Mark 13:9-13 Good news and hard news

Joel Nadel

Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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The Lord prophesies the persecution and promises of blessing in store for His followers

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Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church

From: The Holy Bible and J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Pray

Background

The last week of Jesus earthly ministry

Preaching, teaching, performing miracles for three years

Now He is in Jerusalem, to finish His work on the Cross.

Before He begins His trial and execution, Jesus prepares His followers for what will follow.

Introduction

In reading the prophecies of the Bible (OT and NT) concerning the Church of Christ, we usually find judgment and mercy blended together

Seldom all darkness and no light, bitter and no sweet

The Lord knows us - we are weak and easily frightened by the unknown - He has taken care to mix comforting us and sharing hard truths. Its all woven together like in a piece of cloth

This is the case with the prophecy contained in this passage.

Mark 13:9–13 NASB95

“But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

Firstly, the Lord tells His people to expect troubles before He comes again

Trouble has been normal for the human race since the day that Adam and Eve fell - it came in with thorns and thistles

Job 5:7 “For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward.”

But, there are special troubles that followers of Jesus Christ can expect - and it is these He warns us about

We must expect trouble from the world

We cannot look for help from “rulers and kings” - from leaders of governments

Christian teachings and world views are not well thought of in high places

Instead, Christians may be imprisoned, beaten, or brought before the law as criminals, for no other reason than their obedience to the Gospel of Christ

Christians should expect trouble from their own families

Mark 13:12 ““Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.”

Their own flesh and blood will forget to love them because they hate their religion

The hate of the unbeliever for God is stronger than the ties of family

We need to take these things to heart and “count the cost” of being a Christian

We need to understand that it is not a strange thing if our faith brings with it some bitter things

Until recently, our path as Christians has been through fairly good times - we have had no reason to fear death and jail if we serve Christ, but things are changing

We need to make up our minds that we will have to face a certain amount of difficulty if we are genuine, complete and committed Christians

We need to be content to put up with laughter, mockery, slander and petty persecution

We need to even bear hard words and unkindness from our nearest and dearest family - the cross has always been offensive to many

1 Cor 2:14 “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”

Gal 4:29 “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.”

Living the most consistent Christian life will not stop any of this. If we are openly saved, we should never be surprised to find we are hated for the sake of Christ

Secondly, the Lord Jesus gives rich encouragement to His persecuted people

He sets before them three rich sweets to cheer them on

he tells us that Mark 13:10 ““The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”

This must and will happen. In spite of men and devils, the story of the cross of Christ will be broadcast in every part of the world

The gates of hell will not prevail against it

In spite of persecutiion, incarceration and death, there will always be groups of faithful men and women who will proclaim the good news of salvation by grace

Few may believe them - many of their listeners may continue stubbornly in sin - but nothing will stop the preaching of the Gospel

2 Tim 2:9 “for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.”

the word will never be locked up, though the witnesses may be jailed or killed

He tells us that when we get in trouble for the sake of the Gospel, He will give us special help in our time of need

The Holy Spirit will assist us in making our defense

Christians will have the words and wisdom that their enemies will not be able to argue with

This was the experience of the Apostles Peter, John and Paul who were brought before Jewish and Roman councils - it will be the same for all true disciples

Its been proved by the histories of Jan Huss, Martin Luther, and numerous other Christians the world over - Christ is faithful to His word and promise

For another thing, the Lord tells us that at the end of our troubles, we can expect our final salvation and life in eternity with the Lord and our fellow Christians

Mark 13:13 ““You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

No one who endures the persecution will miss His reward - all shall be richly rewarded

Though we may plant our crops in tears, we will harvest them in joy

Our difficulties are only for a moment, but they will lead to eternal glory

Bringing it home

We should take comfort for all these wonderful promises to all true servants of Christ

Persecuted, tormented and mocked as they are now, they will find victory in the end

No matter how difficult and depressing life becomes, they shall never be forsaken by Christ - Though they may be beaten soundly, they will never be destroyed

We need to continue our lives, no matter how difficult, with patience

The end of everything around us is coming - it is certain and sure

The kingdoms, empires and countries of this world will come and go, but the kingdom of God and His Christ are forever

When the critics and the ungodly, who gave such a hard time to Christians are put to shame, believers will receive a crown of glory that will never fade.

The Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV)

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 10:9 NASB95

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;