"Staying With the Game Plan" - Teaching Mark 13:1-23

1. Introduction

This is NOT a passage through which to determine future dates and events, this is clear by the way Jesus answers the questions put to him (in the movement from verse 4 to verse 5). This passage seeks to move the reader away from any preoccupation with such distracting matters, toward coping skills in the face of the complexity of what we often find as we travel through life as a follower of Jesus. This passage offers a realistic view of life in a world operating far from God’s plan, and how a disciple of Jesus should live in view of this. When we are so pressured, this is when we will really have to stay with the “game plan”.

If only the Carlton players would stay with the “game plan” every week! Judd out of the centre to Murphy, a hand-pass wide to Gibbs, back into the corridor to Stevens, then a kick down Fevola’s throat 35 metres out directly in front. But the weekend football match is not the same as a training drill, there’s a real opposition out there, and sometimes such opposition is a very daunting proposition … which tends to make you fumble the ball and forget all the rudiments of the game. So it is with the Christian life – it is the basics [of the Christian life] – our “game plan” if you like – that we have to stick with … when faced by a hostile opposition!

2. Visions of the Complexity of Life in the Kingdom of God and Our Response

The opposition that is dealt with in this passage can be categorised into three areas. Firstly – the destruction of the temple; secondly – false teachings; and then thirdly – wars, disasters & persecutions. The Gospel of Mark here gives us some visions of the complexity of life in the Kingdom of God, and some insight into what our response should be.

(a) Destruction of the temple (v.1-2)

It seems that at least one disciple was hugely impressed by the temple in Jerusalem, the big ornate structure that it was (v.1). But a building was all it was! We are rightly impressed by certain beautiful cathedrals we may have visited around the world … as pieces of great architecture, with the many accompanying artworks; but in comparison to the person of Jesus, such structures dissolve into relative insignificance. Such a temple had not generally led to the community of Israel finding closer relationship with God … humanity ultimately only found such intimate relationship with God through a cross and an old empty cave (not through any cathedral no matter how grand).

People of the time trusted that God would not let the temple in Jerusalem be destroyed yet again as it had been centuries earlier; but at the same time had continued to fail to take seriously the true prophets and their calls for justice for the oppressed, and lately also failed to recognise God in their own midst in the person of Jesus. So the temple would not survive the Romans’ response to the 1st century Jewish revolt. But on the other hand, the movement of people who would follow Jesus into building a spiritual church in his name … their work would survive through into the 21st century.

Jesus here wants to let us know what, and what not, to really be impressed with. This is a strong reminder as to where our trust should lie … not in things that are of human construction, material things; but rather in the person of Jesus and the nature of his ministry in the world. Thus Kelber calls this disciple’s attitude (in verse 1), “a case of misplaced admiration”. The stones of this outdated building are nothing in comparison to the great ‘cornerstone’ of the ‘new temple’ … Jesus (12:10-11). Our faith is built on the life of a person, a person who was also God.

(b) False teachers (v.5-6; 21-23)

We have to be careful of anyone who comes to us and says that they have absolute authority or complete understanding over spiritual matters. Our reference point is not the words of man, but rather the person of Jesus as described in the Bible. Anything we are told or taught must stand up to the scrutiny of scripture (particularly the words and attitudes of Jesus as presented in the gospels). Whereas the Bible doesn’t cover all the specific ethical questions or particular decisions we will need to make, there are sufficient guideposts there to set us in the right direction. So if we don’t want to float from proposition to proposition or influential speaker to influential speaker, then we will need a good grasp of the Bible to test each thing we hear.

That is why we start with the Bible in our messages here. The idea is to let the Bible speak to whatever our personal and collective issues are; relying heavily on the Holy Spirit, and then on each other, to get the interpretation and applications right. I open my mouth first and foremost to suggest that the Bible can help, and here are some tools to understand what it is saying. Many people have been lead astray by those promising much and delivering little or much worse. This is because such messages have originated solely within the agenda of the speaker.

As we know especially from (Paul’s letter to the) Galatians, there were many false teachers operating in the period between Jesus’ resurrection and the writing of Mark – deceiving Christians into acting in ways contrary to God’s best. Paul had to challenge such teachers, as well as correct those who had been swayed inappropriately. Thus, we must learn discernment and spend time in the Bible. When we don’t understand what is said, then we need to ask those who have proven themselves reliable to steer us straight. What is the basic teaching of the Bible from which we should not stray? To love God, receive Jesus and his forgiveness, walk with him day by day, and love our neighbour in God’s name > that’s the game plan that will win the grand final this year!

As verse 23 states so clearly, we need to be alert as to where we are and whether we are still on track with Jesus as our leader (more on this next week). [“I have already told you everything” … generally speaking, those of us who have been following Jesus and reading the Word of God for a while, already know basically everything we need to survive … just needing constant refreshers and some good encouragement to flourish.]

(c) Wars, conflicts, disasters, betrayals, persecution (v.7-9; 12-13)

Whereas war and violence never had a part in God’s created order, the moment freewill was abused this was an inevitable result. Person would strike out at another person, even brother would murder brother (as Cain did with Abel), and nation will take up arms against another nation. We live in a world where conflict raises its head every day … in the school-yard, in the workplace, on the road, in the home. People’s differing priorities collide and conflict ensues. We are not going to be exempt from experiencing this, but we are called to respond to it in particular ways, the most basic of which is: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

We have the role of bringing peace, essentially the peace of Christ, to troubled places. Romans 12:18 reads, “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all”. This would apply to our own personal circumstances, and then extend toward the example we should bring in our neighbourhoods; with 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 reading: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation … All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” i.e. bringing people together.

When so-called natural disasters occur, rather than shaking our faith, or coming as unexpected, they should send us to the front-line to help the injured and grieving. As Romans 8:19 puts it, “…the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God”. It will be through adversity that the hope of God will be seen in the followers of Jesus. When faced with all sorts of betrayal and hostility we should seek to hang-in, hang-in and hang-in, for ultimately God will save us and God’s name will be glorified.

When it comes to persecution, this often happens to those who stand up and stand out … against injustice or immorality, upsetting a comfortable and entrenched status quo that works for certain powerful vested interests. You say what persecution! You say that at least in this country being a Christian is safe! Well then perhaps we need to reassess what Jesus might be saying to our culture and politics and get out onto the edge a bit more. This is like in football when instead of hanging outside the pack looking for an easy kick, you have to get your head over the ball, and take the risk of being hit.

3. Necessities of Discipleship

This passage also has some general things to say about necessities in discipleship.

(a) Proclaiming the Good News (v.10-11)

Sometimes we think that we won’t know what to say, especially when under pressure. But we are not alone – we are not left to purely our own devices – God is with us and continually giving us snippets of insight and little ways of communicating with others. We see this clearly in the Book of Acts, as previously unsure and weak disciples, having experienced the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, spoke out with power and effectiveness. We read at Acts 4:13 … “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realised that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognised them as companions of Jesus”.

(b) Travelling light (v.14-16)

At verse 14 we read about something categorised as “the desolating sacrilege”. This could possibly be regarded as the most unspeakable affront to God imaginable (involving the most shocking of occurrences). When under any such severe oppression or danger, there will be the need to travel light and not be under the weight of a lot of unnecessary material things. The picture in verse 15 is of someone seeing danger from his flat roof (a common place in this time for worship or for the drying and storing of fruit), and using the outside stairs to flee without stopping to collect anything from inside the house.

It’s a blessing to have nice things (good sound equipment, some DVDs, nice dining room setting, lovely garden, a Ford or two), as long as they’re in the right perspective; as long as they don’t weigh us down, as long as we’re not overly attached to them, as long as they don’t own us; as long as we can easily do without them and are ready to leave them behind. Recently many bushfire victims have had to work through what were the most valuable things in life! Despite the possibility of material wealth in this country, we need to be able to travel lightly with Jesus whenever and wherever necessary.

(c) Prayer (v.17-20)

Sometimes under pressure we can forget about God, and forget about the amazing resources that we have in God. God can bring about change in response to our prayers, as these prayers align with God’s will. This means that what otherwise might have been adequate can be transformed toward what will be ideal. We might be able to get on okay with the people at work, but prayer may just mean that we will find unprecedented friendships with those who might have only previously been distant acquaintances. The situation that we’re currently struggling through may be opened up into unthought of resolution and blessing. We can pray that God will be so close that we will cope through whatever comes to us. We can pray that our children will be protected from evil and find helpful companions. We can pray about whatever needs resolution and for the touch of a miracle working God.

4. Conclusion

What were some of the things to be learned from this passage?

· Honouring Jesus above all things
· Knowing the Bible and being discerning about what we believe
· Being peace-makers and making a difference
· Allowing God’s Spirit to speak through us
· Travelling light with Jesus
. Utilising the full potential of prayer.