Be Ready and Be Working

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class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'>1) 11-9-08…AM…SBC     2)“Be Ready and Be Working”

Mark 13:32-37

Read Text and Pray

1)    Introduction:               Contextual Background of Olivet Discourse                      Ch 13:1

A-    The beginnings of this conversation between Jesus and His disciples originates back in 13:1

1-    upon finishing teaching in the Temple one of Jesus’ disciples notices the grandeur of Temple itself

2-    v2 records Jesus introduction into this teaching on end times

3-    Jesus and his disciples then retreat to the Mount of Olives

-          is a mountain ridge on the east of Jerusalem

-          The road from Jerusalem to Bethany runs over this mount.[1]

-          It was on this mount that Jesus stood when he wept over Jerusalem. [2]

-          The ‘mount’ is connected with the private, the devotional life of the Savior[3]

4-      It is here that we come to the teaching known as the Olivet Discourse

·         Parallel accounts in Matthew 24-25 and Luke 21:5

5-      Peter, James, John and Andrew inquire of the Lord as to what he meant in v2

B-    Beginning of Birth Pains – these events mark the beginning             v5-13

1-      these signs are the first stepping stones to the final anticipated end

C-    Tribulation – the great tribulation that will immediately precede Christ’s return       v14-23; Rev. 6

1-      The phrase “the abomination of desolation” referred to the presence of an idolatrous person or object so detestable that it caused the temple to be abandoned and left desolate.[4]

D-    The Coming of the True Messiah - Jesus’ personal, visible, bodily return to the earth as the glorified Son of Man[5]

1-      It is not the elect of all ages that are gathered here but those saved during the tribulation

E-     Illustration of the Fig Tree – signifies that when these signs all take place that the end is near

Ø      no one text can be found to include all the events of the end times

Ø      we must incorporate many texts into our understanding of what is going to take place during the end times

Transition:  It is in this context of Jesus teaching of End Times that we come to our text for today

Read Text

2)  That Day or that Hour                v32

A-    The phrase “that day” has consistent use in Scripture as referring to the Day of the Lord

1-      The “day of the Lord” can be used in both a broad and narrow sense

a-    Broad - it can include the Tribulation, the Second Advent, and the Millennium (Isa. 2:12-22; Jer. 30:7-9; Joel 2:28-32; Amos 9:11; Zeph. 3:11-20; Zech. 12-14).[6]

b-    Narrow – the day on which Christ will return to earth form heaven with His angels (Matthew 24:30)

 

2-      Scripture puts the DOL is sometime in the Future

a-      connection of Isaiah 2:10-22 to the 6th Seal in Revelation 6:12-17

b-      the 6th seal takes place during Daniel’s 70th Week (ch9) the DOL is put into the future

c-      Isaiah 34:1-8 and Obadiah 15 record a judgment on all nations which has never been before so it must be in the future

d-     The armies of Joel 3:1-16 and Zechariah 14:1-3 records the gathering of the armies of the nations – according to Revelation 16:12-16 this will not happen until the 6th bowl is poured out during Daniel’s 70th week

e-      1 Thessalonians 5 records that the DOL had not happened yet and was at that time still in the future

Conclusion:  “That day” is being used in this context in the broad sense of the term referring to all the events of the End Times (Birth Pains, Tribulation, 2nd Advent, the Millennial Kingdom)

B-    The First major point of the text comes out in v32b

·         no one knows—not the angels—not the Son—only the Father knows

-          The series of events that shall precede Christ’s return has been described. The precise moment of that great event has however not been indicated. Neither could it have been, for that moment is known to the Father alone, and it has not pleased him to reveal it.[7]

-          the angels who are close in proximity to God the Father and instruments during the end times don’t even know

-          from the aspect of Christ’s humanity we see that even Christ did not know the time of the DOL (Philippians 2 – “emptied himself”)

TEACHING:  Don’t be a date setter or guesser because no one knows the exact time of Christ’s return—don’t get sidetracked or consumed in knowing the when the return of Christ will happen

Transition: The repeated counsel of Christ is that instead of being sidetracked with setting a date…

3)  Counsel:  Be on guard—Keep awake: you don’t know when the time till come – v33

A- Illustration:  The man going on a journey  v34-36

B- The Meaning of the Illustration:  Stay Awake—Be Ready          v37

TEACHING:

1-      The way in which disciples are to be ready for the return of the Lord is not to watch for it or for signs of it but to be busy with their assigned tasks (v. 34).[8]

2-      Because disciples “do not know when the time will come,” they must always be prepared[9]

3-      Ignorance of the date is no excuse for unpreparedness.[10] – don’t be caught asleep! Dozing or drifting off!

Conclusion:

1-      Salvation – the return of Christ is imminent – could happen at any time – are you ready?

·         the Bible teaches that there is a time that is looming and could happen at any moment

·         that time is when Christ will return in the sky to gather all his children to Himself (1 Thess 4)

·         if you have not trusted Christ as your Savior and repented and turned from your sinful living then you will not be going with Christ that day

·         even if you never steal, cheat, lie or swear – you will not go with Christ on that day

·         Faith in Christ to save you and repentance from sinful living are the only criteria to being raptured with Christ

·         INSTEAD – you will be left here on earth to experience the Apocalypse, the destruction of the whole world

·         Come to Christ today—escape all punishment of your sins by putting your faith in Christ

2-      Point of the text:

·         No one knows the specifics concerning the Day of the Lord except God the Father

·         Be on guard, awake, alert, ready –

·         Be working till that day – don’t be a date setter or consumed by pinpointing the DOL

3-      The purpose of this text was to show that believers were not to be disturbed by preliminary signs or to confuse them with the end of the age. Jesus’ comments in Mark 13:32–37 were the real answer to the disciples’ questions, not a mere afterthought. Jesus makes it clear that no one knows the time of his return and calls all his followers to stay faithful while awaiting this glorious event.[11]

4-      Jesus did not want His disciples to get so involved in the prophecies of the future that they would neglect the responsibilities of the present;[12]  - but instead to promote devotion to Christian duty.

5-      If you are going to be busy with anything be busy about being faithful until the Lord comes

To church—to service—to love—to fellowship—to forgive—to know GW—to disciple

Don’t cheapen God’s grace by not following his clear instructions in the Bible.


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[1]M.G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897).

[2]M.G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897).

[3]M.G. Easton, Easton's Bible Dictionary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996, c1897).

[4]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:169.

[5]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:171.

[6]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:172.

[7]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 10, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Mark, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 541.

[8]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 218.

[9]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 218.

[10]James A. Brooks, vol. 23, Mark, electronic e., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 218.

[11]Robert B. Hughes and J. Carl Laney, Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary, Rev. Ed. of: New Bible Companion. 1990.; Includes Index., The Tyndale reference library (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 434.

[12]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, "An Exposition of the New Testament Comprising the Entire 'BE' Series"--Jkt. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989), Mk 13:19.

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