Beware! Destruction Ahead
The text for this week is Mark 13:1-8. This is a short passage that sees Jesus foretelling the destruction of the temple. Jesus is explaining this to the disciples. There are other times when He is predicting this to the Jewish leaders, which gets Him in trouble. In this passage Jesus explains that all that they see of this edifice will be “thrown down”. This must have been jarring language even for the Apostles.
Jesus then explains to several of them what this might mean. Specifically, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus when all this may occur and what signs will occur to let them know it is happening. Interestingly, Jesus does not actually tell them when. He has in other passages demurred from a specific timeline. He has stated that the end will come “like a thief in the night”, that is, unannounced.
Jesus does indicate that there will be signs. However, He warns against false prophets and those who falsely claim to be Jesus returned. He is cautioning against being led astray by these false teachers. Jesus speaks in general terms of wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines and other distress. Yet, He says that even this is only the beginning, the end is yet to be. All in all, very cryptic.
Our Response
What are we to make of all this? First, do not worry about when the end is coming. Jesus is clear, even He does not know. All this is the will of the Father. As for the signs, the “birth pangs”, they look a lot like the long sweep of human history. How are we to tell one set of wars, rumors of wars, natural disasters from normal human deviancy from the beginning of the end. Short answer, we cannot, so do not try. The best advice in this passage is to not be led astray.
If we are trying to tell a real prophet from our Lord and Savior, then listen carefully to what they say. Is someone telling you to love God and love your neighbor? Are they telling you to seek first the Kingdom of God, to forgive and seek peace? Are they calling out the hypocrites and the posers? If so, they are from God, they are a part of the prophetic tradition.
If they are all too cozy with the power structure and lording it over those in need, sitting high up in their mansions, and going about demanding respect, then they are false prophets. If you hear a voice telling you whom to fear, and hate, and telling you who to harm, then trust that this is not God speaking to you, but rather the other guy. We know deep in our souls what God would have us do in response to His gifts of grace upon grace. We know how to follow the righteous path.
So, in the end, simply be ready. Live each day as though it may be your last. I know this is a cliché. Yet, it is a cliché precisely because it is true. We are likely to step into eternity at the end of our natural lives, rather than be a part of the end. So, just praise God, love Him, and love your neighbor and forgive one more time than you think you ought to. This is how we prepare for the end, ours or the universe’s. We prepare by simply believing, then obeying.
Praise Be to God
