Scripture Reflections

Our reading this past Sunday from Mark 13 began in verse 24: “But in those days, after that tribulation”—what tribulation? Speaking privately to his disciples James, John, and Andrew (verses 3-4), Jesus is referring back to what he has just told them of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (verses 5-23). Having spoken of that tribulation to come in their near future (Jerusalem was taken and the temple completely destroyed in 70 AD), Jesus then goes on in Mark 13:24-37 to speak of his return at the end of time—an event still to come in our future.

We know James, John, and Andrew, our fathers in the faith, heard and marked Jesus’ warning concerning the coming destruction of Jerusalem: there were no Christians remaining in that city when the Romans came in with awful destruction; they had all fled in accordance with Jesus’ words in verse 14. But what does it look like for us to mark and take seriously Jesus’ warning to us concerning his second coming? In verse 37, it is as if Jesus turns from those three disciples with whom he has been talking to look directly at us, the church throughout time and place: “And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

We live in light of Jesus’ return, remembering—holding fast in the midst of deep darkness—"Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” We can learn from those who have gone before us, joining with them in looking forward to this promised return. From Isaiah’s powerful plea, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down!” (Is. 64:1a) to John’s powerful closing words of Scripture, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20b), there is a beautiful chorus echoing throughout Scripture of God’s people declaring our desperate need for him and passionately looking forward to his coming.

“Stay awake!” he says to us. We do not seek to stay awake out of fear, but instead in eager anticipation, for he comes with words of love and grace. We long for the promised declaration he will cry out over us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” We wait with wakeful hearts for his return because we wait for one who longs for us and will give peace to us. The refrain we sang during the reading of the Psalm this past Sunday is such needed encouragement as we go through our days, which are sometimes in deep shadow.

“He will show his mercy to us, mercy that shines bright as the sun, and in the shadow of death, he will guide us on to peace.”

-Rebekah