Devotional: Mark 13:14-37

Today’s passage: Mark 13:14-37

Helpful thoughts:

• After a thorough warning about looking for signs in the previous verses, Jesus now gives the disciples and Christians insight into what is to come.
  • The abomination of desolation is taken from Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11.  The antichrist will go to the temple and declare himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
• Jesus is coming back, and there will be no doubt and no confusion when he does!
  • The false christs will do all they can to lead astray even the elect, “if possible” (Verse 22).  That, “if possible” should encourage the elect, because this phrase reveals that it is, in fact, impossible.
• Verse 30 has been interpreted in many different ways.  The main questions are these: Who is “this generation?” And, what are “all these things?”:
  • It is my opinion that “all these things” is referring to the events of the end times only (starting from verse 14) and “this generation” is referring to the generation alive at the time the “end times” begin.
    • All the events Jesus was speaking about (once they begin) will take place quickly, within a generation.

Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to use the words, “the elect” when referring to God’s people in this passage?  What are we to know about ourselves?  Why are we God’s people?  If God has made this to be true, who do we ultimately rely on to keep us secure?
2. What does it mean to “stay awake” (Verses 34-36)?  How could Jesus’ exhortation from the first half of this chapter help answer this question?
3. With all of the difficulty and tragedy of the tribulation ahead, how do we know it will end (Verses 26-27)?  How could this give the elect confidence in that day (If it should happen to be after our time on earth has ended)?  How can the sure victory of Christ (And ours with Him) give us confidence through the challenges of today?