Search for the Coming King!
In a altering and unsure world, God’s guarantees give us hope.
Every of the three Synoptic Gospels data Jesus’s Speech on the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21). This was his final prolonged phrase to his disciples earlier than he confronted his loss of life, and it is stuffed with guarantees designed to provide us hope. The speech comes after Jesus’s ultimate entry to Jerusalem on a donkey, and after his interactions with Jerusalem’s leaders within the temple (Matt. 21–23; Mark 11–12; Luke 19–20). It comes instantly earlier than his celebration of the final supper, his betrayal by Judas, his arrest in Gethsemane, his trials earlier than the Sanhedrin and Pilate, and his crucifixion (Matt. 26–27; Mark 14–15; Luke 22–23). The speech is usually referred to as “the Olivet Discourse” as a result of Jesus “sat on the Mount of Olives” when he spoke these phrases (Matt. 24:3; Mark 13:3). Realizing that his loss of life, resurrection, and ascension are close to (Matt. 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22), Jesus prepares his disciples for the top. He most instantly addresses these first disciples, and Mark specifies that he speaks privately to Peter, James, John, and Andrew (Mark 13:3). However our Lord knew that change and uncertainty would trigger concern and confusion in each era, and so he additionally speaks into the long run—to each era, together with our personal. On the finish of the speech he makes this clear, “what I say to you I say to all” (13:37).
The fast context for the speech is Jesus’s prophecy that the temple might be destroyed (Mark 13:1–3; cf. Matt. 24:1–2; Luke 21:5–6). His disciples then ask him, “when will these items be, what would be the signal when all these items are about to be achieved?” (Mark 13:4; cf. Matt. 24:3; Luke 21:7). Some interpreters see the entire speech referring to occasions within the first century (the “preterist” interpretation). Others maintain that the entire speech refers to occasions that even now stay sooner or later (the “futurist” interpretation). The commonest interpretation, nonetheless, and one of the best, understands that Jesus speaks of each the fast and the final word future. He speaks about “these items”—occasions that may happen inside a era. Past that, he additionally speaks of the entire church age and of his personal return in glory on the finish. On this speech, subsequently, our Lord teaches his first disciples—and us—the right way to dwell faithfully within the interval between his resurrection and return.
Over the course of 12 weeks, readers will examine key themes from Jesus’ speech on the Mount of Olives, studying the right way to belief in God’s sovereignty and dwell faithfully as they await Christ’s return.
There are variations between the three synoptic accounts, however Jesus’s speech has the identical primary construction in every of them. Recognizing this construction helps to unlock its which means. Within the Gospel of Mark, we discover that Jesus teaches his disciples to count on first God’s judgment on Jerusalem (13:5–23), after which his ultimate coming because the Son of Man (13:24–27). “All these items” regarding God’s judgment of Jerusalem, he says, will happen inside a era (13:28–31; cf. 13:4), however “that day and hour”—the day and hour of his return—will come at an unknown future level (13:32–37). This provides Jesus’s speech an A B A1 B1 sample. He first addresses the query of what to anticipate, in two components (A 13:5–23; B 13:24–27), after which the query of when the prophesied occasions will happen, additionally in two components (A1: 13:28–21; B1: 13:32–37). We are able to lay this out as follows:
| Introduction | Mark 13:1–4 | Jesus’s prophecy and the disciples’ query |
| A | Mark 13:5–23 | What? “This stuff” regarding the temple’s destruction |
| B | Mark 13:24–27 | What? The “coming” of “the Son of Man” |
| A1 | Mark 13:28–31 | When? “This stuff” inside a era |
| B1 | Mark 13:32–37 | When? “That day” unknown |
By structuring his speech this manner, Jesus teaches that the 2 climactic occasions are theologically associated however chronologically distinct. They’re theologically associated as a result of they each manifest God’s judgment—first on Jerusalem, after which on all of the nations. They’re chronologically distinct as a result of there might be a big interval between the destruction of Jerusalem and the top itself (13:20, 24; cf. Luke 21:24).
This vital interval between the destruction of Jerusalem and the top itself opens house for the church’s life and mission till Jesus’s returns. Jesus’s speech subsequently consists of warnings that apply to the entire church age. The entire interval might be characterised by wars, earthquakes, famines, persecutions, divisions, and deceptions (13:5b–13, 21–23). This stuff are usually not but “the top” (13:7, 13). They’re solely “the start of the delivery pains”—indicators that God’s new world is on the best way (13:8). We shouldn’t be alarmed (13:7). However we should be on our guard, so we aren’t led astray (13:5b, 9, 21–23). Jesus’s speech additionally consists of instructions and guarantees that apply to the entire church age. The gospel should be proclaimed to all nations (13:10). The Holy Spirit will allow us to bear witness to Christ (13:11). The one who endures to the top might be saved (13:13).
Within the midst of those common directions, Jesus warns his disciples that inside their very own lifetimes “the abomination of desolation” might be discovered “standing the place he ought to not be” (13:14). He attracts this picture from the prophet Daniel, who hyperlinks “the abomination” to the “desolation” of the Jerusalem temple (Dan. 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). Jesus thus prophesies that Jerusalem itself might be destroyed, because the Gospel of Luke makes clear (Luke 21:20). This prophecy was fulfilled in AD70 when God despatched the Roman armies to besiege and destroy town. It was God’s judgment on his faithless individuals, on town that rejected his Son. Jesus subsequently warns his disciples to flee from town at the moment (13:14). He additionally guarantees that God himself will “reduce quick the times” in order that the gospel will exit to the nations and all of God’s “elect”—believing Jews and Gentiles collectively—might be saved (13:14–20).
Finally, this ultimate day—when Jesus comes to evaluate the world—might be a day of pleasure for all of those that are ready for him.
On the climax of the speech, Jesus lifts our eyes to the top. In Mark 13:24 he says “however in these days, after that tribulation …” The robust distinction signifies that he now speaks of a brand new time frame. Jesus underlines the excellence by explaining that whereas the disciples will see the destruction of Jerusalem—“if you see …” (13:14), the entire world will see the climactic occasions of the top—“then they may see …” (13:26). What the world will see is Jesus himself, “the Son of Man, coming in clouds with nice energy and glory” (13:26). That is the wonderful ultimate day of Jesus’s return to evaluate the world. He speaks of himself as “the Son of Man”—the wonderful determine from Daniel’s imaginative and prescient who comes on the clouds to ascertain God’s kingdom over all of the earth (Dan. 7:13–14). It’s true that in his first coming, “the Son of Man got here to not be served however to serve and to provide his life as a ransom for a lot of” (Mark 10:45). However in his second coming, he’ll come from heaven in energy and glory to evaluate and to reign over all of the earth. Each eye will see him coming (cf. Rev. 1:7). After which he’ll ship out his angels to assemble his elect from the ends of the earth (13:27).
This ultimate coming of Jesus might be nothing lower than the ultimate coming of God. Like the approaching of God introduced within the prophets, Jesus’s coming will convulse the cosmos (Mark 13:24–25; cf. Isa. 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:10; 3:14–15). Within the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus provides that—like the approaching of God at Sinai—his coming might be introduced by a “loud trumpet name” (Matt. 24:31; cf. Ex. 19:16–17; Isa. 27:12–13; Zech. 9:14–17). It should mild up the sky “like lightening” (Matt. 24:27; cf. Ex. 19:16; Ps. 18:14; Zech. 9:14). Jesus additional expands this image to make it clear that when he comes, he’ll come to evaluate and to reign. He might be seated as “King” on his royal “throne” (Matt. 25:31, 34). All of the nations might be gathered earlier than him to obtain his blessing or his curse (25:31, 34, 41). His devoted servants will hear his voice saying “nicely finished good and devoted servant” (25:21, 23). They’ll “inherit the dominion ready” for them “from the muse of the world” (25:34). However the depraved, who rejected him, might be forged out of his presence and endure everlasting punishment (25:41, 46). And so God’s kingdom will are available all its fullness.
These are weighty realities, and so Jesus urges his disciples—and us—to be prepared for that nice ultimate day. In contrast to “all these items” regarding the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred inside a era (Mark 13:29–30; cf. 13:4), the ultimate “day” and “hour” are unknown (13:32). Trustworthy disciples should, subsequently, “be on guard” and “preserve awake,” ever prepared for the Lord’s return (13:33). To be prepared for the approaching King we should, basically, repent of our sins, and embrace him as our Savior. We should keep away from being weighed down with sin and pray for his energy to persevere in religion (Luke 21:34–36). We should serve him with the presents and abilities he gives (Matt. 25:14–30). We should take care of the least of those his brothers (25:35–40) and play our half in taking the gospel to the nations (24:14). Finally, this ultimate day—when Jesus comes to evaluate the world—might be a day of pleasure for all of those that are ready for him. The apostle Peter, who was there on the mountain when Jesus gave this speech, encourages us: “set your hope absolutely on the grace that might be delivered to you on the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13). In a altering and unsure world, this promise of but extra grace is what we have to give us hope.
Murray Smith is the creator of Jesus’ Speech on the Mount of Olives: A 12-Week Examine.
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