Sermon Tone Analysis

Reading

Introduction

We come this morning to the start of an interesting, and a very challenging passage.

This is the longest single discourse of Christ that is found in Mark’s Gospel - known as the “Olivet Discourse”.

Sign

This is a passage that has caused much debate among believers.

It is certainly a difficult passage to fully understand and appreciate.

I.1.

- A Challenge to Understand

This is a passage that has caused much debate among believers.

It is certainly a difficult passage to fully understand and appreciate.

This is the longest single discourse of Christ that is found in Mark’s Gospel.

It’s difficulty becomes apparent as one considers the diversity of interpretations...

Some maintain it is entirely about events preceding the Lord’s second and final coming

Others that it is entirely about events related to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

b.

Others that it is entirely about events related to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Yet others believe it contains reference to both events

c.

Yet others believe it contains reference to both events

3.

Even those who say it refers to both events differ as to when a particular event is described...

Even those who say it refers to both events differ as to when a particular event is described...

a.

Some say that vs. 5-23 refer to the destruction of Jerusalem, and vs. 24 begins the discussion

Some say that vs. 5-23 refer to the destruction of Jerusalem, and vs. 24 begins the discussion about the Lord’s second coming

about the Lord’s second coming - cf.

J.W. McGarvey

Others contend that vs. 32 begins talking about the second coming

b.

Others contend that vs. 32 begins talking about the second coming

Others say Jesus switches back and forth throughout the discourse

c.

Others say Jesus switches back and forth throughout the discourse

Now, this may lead us to the question in our minds: “Why is the Bible is so confusing, and why we can have so many competing opinions over just one chapter in the Bible?”

I won’t delve into a full answer of that now.

But as we come to this difficult to understand passage, I will read just a short quote from on particular confession that I think has relevance, and then I’ll quote a seminary professor, who I also think get’s it right.

Firstly the quote from a confession of faith reads as follows:

VII.

All things in scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

The words of one particular professor are helpful here:

The words of one particular professor are also helpful here:

Do not try to satisfy an unhealthy curiosity.

It is a serious misuse of Scripture to make it disclose more than God has purposed to reveal.

(Alan Stibbs)

And so as we come to this passage of Scripture (as we come to all others) we need to come diligently.

We need to come expectantly.

But we also need to come humbly.

And most importantly, we need to keep the main things the main things, and keep matters of lesser significance just that - matters of lesser significance.

We come to this passage with a measure of tentativeness.

This is not a passage that will call us to dogmatic insistence on our own particular stance or view.

That does not mean that there is no clarity in this

I.2. - Dangers in Such a Passage

Such passages potential danger - and are susceptible to be completely misused.

Such passages present to us a potential danger.

There exists the very real possibility that it will be completely misused.

Consider the text in - Peter writing about the Day of the Lord.

Spoke about scoffers who would come etc.

Mock, saying where is this coming of the Lord.

We come to this passage with a measure of tentativeness

2 Peter 3:

2 Peter 3:15-16

Peter went on to write about what manner of life Christians should live, in waiting for the return of Christ.

2 Peter 3:14-1

We need to be careful to recognise that there will be those ignorant and unstable people who come to difficult to understand passages (such as the one we’re coming to now) and then distort them in order to further their own agenda.

We need to be careful not to act as those ignorant and unstable people do when they come to difficult to understand passages, and then distort them in order to further their own agenda.

I.3.

- The Nature of the Prophetic

As we come to this passage, we need to further recognise the nature of prophetic passages / portions in Scripture.

Prophetic passages must been seen in their usual pattern...

Prophecy

Fulfillment

Proper clear interpretation / understanding once fulfilment has come

Prophecy is generally spoken in broad stroke.

There is a flattened perspective.

Sometimes, two prophetic words are recorded right next to each other by a prophet, but the fulfilment of each statement is years apart.

That is simply the nature of prophecy, and how God, in his perfect wisdom, has chosen to reveal His purposes.

I.4.

- The Pastoral Emphasis

With that said, we must recognise that in this passage there is a pastoral motive!

This is the overarching concern of Christ as he teaches his disciples.

19 Imperatives in the second person plural - commands directed to the disciples.

For the most part, these imperatives can be applied even to us as the church, without being overly speculative.

There is practical guidance and wisdom given through this passage, and we can be greatly blessed and encouraged as we consider these words of Christ.

But we are going to wade into this passage, and think carefully through what was being communicated here both to Jesus’ disciples as He spoke the words that He did to them, but also to the audience to whom Mark wrote this Gospel record.

This morning, I’m not going to consider much more than the first four verses of this passage, and my bigger aim in fact is to properly remind us of what has led up to this point.

We need a summary at this point in order to remind us of certain key points and events that bring us to the point where Christ speaks these words to His disciples.

I.5.

- The Context: Judgments on Religion

Within the immediate context, we must remember that the tension in the atmosphere continues to mount!

The crucifixion of our Lord is approaching fast!

Jesus has pronounced various judgments on the Jewish leaders, the religious leaders of various sects of the day.

And Christ knows that his hour of suffering is now imminent.

The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem, in the Passover week, where there are literally tens of thousands of people gathered in order to celebrate this feast together.

But this celebration of the Passover will be like no other in the history of Judaism.

You may recall that the Passover was what occurred in Egypt when the Israelites were in slavery.

The final plague was about to be unleashed on the Egyptians due to Pharaoh’s hardness of heart.

The Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a lamb without blemish, and to put some blood of the lamb on their door posts, and when the blood of that lamb was on the door posts, the angel of God would pass over their house, and their first-born would be spared.

Now this is significant as we come to this particular passage in our text this morning.

The reason that this is so significant is that not only would there be a New Covenant, but there would be a doing away of the Old Covenant, the Old system of doing things.

Judgments on Religion