Mark 14:22-26

Mark 14:22-26  While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”  Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.  “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.  “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”  When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

The bread--his body--broken for many.  The blood--his covenant--shed for many.  Are you one of the many is the question?  And I would suppose because you are partaking of this breakfast you are one of the many.  Now that demands a shout of rejoicing before you go on eating.  I don't know if we really realize what the above passage is saying to us.  Yes, we Christians have a cognitive understanding of this passage, for we have heard many wonderful ministers and scholars describe what it all means, but the reality of these verses sometimes escapes us, for if we truly appreciated the implications of this passage, I suspect we could not remain seated to further partake of this breakfast, for our feet would be too busy dancing for joy.  The exuberance of our spirits would be too much for our flesh to contain.  Our feet would hardly hit the ground.  I suspect our voices would grow hoarse quickly for our vocal cords could not withstand the magnitude of our shouts of hosannas and praises to the Lord.  

Yes, in the above scripture, Jesus says, "Partake of me."  And his implication is if you don't partake of me, you have no part in me.  The Gospel of John says by partaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, we take on his eternal nature.  We are from then on found IN HIM and He is IN US.  My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.  (John 17:20-23)  This is the great mystery of the gospel, that the Son of God would come down to Earth to make sons and daughters for the living God.  God had a plan that we Christians would from now would be called sons and daughters of the most high, known into eternity as children of God.  I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.  (1 Corinthians 6:18)  

Doesn't all this good news make you rejoice?  How can you put another bite in your mouth without great rejoicing on your lips and tears in your eyes, for God has delivered you from sin and death?  HALLELUJAH!  Then Jesus goes on further to say, "This wine represents my blood."  Blood in those times always sealed a covenant.  From the time of the shedding of Christ's blood until forever, this covenant is in place.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NEVER BE BROKEN.  Otherwise, we will always be God's righteous children.  We will never be destroyed, for we are part of HIM.  WE ARE HIS PEOPLE--THE SHEEP OF HIS PASTURES.  The blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, has satisfied the wrath of God, has broken the enmity between God and man.  His blood has literally sealed the day.  We are now behind the veil in the HOLY OF HOLIES; we are literally covered by the sinless blood of THE LAMB.  We no longer have to cower before the ALMIGHTY GOD in fear of the wrath to come, for HE, CHRIST, has paid the price for our redemption.  Rejoice, daughters of the LORD.  Rejoice, sons of the MOST HIGH.  FOR YOU HAVE BEEN REDEEMED!  Surely this should give you dancing feet.

Mark 14:17-21

Mark 14:17-21  When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.  While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me — one who is eating with me.”  They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?”  “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me.  The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.  But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!  It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 

Judas participated in the ministry of Jesus.  He was an integral part of the "Good News."  Yet, the materialism of this world got to him.  I am sure the sermons and parables Jesus told impacted him, too, but the finiteness of his life and the need to enhance it brought him to a place where thirty pieces of silver were more important than serving Christ.  In an earlier breakfast, we saw Esau succumbing to his fleshly desires by selling his birthright for a serving of stew.  Judas and Esau cavalierly rejected God's purposes for their lives by satiating their fleshly desires.  To us their self-willed decisions are astounding, but we know the tragic results of their actions.  I sometimes get a feeling of impending tragedy when I observe what goes on in church.  Many Christians in the pews are not entering into the spirit of the service, into worship.  I don't think they really understand what they are doing.  They are spiritually selling out that moment of worship for a pot of stew or thirty pieces of silver or the comforts of their own thoughts and attitudes.  To collectively worship the Lord is a tremendous honor, a privilege.  I am sure God finds great pleasure in our whole-hearted worship.  Heaven will consist of worship and honor to the Lord.  We fail to realize the significance of our actions when we don't enter in, for when we gather as a collective body, the Spirit of God is there in power and authority.    

Do we believe that the very presence of God is in our midst when we gather together and we are no longer just flesh and bones but living, newborn creatures in the household of God?  Do we realize that the Spirit is saying, "Let my will be done, not man's fleshly will."  Sometimes our attitudes are almost like a betrayal of the Son of Man.  Our attitude says to God, I don't have to bring my flesh around to praise you this morning, I don't have to worship you, I will do my will, I will sit here in a funk or I will just see if the Spirit moves me or not.  As with most Christians, we say, Surely not I.  You know, Lord, I am disciplined enough not to ever betray you; surely you know I will stand by you always.  Later on we will read about the disciples falling asleep in the garden when they should have been praying with Jesus.  Once again they say attitudinally, Surely not I.  I WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.  SURELY NOT I.  Jesus needed them in the garden.  Likewise every church gathering needs each one of us.  Every ministry where Jesus is needs every believer.  Everything done in the Lord's name NEEDS YOU.  As Christians we are to be generators, not thermostats.  When we participate in the church, we should be stirring up the Spirit within each believer, not testing or judging whether there is enough of God's Spirit there for us to willingly participate.  

This is a very strong breakfast, maybe too much hot sauce on the scrambled eggs, yet it may be needed by some of us who have become spectators in what is meant to be a participatory activity.  But it is not a breakfast meant to condemn you, but to stir you up.  "One of the twelve will betray me,"  Jesus says.  Judas was part of the church's inner circle, but still he was willing to allow his fleshly self to dictate how he wanted to live his life.  I guess he wanted to live it for himself, for he betrayed Jesus for a bag of silver.  How sad he was when he realized what he had done.  How sad we will be if we realize we have lived our lives for ourselves and not for our Lord.  Jesus says, "Lose your life."  The flesh says, "Save your life.  Do your will, do only what you want to do."  We are flesh without the life and power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus needs us, and He came that we might have joy and live life to the fullest in him.  He needs us to pray, to worship, to serve, to dedicate our lives to him.  By the way, that kind of commitment is one that brings great joy; the other commitment to the flesh brings a need to find joy.  The flesh will always be seeking another activity, another place, another experience, another dwelling place to find rest and peace.  Today is a good day to enter into the joy of the Lord.

Mark 14:12-16

Mark 14:12-16  On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”  So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.  Follow him.  Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready.  Make preparations for us there.”  The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them.  So they prepared the Passover. 

Jesus prophetically knew there was a place in the city already clean enough to celebrate the Passover.  He sent his disciples ahead to acquire that room, and his disciples and He celebrated the Passover Feast there.  There they drank the wine, they ate the unleavened bread, they consumed the lamb.  This room had to be spotless, so clean that not even one crumb of leavened bread could be there.  Leavened bread has yeast in it.  Yeast in the Bible metaphorically depicted sin.  No sin could be in the environment of the Passover celebration.  So it is with us, we literally celebrate the Passover in our upper room, our souls.  Our souls have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.  In our upper rooms, we have been made so holy that the Almighty God can interact with us, commune with us.  Yes, God has made us spotless with the blood of the Lamb and because of that, our celebration of the Passover is now a continuous one.  We sing songs of glory to the Highest, praise the name of the Lord God Almighty.  We sing songs of his delivering us from the bondage of Egypt.  We sing songs about the life He has given us.  Our praises flow freely to him, for we are no longer in slavery to sin.  The songs and praises are a continuous sacrifice to the Lord; they are a sweet smelling incense to his nostrils.  

I am sure Jesus told those who were feasting in the upper room, "Eat up, eat the lamb that was broken for you, drink the wine, partake of the bread, for God has redeemed his forsaken, has shown his favor on the lost, has delivered the broken and downhearted from their sins, has healed the blind.  My disciples, drink the wine of rejoicing because all who have placed the blood over the doorposts of their houses were delivered."  However, I am sure Jesus was thinking about THE LAMB OF GOD'S SACRIFICE,  about his day of atonement.  As Christians we partake of communion often to remember the day THE LAMB WAS BROKEN FOR US, WHO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US.  We partake figuratively, but Jesus said in the spirit we partake literally.  Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.  (John 6:53-56)  Christ's sacrifice was real: we partake of him in reality in heaven where we experience life eternal, not figuratively.  His body was broken for us, his blood was shed for us.  At the table in heaven, we do partake of that reality.  We are made whole through that reality.  Our feast is continuous.  Right now his blood constantly cleanses and cleanses again, putting us in right standing with God the Father.  We are continuously healed in spirit and body.  The Lamb has been sacrificed and his sacrifice was complete.  Come to the altar.  Come to the table.  Partake.

Mark 14:10-11

Mark 14:10-11  Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.  They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money.  So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.  

Genesis 25:29-34  Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.  He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew!  I’m famished!”  (That is why he was also called Edom.)  Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”  “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said.  “What good is the birthright to me?”  But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”  So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.  Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew.  He ate and drank, and then got up and left.  So Esau despised his birthright. 

The question about the Mark passage is: Why did Judas Iscariot betray Jesus?  We read that he was one of the Twelve.  Judas was in the inner circle, the inner clique.  He conversed with Jesus.  He slept by Jesus' side at night.  He heard Jesus' voice in song.  He saw Jesus' tears as He wept over Jerusalem.  He saw the miracles.  He saw the demons flee. Then why would he betray his companion of wisdom, power, and love to the powers of the day: the sanctimonious Jewish elite and the hated Roman rulers?  What went wrong in Judas?  No one really knows, but one thing we do know: he threw all the allegiance and love that he had for Jesus away for a bowl of stew, for thirty pieces of silver, such a meager exchange.  He threw away his inheritance, his right to eternal life.  He rejected his privilege of being with the Son of God forever.  As with Esau, he despised his birthright.  Like Esau, he later repented of his deed, but it was too late.  

The book of Hebrews says, It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.  (Hebrews 6:4-6)  As the eldest in the family of Isaac, Esau was chosen to bring the Messiah to Earth through his lineage.  Through his bloodline, Jesus would be conceived.  But Esau threw that privileged position away for a fleshly desire, to satiate his hunger.  Judas was chosen to be one of the twelve, one of the twelve who would usher in the body of Christ, the church of the living God, the people who would bring good news to the world.  He would have been an elder in the church, an apostle, a founder.  He was to prepare the way for the Holy Spirit to establish his temple in the hearts of many.  But like Esau, his fleshly desire for a temporary satisfaction, in this case money, overcame his good judgment, and consequently he betrayed the Lord. 

We are warned in Hebrews 6 not to take lightly the things of God.  If we have tasted of the "heavenly gift," which I believe is Christ, we should cherish that revelation, holding it dear.  If we have "shared in the Holy Spirit," felt his loving presence in us, we should hold onto him.  If we have "tasted the goodness of the word of God," experienced the enlightenment of the Word, we should revel in it.  If we understand "the powers of the coming of age," we should rejoice for our coming King is near.  If we throw all of this away, for worldly delights or pleasures that are fleeting, we are throwing away our birthright.  Sometimes our very actions and reactions say, "Jesus Christ, you are not significant in my life; I don't really believe you are the Son of God.  To prove that, I will disown you.  I will allow the world to crucify you.  I will personally crucify you in MY LIFE.  As far as I am concerned, you are dead to me."  We may not have said those exact words, but our choices testify to where our hearts and our lives are heading: we are choosing a pot of stew or a bag of gold or a piece or land over the Lord of Lords in our lives.  Before you go that far, before there is no possibility of redemption, for redemption comes only through Jesus Christ, stop and consider the cost.  If you still believe that true salvation comes through Jesus Christ, you are always privileged to come back to God.  For you still have a way to the throne room, which is the blood of Jesus Christ.  If you are seeking the things of this world but longing to go back to the peace of serving only your Savior, Lord, and King, quickly repent, and return to him.  Rejoice, your Redeemer lives and makes intercession for you.  Today, plant your faith and trust in his work alone.

Mark 14:1-9

Mark 14:1-9  Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.  “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”  While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard.  She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.”  And they rebuked her harshly.  “Leave her alone,” said Jesus.  “Why are you bothering her?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want.  But you will not always have me.  She did what she could.  She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.  I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”  

In the above passage, we see Jesus prepared to be the bread of life for all mankind.  The anointing with oil was Jesus' preparation for burial.  Jesus was to be killed the afternoon before the Passover began, at the same time that many unblemished lambs were slaughtered for the ceremonial Passover Feast.  The woman in the above passage of course anointed Jesus out of love without really understanding what she was doing.  In reality, her anointing was not only an act of preparing Jesus' body for burial; her action also confirmed the perfection of the Lamb.  The Lamb was unblemished, the Lamb was beautiful, the Lamb was perfect, the Lamb was ready to be sacrificed.  She did not realize all of this, and she did not know that Jesus was going to be crucified.  And for sure she did not know that Jesus was the the Lamb of God, who was prepared before the foundation of the earth to free men from their sins.  She performed this holy service of inadvertently preparing the Lamb for sacrifice purely out of adoration, unselfish love; she did not expect anything in return. 

This act of lovingly pouring perfume upon Christ, dictated by the Holy Spirit, brought pleasure to God, for mankind would now be redeemed.  Finally the waiting was over, the redemption plan would be implemented, but as we see at the crucifixion when the sky was darkened, it also brought hurt to God, for his precious Son was on the cross, abused by sinful man.  Jesus was the definitive Passover Lamb.  His sacrifice, his blood, would completely satisfy the wrath of God toward sin.  Jesus would pay the price for the sin of mankind.  The beautiful smelling ointment was not only to bless Jesus; it was to highlight the beauty of the unblemished Lamb.  This perfect Lamb would bring deliverance to sinful man, would uncouple the chains that bound man to destruction, would clear him of his debt to God, for God will not let any sin go unpunished or stand in his eternal presence.  As with the Israelites, the Prince of the Air (depicted as Pharaoh) would not have any more authority over them.  They would be free from his terror and the terror of his hordes.  The blood of the Passover lamb would be placed over the doorway of each household, and the death angel, seeing the blood, would pass over that house.  From that time on, the Israelites would always be known as the redeemed, God's chosen people.  “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.  The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.  No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.  (Exodus 12:12-13)  

We, also, as we place the blood of Jesus over the personal doorways to our hearts by faith, are delivered from God's wrath and his judgment upon sin.  The angel of death will pass over us.  We will not be judged as the world will be judged.  We will not have to pay the penalty for sin.  We will find deliverance through the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God.  His blood is not a yearly sacrifice; his blood flows eternally before the very eyes of God.  His sacrifice is complete; it permanently satisfies the wrath of God and pays the price for every person who will accept Christ as Savior, Lord, and King.  We who are Christians are now called the redeemed.  We are the chosen ones, the ones delivered out of the land of Egypt, out of the land of sin and bondage.  We are FREE.  We are free to serve him, free to worship and to adore him.  We are free to be not only his servants, but his dearly loved children.  PRAISE GOD, WE ARE FREE!

Mark 12:32-37

Mark 12:32-37  “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Be on guard!  Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.  It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.  “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.  If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.  What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” 

Be on guard!  Be alert!  Watch!  Jesus is warning his followers always to be ready, always to have their lamps lit, never to be in the dark about Jesus Christ's soon return.  Why is He so emphatic about the need to be prepared, to know the day, the hour?  Jesus knows that everyone who is not prepared to meet God will face horrific judgment, of which no man can conceive.  He understands God's wrath on sin.  He knows that his second coming will usher in that final time of judgment, so He is telling his followers always to be prepared for the Judgment Day.  How can we be prepared for his second coming?  Are we always to be looking in the sky for his soon arrival?  Two thousands years have passed since He gave these admonitions.  What must our preparation be?  

Yes, we should always be prepared.  Not only should our lives be ready for his second coming, our lives should be lived as if He is in the room right now.  We should always live our lives as if Christ is in the room, for He surely is here in the form of the Holy Spirit.  When we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we have his presence in the likeness of the Holy Spirit who dwells within every Christian.  Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we have eternal life resident within us.  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  (1 John 5:11-12)  Eternal life with God means you are right with God, and to be right with God means you are righteous, and we know only one person completely pleased God and that was Jesus Christ.  So, when you place your faith in Jesus, and when you claim his sacrifice as yours, you become righteous in the sight of God, for you are washed by the blood of the Lamb.  However, our lives must be lived as a sacrifice to God.  We no longer claim our will, to live our lives as we want in the flesh; we  claim God's will, his life.  We seek his will.  We don't go to sleep and go on autopilot, doing the will of the flesh.  No, we stay alert: praying, meditating, praising God, seeking his face, doing good, sacrificing our will, forgiving our enemies, walking the second mile, looking in every way to emulate God.  Do not let him find you sleeping.   

The Bible says the unredeemed are dead in trespasses and sins. They are worse off than just sleeping.  For them it is not a matter of knowing the day or the hour of Jesus' returning.  It will not matter whether they scurry around the house to make it look better, for the Master will come for those He knows, his own.  He will come for those who were looking for him earlier in their lives, who invited him into their hearts as their Lord and Master.  He will be coming for those who experienced his death vicariously, for those who gave up their lives for his life when they had the opportunity.  We always should be looking for his second coming, but most of all we should accept his first coming into our hearts.  Jesus came to Earth so that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life with him.  When we accept his first coming, we will be ready.  Then our judgment will go before us in the form of Jesus Christ's death on the cross, so Jesus' coming will be a homecoming not a judgment day.  What a glorious day that will be!

Mark 13:28-31

Mark 13:28-31  “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.  I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 

Our eternal salvation rests with these words: my words will never pass away.  The scriptures clearly say that all we know, see, and hear can pass away, but his words, expressed through the unction of the Holy Spirit, will never pass away.  Sometimes as finite human beings we get confused by looking in the sky at night and beholding all that exists.  We wonder how can this infinitesimal place called Earth have any significance within the myriad of heavenly bodies that we observe?  How can we even compute with our finite minds the idea of that one light year is close to 5,880 trillion of our miles, and that our nearest star is 4.3 light years away, and that our galaxy, The Milky Way, is 120,000 light years in diameter?  How can we wrap our minds around such numbers?  Doesn't space reveal clearly our insignificance, our futile existence?  

But as Christians, we must remember that God is a spirit, that there is a spiritual domain where God exists.  The Bible tells us that the temple was filled with his presence.  People can be filled with his presence.  The spirit is like a wind; who can tell where it comes from or where it is going?  Genesis 1:1-2 says In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  From that Spirit came form, the tangible, the concrete.  We humans have been given a physical body with the ability to feel, touch, taste, see--to experience God's created reality, the material world.  Our bodies function well in this created world.  However, we really know only this material world, this existence that we can perceive with our senses.  Even the heavenlies in their unimaginable numbers are somewhat understandable to us because of our senses, but the spirit world is still largely unknown to us, for it is not perceived by our physical senses.  And that is where faith enters the picture, which biblically is known as the key to God's spiritual domain.  

The Bible indicates that faith alone pleases God--faith in his goodness, faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, faith that personal salvation comes through the cross and Christ's resurrection from the grave.  Everything we Christians know about God comes through faith in his words.  For sure, we believe his words will never pass away.  If our Earth, our universe passes away, if all the galaxies cease to exist, his spirit would still abide, and his words would still hold true.  When we pass from this earth, when our physical bodies cease to exist, our spirits will still abide.  Then we will truly see what existence is all about.  Jesus is saying in the above passage, when you see the fig tree budding, you should know that this age of physicality is coming to an end.  You will know that I will come again, and the heavens will be opened up to you.  In the twinkling of an eye, you will know all things.  You will understand the mystery of life.  The tears and absolute frustration that you are having in this physical world will disappear, for all your tears will be wiped away.  You will no longer look into the dark night and wonder why we are here.  YOU'LL KNOW, and your deepest anxieties will disappear, and joy will fill your heart.  THIS GENERATION IS YOUR GENERATION.  Ever since Jesus died on the cross, every generation has looked up to the skies for the soon coming of the Lord.  Every generation has said, come quickly my Lord and Savior.  Come quickly for I know you are my God.  I know you will satisfy all of my dreams, all of my fears.  COME QUICKLY!

Mark 13:24-27

Mark 13:24-27  “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’  “ At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.  And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

Who knows what will cause the sun to be darkened?  Will it be the natural evolution of the sun?  Will the sun's fusion slow up or even stop all together?  Will it be the simultaneous eruptions of many volcanoes and the subsequent ash that causes the sun to darken?  If the sun goes out, the moon will cease to shine.  But why stars falling?  Who knows.  Are they a product of our sun burning out, causing meteorites?  Who understands all these physical happenings?  But what we do know and rely upon is that the Son of Man will be coming in the clouds with great power and glory, with greater power than all the physical dysfunctions that are occurring at that time.  He will come in physical form, so we can see him.  He will come this time with his angels, the host of heaven.  And they will gather HIS ELECT from the four winds, FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO ENDS OF THE HEAVENS.  This is the end of an age, the age of creating mankind in his image.  At that time, the elect will know him for we will be LIKE HIM.  

This is not only a time of great rejoicing, but it is also a time of judgment.  This will be a time when God will consider all things that were done in the flesh.  And because God is a just God, He will repay with judgment all misdeeds, every errant word, every selfish act, every action unlike God.  No murder, no lie, no envy, no lust, no foolishness, no act of self-aggrandizement, no boasting, no fleshly act will escape his justness.  Our lives will be completely exposed to the all-consuming light.  Even our supposedly harmless mistreatment of our wives, husbands, or children will not go by without judgment.  All words and actions will come under his scrutiny in that final day.  The Bible says godless men, sinful men will come under God's judgment of fire and eternal damnation.   Well, who are we if not sinful?  The Bible says all men have gone their own way.  All have lined up against God sometime in their lives in words and deeds.  No one is righteous; therefore, we are all without hope when it comes to the day of judgment.  

However, rejoice, God's elect, for angels will gather God's precious ones from the far corners of heaven and Earth.  Why?  Because we have been redeemed by putting our trust and hope in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross.  By faith we have been washed by the blood of the sinless one, even Jesus Christ our Lord.  Our judgment has been satisfied by his shed blood at the cross.  We are now known as the sons and daughters of the Most High.  We, too, will come before the throne of God?  Paul says we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”  So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.  (Romans 14:10-12)  But praise God, Jesus will also be in the throne room and He will be our defense.  We will hide in him.  Therefore, we will not be judged as ungodly, unholy, unrighteous, unable to abide in the household of God, for we have been cleansed by our DEFENSE LAWYER'S BLOOD.  Today Jesus stands before the Father making intercession for us.  Consequently, we should be the best we can be.  We should be living examples of Jesus' mercy and love, his servanthood.  If not, we will face discipline, for we are not bastard children.  Judgment should ALWAYS first begin in ourselves.  For sure, we should not be quick to judge others, quick to anger, quick to hold our opinion above everyone else's.  We should be merciful, tenderhearted, and obedient to HIS WILL.  In James 2 it says, MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT.  Our lives should ALWAYS be an example of mercy and love.  Yes, in the last days before Jesus returns, the heavens will be shaken.  But in our everyday lives, we should live as if the heavens are being shaken, as if He is returning this day, this hour, this very minute.

Mark 13:14-23

Mark 13:14-23  “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong — let the reader understand — then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out.  Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak.  How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!  Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now — and never to be equaled again.  If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive.  But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.  At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.  For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect — if that were possible.  So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.   

The eschatology (end time theology) of the above scriptures is something theologians like to delve into and argue over, but for me these scriptures  just mean that the end of time will come during a period of excruciating events.  I am not sure many of us will be able to accurately discern the times of the end.  During my lifetime many theologians at various times have predicted that we were finally living in the very last days.  Many sermons elucidated why Hitler, Stalin, or even Roosevelt had to be the Antichrist.  Some even put President Kennedy in that position because he was our first Catholic president.  In recent history, World War II, the communist take over of China, the Jews being restored to their land, the Soviet Union hegemony, the European Union, and now the rise of the Muslim world, all have spawned many wonderful last-days sermons.  However, I really think Christians should be more concerned about their daily walk in their short lives rather than whether Jesus will return in their lifetimes.  

To me there are a couple of sentences in the above passage that jump out, for they reflect the seriousness of the situation for anyone who lives in those final days before Christ returns.  Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out.  Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak.  Those scriptures are instructive, for everyone's life, even TODAY.  We should live our lives so we don't feel we have to go back for anything.  Death for all of us Christians is the second coming of Christ.  We will close our eyes, and then we will be with him.  It doesn't even matter if you believe in a death sleep or an immediate homecoming, you will be with Christ instantaneously, for time ceases in death.  Our lives should be so lived that in our final days we don't mentally or emotionally need to go back into our houses for anything.  We should be at peace with our children, with our loved ones, with our community of believers.  We should not have our cloaks still out in the world--still in need of making things right.  

Our deaths will probably precede the final days about which Jesus was talking.  Jesus said to each of us be on your guard about your final days.  For sure, don't follow any other Christ but the one that has already been revealed.  Don't follow any other doctrine than that of John 3:16.  And definitely remember that Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)  Be ready is the clarion call.  Even during the best of times, life can be scary.  None of us knows the day or hour when our lives will end.  Therefore, if there are things that we should repent of, repent.  If there are any people we need to see and say we love them, do it.  If there are any unsettled disputes hanging out there, resolve them.  Make yourself ready in the flesh while you still have time.  Now in the spirit, in Christ, you are always ready, for He has completed the work.  Even if you didn't make it to the mountains to find rescue, you are ready.  But for us who are living now, it is the final days.  We should always have our lives ready to meet him, for we live in our final days every day.  So keep your lamps burning and always be looking for his glorious appearing in the air, but know for sure, the Master will come.  He might come to you in the air or in death, but He will come.  Praise the holy and wonderful name of the Lord!

Mark 13:9-13

Mark 13:9-13  “You must be on your guard.  You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues.  On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.  And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.  Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say.  Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child.  Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

This passage is a continuation of Jesus' end time scenario.  One of the interesting aspects of the above scriptures is that Jesus indicates that the disciples (Christians) will be persecuted and harassed because of following Jesus.  Sometimes we in America like to change what Jesus actually said in the above scriptures to something like this:  "On account of me you will" have lots of peace and security the rest of your life.  And believe it or not, no one is going to bother you.  And for sure you won't run into any persecution or trouble.  And then we go on to say:  And you will have an abundance of prosperity and the heathen's wealth will end up in your hands.  Amen!  Of course we like that interpretation of Jesus' sayings.  It sounds so comforting, but I don't know how many of us would have signed on if Jesus would say to us:  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child.  Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  This doesn't sound like a very good assignment for anyone.  For sure, I would rather have the cheering crowd rain down praises on me after I cross the goal line for a touchdown and point my finger to heaven.  I would rather be the preacher before thousands of well-heeled parishioners.  But please don't give me this idea that ALL MEN WILL HATE ME for Christ's sake, that I will have to stand before the authorities of the world and make a defense for my life.  This doesn't sound like good old-fashioned American Christianity to me. 

In our day, we have skewed the calling of Christ to such a point that we have made it all about ourselves--our security, our peace, our well-being.  We have made Christianity a road free from trouble rather than a struggle.  We have said it has to be my way or I am not sure I'll believe in this Christ.  In the above passage, Jesus was preparing his disciples to realize that He, their Messiah, was not going to be crowned in their lifetime.  Instead, they would be experiencing horrendous persecution.  He was telling them to prepare for the worst, for it was to come to them.  And when the worst came, they fled.  They were by Jesus' side when the healings and miracles were performed, they were there when the 5,000 were fed, but they were not there by his side when He was crucified.  They were not there because they were afraid for their lives, and they were also totally disillusioned.  

The question is then, how many of us can face the trials and hardships of life, even the separation from family members and friends, and still have a strong faith in the Lord--still keep on witnessing, still keep on praising God, still loving him with all our strength, soul, and spirit?  This is the test of being a Christian.  Jesus said, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  He who endures persecution, he who withstands temptation, he who faces down frustrations and disappointments will be saved.  Now can we do this in our flesh?  Hardly, we are weak in the flesh, BUT WE ARE STRONG IN THE SPIRIT.  God graciously through the Holy Spirit has come down to us to give us strength.  We who are alive in God are alive in him because of the Holy Spirit within us.  The disciples were different people after the Day of Pentecost, so are we after the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  All believers now have the revelation of Jesus Christ inside of them.  All Christians depend upon his voice that says, "I know who you are and I am with you.  You are not alone.  No temptation, no persecution, no disappointment, no defeat will drive you away from my loving arms, for I am yours and you will endure because I am in you."  Amen, let it be so!

Mark 13:2-8

Mark 13:2-8  “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus.  “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”  As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen?  And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”  Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.  When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.  These are the beginning of birth pains.

Birth pains for what? is the real question here.  Why is Jesus telling them that there will be a time of great destruction and turmoil?  I believe Jesus is really telling the disciples that the time of peace, the time of the Messiah's reign on Earth, is not in the immediate future.  He is preparing them for his death and telling them to look for a future day when He, the MESSIAH, will come and restore all things to God.  “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.  And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.  (Mark 13:26-27)  The disciples expected Jesus, their Messiah, to eventually reign, but they thought it would be in their lifetime.  They thought that Jesus' popularity and miraculous power would sweep him into power--that the yoke of the Romans would be broken, and the temple in Jerusalem would become the seat of Messiah's rule.  But in this passage, Jesus is telling the disciples that his reign is not in the immediate future.  He tells them that the temple will be torn down and the earth and its inhabitants will experience great pain before He, the Messiah, returns to establish his reign forever.  

For two thousand years people have predicted Jesus' return as the Messiah.  Christians love to speculate about when He will return.  In every church, the most popular Sunday school classes are those on Revelation.  People want to know when Jesus will come back.  Sometimes I wonder why.  Is it so they can get ready?  Is it so they can get others saved?  Is it so they can now have their lamps burning, so they will be burning brightly when the Lord returns?  For sure, there will be a day when the Messiah will return to Earth.  There will be a day when his kingdom will be established, and when righteous judgment will be meted out to everyone that has ever existed.  But for us Christians, the Messiah has returned.  His reign is in our hearts.  His temple is within us.  He has returned to comfort us.  He has returned to show us how to escape the wilderness we call life.  The Messiah has returned in each of us to restore all things to himself.  We are the blessed ones, for HE HAS RETURNED.  

Then how should we live?  We should live rejoicing, for He is within us.  I know some days that is really difficult.  Some days everything looks rather bleak, disappointing, but remember the Messiah has returned.  He is within you.  He said in the book of John, "I'll be in them, and they will be in me."  No, we are not alone.  We don't have to be looking for him, seeking him.  We don't have to add up how many wars have happened, or how many earthquakes have taken place.  We don't have to sit around in doubt, anxiety, and fear, wondering if the Messiah is coming.  No, if we have asked him into our lives, He has returned to each of us.  And whether in death, or in his second coming, we will see him some day face to face.  Some day in the reality of the flesh, we will see him as He is, but today in the spirit, He has come to us.  Rejoice, for God is with us, truly with us.

Mark 13:1-2

Mark 13:1-2  As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher!  What massive stones!  What magnificent buildings!”  “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus.  “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 

Luke 23:44-46  It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Mark 13:1-2 was fulfilled in 70 AD.  However, in Luke 23 we see the place of God's earthly dwelling, the Holy of Holies, being destroyed.  The curtain to the Holy of Holies was rent at the crucifixion.  No longer would man have to go to the temple to approach the almighty God, for Jesus Christ came to Earth to redeem man and to abide within him.  No longer would the temple consist of stone and mortar, a manmade edifice, but it would be a work of God in the fleshly hearts of men.  Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  (1 Corinthians 3:16)  Yes, Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destroyed completely one day, but a greater cataclysmic event came to the temple grounds much earlier: Jesus' death and resurrection.  The temple of Jesus' time must have been a magnificent structure with beautiful courtyards, but it was manmade and therefore destructible, but the magnificent temple planted in each of us is God's work and consequently not able to be destroyed.  God's temple within us is an eternal one.  It is a place where we lay our personal sacrifices, our lives, on his altar for his glorification.  Now, we always have a place where our prayers and worship reach the heart of God.  We are never far from his blessing and glory.  It says in the Bible that his Words are even at our mouths.  

What a wonderful salvation we have.  We are no longer pilgrims, journeying through this world, attempting to find God at some temple made by man's hands.  We no longer need the next sermon, the next book, the next revelation to find our God.  No, because of Christ's work, we are always in his presence.  His laws have been written on our hearts, placed in our inner man; therefore, we are never far from his Word.  We are never alone, for we are nested in his very presence.  We are literally in his presence forever, serving him.  Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.  (Revelation 7:15)  Because we are his temple, God's ownership of our lives is complete.  He owns the deed to our lives.  We are not our own, for we are his dwelling place.  This revelation of knowing who we are makes us accountable to doing his will, to following the path where He leads.  

Yes, the second temple was destroyed in 70 AD.  It was magnificent, but it pales in comparison with the temple within us.  Our temple is clean, made clean by the complete and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ, THE LAMB OF GOD.  We are never absent from his presence, even when our flesh is not righteous, even when we fail God in our lives, for the blood of the Lamb cleanses us continually from all sin.  The blood of Jesus Christ constantly cleanses our temples, allowing for the Holy Spirit to inhabit these temples.  His sacrifice puts us in right standing with God.  We, who are but flesh, still in the raiment of sinful flesh, born from Adam's seed, are made holy through the work of the cross.  Yes, because of Christ's work, we are finally redeemed, finally in God's image, so holy, so magnificent, so clean and so special that the Holy Spirit has come to abide in us.  The Holy Spirit, part of the triune God, is in us--to comfort us, to advocate for the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our "closer than a brother" companion.  Therefore, dear Christian, lift up your head.  You have been greatly blessed.  You have been chosen among millions, because of your faith and position in Christ, to house the presence of the Lord God.  You are not just anyone; you are a temple of God, known as A CHILD OF GOD.  What greater label could be placed on you.  None!