and not surely returning.

See more context of Jesus’s warning in Matthew 24:35-51 and Luke 17:26-29.

Jesus is warning here that those found faithlessly “sleeping” instead of faithfully stewarding will be judged without the atonement of Jesus covering their sins and without the grace of salvation. But those saved by grace and created as new creatures in Christ will do good works with faith in the returning King. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Q: What are some ways in which you have responded to the Master’s purposeful delay with apathy and with too much attention on “the cares of this life”? 

Don’t become distracted or apathetic because of Jesus's delay. He said it would be a far journey. Faith in Christ expresses itself in faithful and worshipful stewardship as we await the redemption we have in Christ. Those Jesus saves from God's good judgment will not be found "sleeping." Confirm the reality of your calling to salvation. (2 Peter 1:10)

MAIN ARGUMENT: ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS WILL VIGILANTLY WATCH , PRAY , AND WORK WITH COMMISSIONED AUTHORITY UNTIL JESUS COMES AGAIN. (v33-34)

“Take heed” and “watch” is repeated by Jesus in Mark 13:5,9,23,33,35,37.

Mark 13:33–34

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Many will be tempted to merely "sleep," play, or indulge in the cares of this world during Jesus's long delay. How we respond to Jesus’s delayed return reveals a lot about our faith or lack of it.

Christians must take seriously the authority and work of the kingdom Jesus has given us until He comes again. We will not faithfully work with the authority Jesus has given us without vigilantly praying and being alert to Jesus’s instruction.

Q: What might vigilant stewardship look like in your life? What might more vigilant churches look like in our world? How does this relate to “the gospel of the kingdom of God” Jesus came preaching?

BE VIGILANT SERVANTS !