Mark 13:1-4 | Why Follow Jesus?
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Main Argument: Anyone can appreciate external beauties of religion, but only true disciples will trust and follow Jesus through suffering into glory.
DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?
2 Peter 1:20–21
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Just as God’s giving of Scripture often involved human study and work under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, so also does right interpretation and application of Scripture. But it can be rightly understood!
Sadly, the study of Scripture is not always done by the church with joy. Too often, it is handled with contention, fear of man, control, name-calling, and divisiveness.
PRINCIPLES WE WILL FOLLOW IN INTERPRETING MARK 13
1.Stay governed by Mark’s context, message, and the understanding of its characters and audience.
2.Prioritize application of its many imperatives over academic knowledge and terms.
3.Limit cross-references to mostly Mark, Synoptic Gospels, and Mark’s direct OT quotations, echoes, and allusions.
4.Respect forms of language—especially plain language as that which should be plainly understood.
5.Do not violate the text by forcing a systematic theology or anything else into it.
6.Refrain from turning our exposition of Mark into a systematic theology study, though we will surely do such a study in a different setting at some point.
The early church put it this way:
“In essentials unity. In nonessentials liberty. In all things charity.”
Q: Do you know the essentials? Do you make everything essential? How is charity seen in how you engage in doctrinal matters?
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
Luke 21:5–7
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Matthew 24:1–3
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mark 13:1–4
1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
The tabernacle and temple had a history that extended back over 1,300 hundred years before this prediction Jesus had just given His disciples. It had become central to Israel’s worship of Yahweh and their very way of life. Now, it was destined to destruction.
Matthew 23:38
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Acts 1:6–8
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
WHAT WAS JESUS TELLING THEM?
Mark 1:14-15; 2:20; 4:26-32; 8:38-9:1; 10:30; 10:33-37; 42-45; 11:7-11, 15-19,22,27; 12:9-11,25,36,40; 13:4b,26,35; 14:62
Matthew 3:7; 5:17; 6:10; 10:23; 11:3; 12:28; 16:27-28; 21:10,23; 23:35-36; 24:3
THE SON OF MAN MUST DIE FIRST
Mark 9:7-13; Refers to: Malachi 2:17-3:5; 3:13-4:6
Q: Do you know why Jesus died first? Can you explain it to someone?
FOLLOW THE SUFFERING SON
παρουσία (parousia) occurs 24 in the NT almost always with the meaning of “authoritative presence or arrival.” Its root, ουσία, means property and wealth and is the same root of the word for authority: ἐξουσιά (exousia). It never occurs in the Greek translation of the OT. Other Greek words behind “coming” are much more interchangeable and general in their use, with forms of ἔρχομαι (erchomai) occurring at least 365 of the 645 times in the KJV.
Scriptures with “parousia” for your reference: Matthew 24:3; Matthew 24:27; Matthew 24:37; Matthew 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Corinthians 16:17; 2 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 7:7; Philippians 1:26; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; James 5:7; James 5:8; 2 Peter 1:16; 2 Peter 3:4; 2 Peter 3:12; 1 John 2:28; 2 Corinthians 10:10; Philippians 2:12
You would never choose the way of Christ’s Kingdom on your own.
To Read During the Week: Matthew 13; 23-25; Mark 4; 8:38-9:13; 13; Luke 17:20-37; 21.
During your studies, be encouraged to give particular attention to who Jesus is speaking to, the change of subjects and objects, the change from singular to plural (especially “day/s”), commands, promises, and the phrases “coming,” “this generation,” and “the end of the world (age).”
The way of the King and His servants is humility before glory.
That’s why Christ’s message is “repent and believe the Gospel.”
The beauty of King Jesus far surpasses any ancient wonder of the world.
Q: Is there anything you would choose over Jesus? Why?
Main Argument: Anyone can appreciate external beauties of religion, but only true disciples will trust and follow Jesus through suffering into glory.