Commentary in Simple English on the Gospel that Mark wrote

(See Matthew 24: 1-3; Luke 21: 5-7.)

Jesus left the Temple area (verse 1) with some of His followers. They forget the praise that Jesus had given to a poor widow. They say how wonderful the Temple is. [13.1] Jesus warns them that all this will be destroyed (verse 2). They move on together to the Mount of Olives. (Verse 3) From there they look across the valley to the Temple. (Verse 4) Four of the twelve ask two questions: -

a) When will these things happen? They mean the ruin of the Temple.

The followers of Jesus did not understand that Jesus would come again in glory. This would be long ages after the Romans had destroyed the Temple. They expected God to set up His Kingdom very soon.

The answer, which Jesus gives, begins in verse 5. It takes up the rest of the chapter. Jesus' answer is in four parts.

Once again we must remember why Scripture tells us about the future. It is not just because we want to know. The reasons, which Jesus gave here, are as follows: -

The Roman Christian who lived through the time of suffering under Nero from AD.64 would be there when law and order broke down after Nero took his own life in AD. 68. Roman authority broke down in parts of northern Europe. The Roman Legions fought each other in battles in northern Italy. Three Caesars ruled over Rome in one year.

The Jewish War had broken out in AD.66. The Jews had some success against the Romans at first. Yet soon Vespasian led the Romans to victory over the Jews. He then returned to Rome to bring order. In AD.70 he became Caesar. His son Titus took Jerusalem in the same year. The Romans destroyed the Temple and the city. Almost one and a half million Jews died in the war, as well as great numbers of people in Egypt and Syria. At one stage, the Romans put five hundred or more Jews to death on crosses in one day. Jewish Christians would be sad to hear all this. Then they would see the sacred things that the Romans had taken from the Temple. The Romans carried them through the streets of Rome. Then behind those things the Romans dragged many Jews. The fate of some of them was to be slaves. Others would be thrown alive to wild animals to be eaten by them. That was the Roman idea of pleasure for the crowds. [13.2]

(See Matthew 24: 4-28; Luke 21: 8-24.)

(Verse 5) Jesus looks forward about 40 years from His day in these verses. In verse 6, 'I am He' is exactly what Jesus said about Himself in Chapter 6: 50. He will say it again about Himself in Chapter 14: 62.

(Verse 7) The Roman power had brought peace to the world. This meant that the thought of 'nation rising against nation' would surprise the followers of Jesus. (Verse 8) There are four great causes of suffering here. The pride of nations brings wars. So does the desire for power which kings and other rulers have. Earthquakes, storms, floods and other natural trials call for men to work together to help one another. Famines are often man made. We do not make good use of what God has given to us, that is, the land, the rain and so on.

Prepare for worse things! These are not the signs of the end.

(Verse 9) We can read in Acts how the followers of Jesus had to stand and speak before Roman authorities and the kings that the Romans set up. (Verse 10) Acts will also tell us how the Good News of Jesus spread through the world as it was then known. God's people still work to spread the Good News to all people. Each one of us has a share in that work. Verse 11 is, of course, a special promise for those who have to appear in court to answer for their faith. It is not for every day. We cannot claim this promise if we are guilty of a crime. Verse 12 tells us that people will turn against those in their own family who believe in Jesus. This still happens today. (Verse 13) Christ calls us to love other people. All too often they hate us. God will judge in our favour if we are faithful to Him.

Verses 14-22 tell us about some of the events of the Jewish War. The Christians in Jerusalem remembered what Jesus had said and quickly left Jerusalem. They escaped east over the River Jordan to a place called Pella. They did not share in the cruel things, which happened in Jerusalem later in the war. They were probably far too tired to go beyond Pella to Galilee. There were many Christians in Galilee but there was also much violence. We do not know much about the city of Pella.

We can read the words ‘Let the reader understand’ in verse 14 in two ways. They may be the words of Mark. If so, he tells the person who reads the Gospel to understand the words of Jesus. But ‘Let the reader understand’ may be the words of Jesus. If so, Jesus speaks to a person who reads the Book of Daniel. It is in Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11 that we read about ‘The Abomination of Desolation’ that is, the Horrible Thing that makes everything a desert. The words of Jesus will help the person who reads what Daniel said to understand. It is not just what happened long ago in the past. It would happen again when the Romans came in AD67-70. And it may happen yet again. [13.3]

Verses 21 and 22 are still very important to us. People still come forward from time to time and say that they are Christ, the Messiah. Jesus tells us not to believe them. When He comes again, ‘every eye will see Him‘ (Revelation 1:7).

Verses 24-27 Jesus will come again!

(See Matthew 24: 20-31; Luke 21: 25-28.) [13.4]

Verses 24 and 25 may only mean that there will be sudden and violent changes. Verse 26 tells us that it will be Jesus, Who is Son of God but also a true man, Who will come again. He will come from the throne of God in heaven in the clouds. (See Daniel 7:13 and 14). He will come with great power and glory. Glory is not empty show, but real worth. Real Christians are now His elect, His chosen ones, and the angels will gather us together when Jesus comes.

(See Matthew 24: 32-35; Luke 21: 29-33.)

Jesus again talks about the troubles of the years after He died and rose again. In the cooler parts of the world many trees lose their leaves as the season turns cold. Then when the weather becomes warmer, new leaves show. Many trees will have a change in the colour of the smaller branches even before we can see the leaves. Jesus says that the fig tree is like that (verse 28). Christian people should watch what happens in the world. They should also read God's Word. God will help them to understand what it all means.

(See Matthew 24: 36-44; Luke 21: 34-36.)

Jesus now speaks again about His Second Coming. Anyone who pretends to know just when Jesus will come again has it wrong! They think that they know more than the angels or Jesus Himself (verse 32). So 'watching' is something different. Jesus tells a little story. He is the man who travels abroad (verse 34). The Church is His house: we are His servants. If we knew when Jesus was coming back we would not watch.

The Jews divided the night into three watches. The Romans divided it up into the four watches named in verse 35. To watch does not mean to be idle. It is not to look into the distance or to be excited. It is to do God's work faithfully (Nehemiah 4: 16-23). We must watch and pray (Chapter 14: 38).