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by Gary Sims
11/12/03
Not For Sale
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The Gospels
Mark 13:1-8 – Pangs of Life
Key Verses:(NRSV)

1: “As He came out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings.’” – The temple was one of the greatest wonders of the ancient world. The disciple looked at this great building with huge blocks as a symbol of strength for the Jewish people.
2: “Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’” – Forty years later the Temple was destroyed, burned, and dismantled by the Roman army. Only one supporting wall remained standing.
4: “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” – The disciples thought that the destruction of the temple might be a sign that the end times had arrived. They were asking Jesus for a little insight and forewarning so they would be prepared.
5: “Beware that no one leads you astray.” – Jesus is teaching that we must keep our focus on Him. Things will occur and people will come and go but His Truth remains unchanged.
7: “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.” – Events of mankind will come and go. War, destruction, and strife are a result of humanity’s inability to co-exist. When the end arrives and how it is to come is not for us to speculate.
8: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.” – All types of destruction will take place but there is so much more. All we face is the beginning. The end is not for us to see.

Points to Contemplate:

Do you place your faith in the achievements of man? Do the great buildings of modern civilization illustrate our majesty over nature? Does our exploration of space prove our greatness? Is there anything that man has created that has lasting power and significance over eternity? Why do we place so much importance on things we have created when they pale so greatly besides God’s creation? Besides the tremendous loss of life, wasn’t one of the main issues we faced with the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings was how easily one of our greatest creations could be destroyed? Does 9/11 provide you with an understanding of how the disciples must have felt when Jesus predicted the destruction of their great and glorious Temple?

Are you focused on the future? Are you concerned and worried about events to come? As Christians, is it our job to focus on the Second Coming of Christ, to look for events that may foretell His return? Or, instead, are we to focus on proclaiming the Good News of His First Coming to the world and let the future take care of its self? In Mark 13:10 , Jesus tells the disciples that “the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations.” Isn’t this our main concern? Isn’t this how we can help to build the Kingdom of Heaven?
Are you prepared for the “birthpangs” of life? Are you ready for difficult and challenging times? When life becomes difficult and painful, what strengthens you? From where comes your resolve? When things are difficult, are you tempted to lose faith? Do you want to quit and walk away? If so, who will finish the job; who will continue giving birth to the kingdom of God in your absence? Can you prepare yourself for such times? Will you be ready for all things God sends your way?

Promises of the Gospel:

Jesus is teaching the disciples that we all face difficult times in our lives. He says that in the midst of war, famine, earthquake, when our world seems to be coming to an end, we have a responsibility, as a mother giving birth, to see things through. Our faith cannot be placed on our own accomplishments and achievements. These things will pass with time. We also cannot become overly concerned about the future, looking for signs of the end of time and the Second Coming of Christ. Instead, our focus has to be on His first arrival and the Good News that He gave up His life so that we could live. He did not do this so we could live in fear and worry. His sacrifice gives us the ability to persevere through anything we face in life and empowers us to spread this news throughout the world.

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