Holy Week Devotional

Thursday Evening

Read Mark 13:1-37

Hello friends,

Below you will find our Holy Week Devotional for today from Mark 13:1-37.

As you read this passage today, you may have had feelings of discomfort or confusing thoughts.  This passage is known as “The Apocalyptic Discourse.”  Apocalyptic literature is about the revelation of the end times/end of the age as often revealed by a heavenly messenger.  Examples in the Bible include the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation.  Our scripture today fits this not easily understood genre.

It is the longest discourse of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel outside of the parables in chapter four.  These sayings of Jesus shift the focus from Jesus’ and his disciples’ actions to events that will follow Jesus’ death and to the end times.  Many Christian have an uneasy relationship with this discourse and apocalyptic literature for different reasons.  I am among them, not so much because of the discourse itself, but because of the history of misinterpretation and misapplication through years of Christian history.  Books such as the Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind Series as well as movies such as a Thief in the Night and the Left Behind films have been best sellers in some Christian circles.  Many other “prophetic” books and “preachers” will speculate about whether different current events are signs of the “end times.”  Even those outside of Christian circles can give into a survivalist mindset.  Think back to survivalists who stockpiled food and water before Y2K.  It seems to me these so-called modern day “prophets” and “preachers” have forgotten Jesus words in Mark 13:32, “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  Many have spent an inordinate amount of time seeking to uncover the signs and ignored the instructions and promises in Jesus’ words in Mark 13.

Instead of our focus being on the “end times” what this passage is about is how to follow Jesus during times of social upheaval and civil strife.  There are many allusions in the passage to conditions facing Mark’s original audience, conditions that were the result of the Jewish revolt against Rome.  These include war (v.7), social turmoil (v.12) flight from Jerusalem (v.14b), false prophets from within the Christian Community (vv, 5-6, 21) desecration of the Temple (v.14), and the Temples destruction (v.2).   How do Jesus’ disciples live in such times?  Jesus tells us how.

First, we stay focused on our task, to preach the gospel.  (v.9-13) Sharing the Gospel will often lead to opposition, but we are not to fret.  Sharing the Gospel will even lead to division within families, (v12) but we are called to “endure” (v13) to “persevere.”  We are invited to continue to hope and to be patient.  Finally, we are called to stay watchful, to keep awake and remain faithful to the tasks we have been assigned. (v.34-37).  The task we have been assigned is not to endlessly speculate about whether current events are signs of “the end,” rather it is first to preach the Gospel, to invite people to participate in the in-breaking reign of God’s kingdom first begun in Jesus of Nazareth.

Second, it requires us to “pay attention” to oneself.  Early religious orders practiced a time of examining one’s conscience.  Members of the order would assess how their behavior of the day just past reflected “or neglected” the conduct expected of them.  For those in groups like AA they are invited to practice step 10 each day, “continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.”  Such spiritual practices help members to be aware, stay awake, and prepared to meet their master when the end comes.  Perhaps this Holy Week is a time to consider incorporating a similar daily practice in your life.

Closing Prayer

LORD, help me to stay focused on the tasks you have assigned to me, to stay close to you and to share your love.  Amen.

David Braneky

Pastor

Grace Baptist Church of Blue Bell

P.O. Box 122, 437 Skippack Pike & Lewis Lane

Blue Bell, PA 19422

www.gbcbb.org

(O)215-628-2077

(C)215-609-2224