Mark in a Month 5. Two Difficult Passages in Mark (11:23-24 & ch.13)

  • Most of Mark’s Gospel is very easy to understand, but here are a couple of passages that give people problems:
  • Jesus’ instructions about praying in faith seem confusing,
  • and his predictions about the end of the age are hard to make sense of.

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Video cover image by Clicker Babu Unsplash

  • Twice in my readings in Mark recently, I have thought
    “This is a tough passage—People are probably going to have questions, so I should preach on these verses.”

Two Difficult Passages in Mark

  1. Enough Faith will get ANY Prayer answered?
  2. Jesus Prophecies Future Events
  3. How We Should Respond

1. Enough Faith will get ANY Prayer answered?

Mark 11

  1. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.
  2. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
  3. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
  • On the surface it looks like it might be teaching a “name it and claim it” gospel!
  • Also called the prosperity gospel
  • There is a New Age teaching that has become very popular today in so-called “spirituality”
    • Our words have the power to create
    • As you speak something out, it affects reality and brings things into being
  • I once was talking to a Christian who had got mixed up in this teaching
    • He asked how I was, and I said I had a bit of a headache
    • NO! he said, don’t speak those words, or you will bring it down on you!
  • Clearly Jesus is not teaching this, but what is he saying?
  • Suppose I pray with 100% confidence that God has already done it, that Satan will be forgiven and raised to God’s right hand.
    • I have total faith and confidence
    • Does God have to do it?
    • Why not?
  • What if I pray that by tomorrow I will receive a billion $?
    • My faith is like a rock!
  • Sickness shaming: Joni Erickson the paraplegic woman who has been used so mightily by God
    • People said: It’s your fault! If you had any faith you would be healed!
  • The problem is the way the word “faith” has changed it’s meaning today

Faith=Trust

  • Trust is always in someone/something
  • I completely trust my car
  • Does that mean I think it can take me to the moon?
  • Will it save me from driving stupidly?
  • I trust my car to behave as car’s should

Trust in God

  • I trust in God to be everything he says he is
  • I trust in his infinite power
  • I trust he will always behave according to his perfect and loving nature
  • I trust he will absolutely keep all his promises

Example of Blind Bartimaeus

  • Jesus said because of his faith he was healed
  • He trusted Jesus’ power to heal (he was the promised Messiah, Son of David)
  • He trusted Jesus’ will to heal—Jesus had never chosen not to heal a single person who asked
  • Not an abstract “faith” but a concrete trust in a person’s power and behaviour

We pray according to the revelation God has given us

  • We know his power from the Bible
  • We know his love and willingness from the Bible
  • As we pray out of this and trust, God might give us a sense of how to pray more specifically
  • Before Peter raised Dorcas from the dead, he spend time in prayer
  • But even if God does not answer us like this, we can still pray out of trust in God’s revelation
  • Otherwise it becomes trust in our own faith

2. Jesus Prophecies Future Events

Mark 13

  1. Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!”
  2. Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”
  3. So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
  4. “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”
     
  5. Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one leads you astray.
  6. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will lead many astray.
  7. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is not yet.
  8. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.
     
  9. But be on your guard. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.
  10. First the gospel must be preached to all nations.
  11. When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
  12. Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
  13. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
     
  14. “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
  15. The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house.
  16. The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
  17. Alas for women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days!
  18. Pray that it may not be in winter.
     
  19. For in those days there will be tribulation [suffering] unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.
  20. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no human being would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.
  21. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
  22. For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect.
  23. But be on guard! I have told you everything ahead of time.
     
  24. “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light;
  25. the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
  26. Then everyone will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory.
  27. Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
     
  28. “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
  29. So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door.
  30. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
  31. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
     
  32. “But as for that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son—but only the Father.
  33. Be watching! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come.
  34. It is like a man going on a journey. He left his home and put his servants in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
  35. Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return—whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn—
  36. lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
  37. What I say to you I say to all: Stay alert!”

adapted from NET Bible


Isaiah 11

  1. There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
  2. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him…
  3. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
  4. but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
  • First or second coming?
  • prophetic perspective/foreshortening

Rockies Distant

Rockies Distant

Rockies Closer

Rockies Closer

Mountain Close

Mountain Close

Mt Robson

Mt Robson

Daniel 11

  1. In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
  2. Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant.
  3. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people.

Daniel 11 cont’d

  1. Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.
  2. And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him.

Daniel 11 cont’d

  1. And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.
  2. “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before.
  3. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

Antiochus Epiphanes

Antiochus Epiphanes

Image source: José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro

 

The Jewish historian Josephus claimed that 1.1 million people, most of them Jewish, were killed during the siege, so that bodies were literally piled up around the altar. The usual population of Jerusalem was likely enlarged given that many had come to the city to celebrate the Passover, which was to occur right as the siege was being launched. Prior to the siege, the Romans had allowed Jewish worshippers to enter the city for the feast, but they did not allow them to leave. ligonier.org

  • Read again with explanations:

Mark 13

  1. Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!”
  2. Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”
  3. So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
  4. “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?”

1. Don’t be led astray, there’s a lot to happen first

  1. Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one leads you astray.
  2. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will lead many astray.
  3. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is not yet.
  4. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.

2. Long term: warning of persecution

  1. But be on your guard. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.
  2. First the gospel must be preached to all nations.
  3. When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
  4. Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
  5. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

3. Short term: Destruction of Jerusalem

  1. “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
  2. The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house.
  3. The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
  4. Alas for women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days!
  5. Pray that it may not be in winter.

4. Short and Long term: tribulation (suffering)

  1. For in those days there will be tribulation [suffering] unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.
  2. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no human being would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.
  3. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
  4. For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect.
  5. But be on guard! I have told you everything ahead of time.

5. Long term: The Return of Christ

  1. “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light;
  2. the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
  3. Then everyone will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory.
  4. Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

6. Short and Long term: Watch for warning signs

  1. “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
  2. So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door.
  3. I tell you the truth, the generation that sees this will not pass away until all these things take place.
  4. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

7. Long term: Be ready for the Lord’s return

  1. “But as for that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son—but only the Father.
  2. Be watching! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come.
  3. It is like a man going on a journey. He left his home and put his servants in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
  4. Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return—whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn—
  5. lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.
  6. What I say to you I say to all: Stay alert!”

adapted from NET Bible


Putting it all together:

  1. Persecution and betrayals
  2. The Temple Destroyed (tribulation)
  3. Period of wars, rumours of wars, natural disasters —the end is not yet
  4. A short but intense period of suffering (the great tribulation)
    False prophets, signs & wonders
  5. Jesus returns in power in the clouds

3. How We Should Respond

Our Response

  • Don’t be discouraged—everything is meticulously planned
  1. Be discerning, The mark of true sheep is love
  2. Don’t be surprised by a wave of persecution—it is for a very short time
  3. Be ready for your beloved’s return. Invest in the future by investing your energy in what he loves (=get your house ready).