MARK LESSON 26

     We will begin this lesson in Mark 13:1.

     Mark 13:1 "And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples
saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings
[are here]!"

     This temple in Jerusalem was something magnificent to behold.
This temple that Solomon had built with directions from God to be a
permanent house for the things of the tabernacle in the wilderness was
beautiful indeed.  God had given the plans to Solomon.  It is no
wonder that the disciples remarked about it, as they left with Jesus.

     Mark 13:2 "And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these
great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that
shall not be thrown down."

     This was the prediction of the destruction of the temple.  This
same destruction was spoken of in chapter 21 of Luke.  We know that
Jesus' prediction did come true just a few years later, in fact, less
than forty years later.

     Mark 13:3 "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against
the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,"
Mark 13:4 "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be]
the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?"

     The mount of Olives is overlooking the old city of Jerusalem.  We
see, here, Peter, James, and John, the three He usually took aside
with Him, and in this case one more, Andrew.  Andrew was believed to
be the first of the disciples which was called.  So many times it
seemed Jesus talked to this group separately from the people and
separately from the other disciples.  It seems as though Jesus had
every confidence in these and felt as if He could  share things with
these that, perhaps, might not be well accepted by the others.  When
Jesus foretold of the destruction of the temple, it was to this select
few.  In verse 4, the question was different from the first question.
They were saying when would the temple be destroyed? In the second
question, they were looking for physical evidence to set the time by.
We can, probably, see by these questions that they associated the
destruction of the temple with the end of the world, at least the end
of their world.

     Mark 13:5 "And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest
any [man] deceive you:"

     This was a warning specifically to Peter, who would be afraid and
deceived in just a few days to the extent that he would even deny
Jesus. It, also, was a warning for all of us, as well, not to be
deceived.  Never in the history of mankind has there been an age when
it was easier to be deceived than right now. The only way not to be
deceived, is to know the whole truth. The Bible contains the only real
truth.  We must check everything out to see what Jesus had to say
about it.  He is the Truth.  We are, also, told to try the spirits and
see whether they be of God before we believe.  I John 4:1 "Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world." I John 4:2
"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:" I John 4:3 "And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
You see, we must never doubt that the very Son of God (The Saviour,
The Anointed One) took on the flesh of man and dwelt among us.  Jesus
is God the Son.  That is what we must believe.  Do not let people
convince you that Jesus was a man.  Jesus was in the body of a man,
but He, in fact, was God The Son inside that house (the body) that He
dwelt in here on the earth.

     Mark 13:6 "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ];
and shall deceive many."

     When I was a child living in northern Arkansas, there was a man
going through the country claiming to be Jesus.  Many people in our
community went to see him.  Even now, there are a number of people
throughout the world proclaiming to be Jesus.  Don't be deceived by
these people.  When Jesus returns, you will see Him in the eastern
sky.  In the 24th chapter of Matthew, we read a similar statement.

     Mark 13:7 "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be
ye not troubled: for [such things] must needs be; but the end [shall]
not [be] yet."

     In this statement, there is a looking down through all ages of
time until the return of the Lord.  There really will never be peace
on the earth until the King of Peace, Jesus Christ, comes back to
earth and sets up His Kingdom.  There is a war raging somewhere on the
globe now and has been ever since Jesus made this statement.  You may
get it calmed down one place, but it breaks out another.  The Lord
expects us to have peace in the midst of the storm.  He warns us not
to be overwhelmed with fear, even of war, but to go on spreading the
gospel even in the midst of all the turmoil. There is such a threat of
a nuclear war now, that I believe it is the cause of many young people
taking drugs and alcohol.  The use of drugs and alcohol is a running
from the reality of the world around us. Most young people do not
believe that they will have a future.  The uncertainty of the
conditions on the earth would be too much to bear, if we didn't know
Jesus.  The difference in those lost and the Christians, basically, is
Christians know there is a future.  We have something to look forward
to.  There is a knowing that all is well with a Christian.  We do not
count this earth as our home.  Our home is in heaven.  We are longing
for the day when we go home to be with our Lord, and we have no fear of
what man can do to us.  At the worst, he can just hurry our going
home.

     Mark 13:8 "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and
there shall be famines and troubles: these [are] the beginnings of
sorrows."

     This last terrible earthquake in Russia is similar to what this
is speaking of. India, and parts of Africa, have such devastating
famine now that it is beyond our comprehension.  All of verse 8
indicates, to me, that we are already in this time of sorrow.  People's
hearts are failing for the things that are coming upon the earth.
Luke 21:26 "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after
those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven
shall be shaken." These warnings from the Lord are to prepare us.  He
lets us know that times will be rough just before the Lord returns to
earth.  Men will cry peace, but there will be no peace.  Calamities,
wars, and natural disasters come to cause people to repent. Christians
should use the opportunity to try to win people to the Lord.  We
cannot stop the disaster, but we can help those devastated by the
disaster find a better way.

     Mark 13:9  "But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver
you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye
shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them."

     This particular statement here was directed to the disciples.
Certainly, we know that all of these things did happen to them.  This
was to prepare them when these things happened.  My own personal
belief is that the true believers of Jesus Christ will suffer
persecution in our time, as well.  Even now, if you try to live a holy,
blameless life before the Lord, the religious people will ridicule you
and cause you trouble in the flesh.  In our society today, few want to
face persecution for the Lord and His Word.  Compromise is everywhere.
The flesh of man is at enmity with God. It is easier to just give in
than to stand firm in God.

     Mark 13:10 "And the gospel must first be published among all
nations."

     By television and satellite this has been fulfilled.  The good
news of the Lord Jesus Christ has now been proclaimed throughout the
world, so one more thing has happened that must happen before the
return of the Lord.

     Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up,
take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye
premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that
speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

     We see, here, a continuation of verse 9.  This was a prophetic
word for the disciples and for us, also.  I, also, believe that this,
perhaps, is an expansion on preaching the gospel to all nations, as
well.  You see, the Lord has a message for this hour, as well as then.
I believe the Lord would have His ministers bringing His Words that He
puts into their hearts and mouths.  All of the planning in the world
to prepare a message for a given group is not half as effective as
allowing the Lord to speak through you.  The Lord wants obedient
ministers who are willing to be open vessels to be used by Him.  One
of the hardest things for people of our day to do (whether they are
ministers or just Christians) is to allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives,
as well as our Saviour.  We see in the last sentence of verse 11, it is
not us speaking, it is the Holy Ghost within us speaking, if we make
Jesus our Lord.  Make Jesus Lord of your life today.


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                           Mark 26 Questions

1.  What did the disciple bring to the Lord's attention as He left the
    temple?
2.  What was the temple the permanent home of?
3.  Who had built the temple?
4.  What did Jesus say about the stones of the temple?
5.  About how many years later was the temple destroyed?
6.  Who went to the mount of Olives this time with Jesus?
7.  What did they ask Jesus when they got Him alone?
8.  What does the mount of Olives overlook?
9.  Why, possibly, did Jesus speak more openly to these four disciples
    than the others?
10. What were these disciples looking for to set the time by?
11. What was the first warning Jesus gave them?
12. How is the only way you and I can keep from being deceived?
13. In I John 4:1, we are told to do what to see if someone is of God?
14. What should we be very careful not to be convinced of?
15. Those who come in His name proclaim to be whom?
16. Where will we see Jesus when He returns to earth?
17. We are warned not to be troubled about ____ and rumors of ___.
18. When will there be peace upon the earth?
19. Where are we expected to have personal peace?
20. What does the author believe the abuse of drugs and alcohol is?
21. At the very worst, what can the enemy of a Christian do to them?
22. Describe what is taking place on the earth at the beginning of
    sorrows.
23. What does Luke 21:26 tell us about fear?
24. Name three things that come to cause people to repent.
25. Who was Jesus speaking specifically to in verse 9, when He said you
    will be brought before kings?
26. If you try to live holy before your Lord, who will ridicule you?
27. Where shall the gospel be preached before the end?
28. What two messages do we see in verse 11 about letting the Holy
    Ghost speak through you?
29. What is the most effective sermon?
30. What should we allow Jesus to be to us, besides our Saviour?


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