WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.879 My name's Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:12.519 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. A special welcome if you are new or visiting with 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:17.359 us. We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:23.480 fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community, and as we follow 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:27.900 Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good. They don't need God's grace, 00:00:27.899 --> 00:00:33.659 and no one's so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back week after week to hear what 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:40.200 God has to say to us in His Word. We're continuing our series in the Gospel of Mark. You'll remember 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:45.519 that the Gospels tell the story of Jesus and His life and His death and His resurrection, 00:00:46.439 --> 00:00:51.739 and if you're anything like me, especially when I was growing up, you might feel at times like when 00:00:51.739 --> 00:00:57.379 you read through the Gospels, there's just this random set of stories, and it's unclear how 00:00:57.380 --> 00:01:02.760 all of it links together or connects. Jesus says one thing, and then He says another. He does one 00:01:02.760 --> 00:01:08.500 thing and then moves on to another town, and it can be easy to get sort of lost in those details and 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:13.400 forget the big picture of what's happening, and so as we come to this passage this morning, we're going 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:18.900 to be looking at one of the most challenging sections of Scripture, Jesus' instructions on the 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:24.599 Mount of Olives to His disciples. I want to just remind us where we are at in this story in the 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:31.379 Gospel. We are in Holy Week right now, which is the week leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:38.599 We started that before Christmas in Mark chapter 11. So Mark chapter 11, the Holy Week begins. We have 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:45.519 Jesus coming in to Jerusalem from Bethany. He's commuting each day. In fact, we're going to see Him 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:51.659 heading out towards Bethany as He gives these instructions, and on Sunday, Palm Sunday, He comes in, 00:01:51.659 --> 00:01:58.099 remember riding a donkey. He has folks who are waving palm branches as He comes in. Then Sunday evening, 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:04.799 Jesus visits the temple. He sees what's being done there, preparing Him to come back on Monday. 00:02:05.259 --> 00:02:12.800 Monday, Jesus commutes in again from Bethany. On His way, He curses a fig tree. Then He cleanses the temple. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:19.639 He tries to write what He saw the evening before. Okay, so that takes us through Monday. Then Tuesday, 00:02:19.639 --> 00:02:24.399 Tuesday morning, He comes in, the disciples see that withered fig tree, and they say, 00:02:24.519 --> 00:02:29.979 oh, wow, look at that. And Jesus says, look, if you have faith, you can move mountains. And it's then 00:02:29.979 --> 00:02:38.319 that Jesus begins this day of instruction in the temple. In other words, we have been in Tuesday of 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:46.379 Holy Week since before Christmas. Because Jesus continues to teach, and we're working slowly 00:02:46.379 --> 00:02:53.479 through His teaching. And so now, here's where we're at in the story. Jesus has finished His day of teaching 00:02:53.479 --> 00:03:01.079 on Tuesday. He's commuting back to Bethany, which is east of Jerusalem, where He is staying during Holy Week. 00:03:01.079 --> 00:03:07.840 And as He makes His way out of the temple, that's where we find Jesus giving these instructions 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:14.759 to His disciples. Now, I want to say these are His final instructions. It's not completely true. Right at 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:19.340 the end of the Gospel of Mark, He's going to give them a version of the Great Commission. He's going to 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:25.240 tell them, instruct them about the Lord's Supper in the next chapter. But this is the last extended 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:33.319 instruction Jesus has with His disciples. It's His final instructions we're going to have before the 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:38.620 Last Supper, and then Gethsemane's prayer, and then His arrest. So things are going to start to speed up 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:46.000 very quickly for us when it comes to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. And so there's a sense in which what 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:54.299 we're coming up against here is Jesus' last main instruction to His disciples before His death. It 00:03:54.299 --> 00:03:59.340 makes sense then. It fits the narrative that He's going to tell us what He tells us here. He's going to 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:07.280 tell the disciples what they need to know, what they need to remember between Jesus' first coming and His 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:15.000 second coming. He's going to give them instructions about how to live and what to expect between His 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:21.800 first advent and His second advent. It's important to remember that because this is a passage full of 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:27.459 bad news. Jesus says, guess what? You're going to encounter false teachers. You're going to encounter wars 00:04:27.459 --> 00:04:32.359 and earthquakes and famine, and you're going to encounter persecution. 00:04:34.479 --> 00:04:42.240 The question for us then is, how do we make it through to the end? In this section this morning, 00:04:42.299 --> 00:04:48.439 the very last verse, verse 13, Jesus says, and you will be hated by all for my namesake, 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:58.800 but the one who endures to the end will be saved. And so that's our question this morning. How can we be 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:05.959 the one who endures to the end, a people who endure to the end as we face these many things, 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:12.560 false teachers, wars, and persecution? It's with that introduction that I invite you to turn with me 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:18.899 now to God's Word. You can open up your Bible. You can open up your phone. You can look in your worship 00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:24.600 guide. No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. And God tells us that His Word is a 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:31.120 lamp to our feet and a light to our path, which means that He has not left us to stumble alone in 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:38.160 the dark, but instead He's given us His Word to show us the way to go. That's why we read now Mark 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:45.780 chapter 13, starting at verse 1. And as He came out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, 00:05:46.460 --> 00:05:53.460 Look, teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings. And Jesus said to him, 00:05:53.980 --> 00:06:02.220 Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be 00:06:02.220 --> 00:06:10.180 thrown down. Verse 3. And as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and 00:06:10.180 --> 00:06:17.640 John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign when 00:06:17.640 --> 00:06:24.320 all these things are about to be accomplished? And Jesus began to say to them, See that no one leads 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:32.399 you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, I am He, and they will lead many astray. And when you hear 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:41.259 of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:47.120 will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. 00:06:47.719 --> 00:06:54.300 There will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. Verse 9. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:07:01.099 But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:08.199 and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake to bear witness before them. And the gospel 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:15.139 must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not 00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:22.639 be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour. For it is not you 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:30.459 who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child. 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:38.519 And children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:47.379 name's sake, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. I invite you to pray with me as we come 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:57.480 to this passage of God's word. Our father in heaven, we thank you again that you prepare us for the future. 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:04.779 As any good and loving father does, you haven't abandoned us or left us to work it out or figure it 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:12.019 out on our own, but instead you give us instruction and you give us promises. Promises that you'll be with 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:19.899 us and give us the words to speak. Promises that those who endure will be saved. And so we ask that 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:25.199 you would do that this morning, that you would instruct us and shape us and form us by your word. 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:30.060 That you would speak clearly to us in words that we can understand. 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:39.759 That there would be earning clarity in a passage that often causes confusion and questions. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:46.000 Most of all, we ask that you'd show us Jesus, that we would see his glory and his beauty, 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:53.740 that we would grow in our love for him and our obedience to him. We ask this in his name. Amen. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:09:03.939 I mentioned just a few minutes ago that we are ending Tuesday in Holy Week, and it's been an 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:11.020 incredibly busy day for Jesus. He's been spending almost the entire day calling out the religious 00:09:11.020 --> 00:09:17.240 leaders and their hypocrisy. All the way back to Tuesday morning was when we saw that the fig tree 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:24.100 had been withered, which was a sign for God's condemnation over the fruitless religious system 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:31.580 of the temple. In chapter 12, we had this parable of the tenants who killed the son of the vineyard owner, 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:37.020 which was meant to be an illustration of the wickedness of the Jewish leaders. 00:09:37.900 --> 00:09:43.840 That they were left to watch after God's house, and yet they're hostile to God's son. 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:48.980 Then Jesus encounters these three questions, the first two at least, which are meant to trap him. 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:54.500 The question about paying taxes to Caesar, the question about marriage in heaven, and then the final 00:09:54.500 --> 00:10:00.680 question about the greatest commandment. And then it was the last two weeks that we saw this contrast 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:08.939 between hypocrisy and true devotion. So two weeks ago, we had Jesus talk about the hypocrisy of the 00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:14.579 scribes who love to be seen wearing fancy clothes, but actually behind the scenes, they're devouring 00:10:14.579 --> 00:10:21.179 widows' houses. And then last week, this positive example of true faith, this widow who can't even enter 00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:28.219 the temple complex beyond the first courtyard, and yet she is the one who is actually close to God. 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:36.139 I review all that so that we can understand Jesus' statement here at the beginning of chapter 13. 00:10:36.560 --> 00:10:43.080 This is the climax, in a sense, of everything that's come before. Jesus has condemned the religious 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:49.820 leaders and their system over and over again. And so there's a certain irony in verse 1 when one of 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:55.519 his disciples says, look, teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:01.899 Yeah, this place is totally corrupt. You've had to curse it because it's like a tree that produces 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:07.779 no fruit. Its leaders are devouring poor people and widows. They're killing the son of the vineyard 00:11:07.779 --> 00:11:17.039 on your... But isn't it a beautiful building? Look how great it is. And of course, this sort of confirms 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:24.319 Jesus' point earlier about the fig tree, right? The fig tree was all leaf and no figs. It was all external 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:32.540 appearance, but no substance. This disciple sets Jesus up to lay down his final mic drop of his 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:40.460 condemnation of the temple. Verse 2, do you see these great buildings? There will be not left here one 00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:49.420 stone upon another that will not be thrown down. In other words, Jesus is saying, my work here is 00:11:49.419 --> 00:12:00.079 finished. The time of the temple is over. Not only will they face the condemnation I just gave them 00:12:00.079 --> 00:12:11.839 all day, but they will face real physical destruction. Jesus is not just criticizing the temple and its 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:20.399 religious system. He is bringing it to an end. It will be not just dismantled by Jesus' words. It will be 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:24.340 physically dismantled stone by stone. 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:32.240 And so this is in a sense the close of Jesus' criticism of the religious leaders in the temple. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:38.960 He spent time after time teaching after teaching, illustration after illustration, parable after parable, 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:47.960 pointing out how impotent and fruitless it is. And now he lays down the final judgment. It won't stand 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:59.460 anymore. That lays the foundation for Jesus following on teaching here. It's this question that brings on 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:06.740 the instruction that he gives. Verse 3, we see that they are continuing their commute back to Bethany, 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:12.740 which is east of Jerusalem. That's where Jesus is spending the night during this time. And on the way 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:18.480 out of the temple and towards Bethany, you cross the Mount of Olives. So we see what's happening here is 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:23.539 that Jesus is sitting on this mountain with his disciples, and they have this glorious and perfect 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:31.120 view of the temple. They can see it as the sun is setting, and they're looking out on the beauty that his 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:38.080 disciples have just named. And as they look at this temple and they remember what Jesus said, their 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:45.740 question makes complete sense. When is it that this temple will be dismantled stone by stone? 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:55.320 In fact, they asked two questions. Verse 4, question of when and the question of what. We will come back to 00:13:55.320 --> 00:14:01.400 those questions of when and what in future weeks. In this section, though, Jesus doesn't really get 00:14:01.400 --> 00:14:07.040 at those questions. He has something else he wants to talk about. And he does get to them in a certain 00:14:07.040 --> 00:14:12.379 sense. Verse 10, right? He says, well, in terms of when, it's not going to happen until the gospel is preached 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:19.300 to all the nations. But he has something that's more pressing on his mind than what the disciples want to 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:25.740 know. Now, at this point, we need to pause for a second and talk about the difficulty of this passage. 00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:31.959 And the difficulty is this. They are asking Jesus about the literal destruction of the temple. 00:14:33.439 --> 00:14:38.339 Jesus has told them, hey, these stones are literally going to be taken down stone by stone. 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:45.879 So their question is about the destruction of the temple, which we know happens later in 70 AD by the 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:52.120 Romans. That is the immediate context of this passage, is the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem 00:14:52.120 --> 00:15:00.580 in the first century. So that's true on the one hand. On the other hand, Jesus talks about much more 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:07.679 than that. He talks about his return, his second advent. And so we have two things that are going on at the 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:14.720 same time. Jesus is talking about an event that is close, 70 AD, and he's also talking about an event 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:20.379 that's far away, which is his second advent, his return to the earth. And he's talking about these, 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:26.480 in a sense, both at the same time. To understand what's going on here, one illustration that I like 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:31.680 is looking at mountains from a far distance. If you're looking at a mountain range, you know that 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:37.899 some of those mountains are closer than the others. But when you're so far away, it all appears in one line, 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:43.680 right? In a sense, that's what's happening here. Jesus is talking about a mountain range. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:49.500 There's different distances. There's different events. But we see them, in a sense, all at once. 00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:54.620 And in fact, that's even true in this section. Verse 9, he says you're going to be beaten in 00:15:54.620 --> 00:16:01.259 synagogues. As a Christian in 2023, you don't need to be worried about being beaten in synagogues. 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:06.039 That's going to be true of first century Christians looking to the destruction of the temple. 00:16:06.859 --> 00:16:11.179 Now we can apply that principle broadly and say, yeah, we're still going to face persecution in this life. 00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:16.379 On the other hand, the very next verse, verse 10, he says, hey, it's not going to happen until the gospel's 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:20.339 been preached to all the nations. Clearly talking about something that's beyond 70 AD. 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:27.019 Now, if you're lost at this point in all the technicalities, simply the point is this. Jesus is talking about 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:31.179 two coming judgments. One's the judgment on the temple. 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:36.199 The second is his full and final judgment on the earth. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:41.259 And so there's going to be certain things here that apply more to one of those than the other. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:45.239 Certain things apply both. Our goal is going to be not to get lost in the weeds, 00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:50.639 but to see the principles that apply to us as people who live between Jesus' first coming 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.120 and his second coming. 00:16:52.120 --> 00:17:00.320 With all of that being said, Jesus tells them about three things they need to be wary of. 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:04.500 He tells them about three things they need to watch out for. First, false teachers. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:08.619 Second, general suffering. Third, persecution. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:13.039 So first, false teachers. Second, general suffering. 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:17.160 And third, persecution for the name of Jesus Christ. 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:23.759 First, we see the first of those in verses five through six, which is warning them about false teachers. 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:32.320 When I was growing up as a child, my parents had a lot of conversations with us about what we would 00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:38.160 today call stranger danger, which is that you need to be careful with adults you don't know and what 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:43.200 they ask of you and how they interact with you. And one of the things my parents talked with us about 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:46.900 is the fact that there might be an adult who comes to you at some point and says, 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:50.519 your parents have sent me. They're in great trouble. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.980 You need to come with me now so we can go visit them. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:59.680 And so my parents said, you know, they might be sent by us, but they also might not be sent by us. 00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:01.460 And so here's what we're going to do. 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:06.960 If we ever send an adult to get you, we're going to tell that adult the password. 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:10.740 And so you ask them, oh, you were sent by my mom. 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.039 Well, what's the password? 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:16.039 And the password was Captain Dement. 00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:19.700 And if that means nothing to you, that's the complete point. 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:23.819 It was an obscure reference that I'm not going to explain this morning because it's neither relevant, 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:27.740 nor do we have the time, but it would never be something that a stranger would guess. 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:29.340 And so there was a confirmation. 00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:36.340 If someone comes in our name, we're going to give them a token so that you know they are authentic. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:42.319 Jesus is warning his disciples here, you also need to be wary of stranger danger. 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:49.920 There are going to be people who come claiming to be in my name when they don't. 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.799 In fact, verse 6 here sums up, 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:59.660 my parents fear many will come in my name saying I am he and will lead many astray. 00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:06.600 Now, there could have been a situation in which my parents did need to send someone, right? 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:12.960 Jesus is telling them here, there will not be that type of situation. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.799 There will not be that type of situation. 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:21.120 No one should be coming in my name. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:29.000 And so the command here for this is in verse 5, see that no one leads you astray. 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:35.559 Now, you may have noticed I said the first point was about false teachers, but Jesus doesn't say false teachers here. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:40.439 He's talking instead about false messiahs, those who claim to come in Jesus' name. 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:48.320 And in fact, in the first century, there were many false messiahs who appeared claiming to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:58.120 Our challenge today is not so much false messiahs, but we can expand the application, the principle here to include false teachers. 00:19:58.119 --> 00:20:07.439 Those who come and say that they claim to speak for God, to have a new revelation for him, to be some kind of new prophet with new information. 00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:14.919 There is something about cults and prophecy that appeal to the human heart, the human psyche. 00:20:15.239 --> 00:20:21.859 To know that somehow you're on the inside with insider knowledge is incredibly alluring and tempting. 00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:26.439 And so Jesus is saying, no, don't love the insider knowledge. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:29.479 Don't desire to be in the inside group or the cool kids club. 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:32.199 There is no such thing. 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:38.419 There is no more representative who's going to come in my name. 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:42.319 Continue with the plan. 00:20:43.639 --> 00:20:46.639 Don't look for anyone else to come. 00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:50.639 Anyone else who claims to be a prophet for me is false. 00:20:51.859 --> 00:21:00.000 And we could think of religions that exist today, even here in Colorado Springs, that claim to be a new revelation from God. 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:03.079 Something that adds to what we've already received. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.740 The application then for us is pretty simple. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:09.179 Don't listen to modern day prophets. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:16.219 Don't listen to anyone who claims to have a new or special revelation from God. 00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:18.339 Jesus is the final word. 00:21:18.919 --> 00:21:20.139 He's spoken to us. 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:23.620 He's given us everything we need to know. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:27.100 In fact, that's what Hebrews chapter 1 says. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:30.640 It says, long ago at many times, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:21:31.320 --> 00:21:41.080 But in this last days, he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:44.040 Jesus is the final prophet. 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:46.540 There are no others. 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:53.700 Don't be pulled aside by someone claiming to have new or special information. 00:21:53.700 --> 00:22:02.360 The next thing Jesus warns his disciples about is just general suffering that will happen in the world. 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:04.880 Verses 7 and 8, he tells them, 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.460 There are going to be wars and rumors of wars. 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:11.480 Nation will rise against nation. 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.480 Kingdom against kingdom. 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:14.620 Earthquakes and famines. 00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:17.779 Of course, this comes as no surprise to us, right? 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:21.899 In 2023, we can find examples of all of those things. 00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:25.859 There is this general suffering that exists in the world. 00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:28.699 Jesus here instructs them about how to think through that. 00:22:28.939 --> 00:22:34.059 There's a variety of ways the Bible gives us to think about suffering in this life. 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:36.960 This passage gives us one in verse 8. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:41.399 That is that we think of these sufferings as the beginning of birth pains. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:47.359 The beginning of birth pains signal that new life is coming. 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:49.819 It has not yet arrived. 00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:58.119 And that pain is part of the process, an inherent portion of bringing that new life to bear. 00:22:58.119 --> 00:23:03.459 And so God is telling us, Jesus is telling us here, 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:06.359 that when we see the wars and the famines and the earthquakes, 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:12.719 we know it is part of God's work to prepare the world for his return. 00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:17.979 God is at work in those things, 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:24.179 preparing us and bringing forth the new heavens and the new earth. 00:23:24.379 --> 00:23:27.219 But it's the beginning of birth pains. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:29.940 It's the beginning of the process. 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:33.420 Now for me to stand here and say, 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:37.700 hey, suffering in this world, it's part of God at work to bring the new world to bear 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:41.620 may sound to you like pie in the sky pastor talk. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.759 Oh, don't worry about that suffering. 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.980 God's using it somehow. 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:48.039 And so I want to dial in a little bit more specifically 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:52.839 and talk about the way in which God is using these sufferings 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:55.380 to bring his purposes to bear. 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:59.140 As some of you may remember, a few years ago, as a church, 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:03.720 we handed out copies of John Piper's book, Coronavirus and Christ. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:07.840 And he talks about one specific suffering, the suffering of COVID-19, 00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:11.120 and talks about the ways in which God is using it. 00:24:11.520 --> 00:24:12.920 So that's one kind of suffering, 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:17.620 but there are principles that he draws out that we can use for all these different types of suffering. 00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:21.719 He gives one, which is awakening us for the second coming. 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:28.279 Suffering is meant to be a reminder that Jesus is coming back. 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:32.059 In fact, that's part of the purpose of this passage. 00:24:32.219 --> 00:24:35.719 When we see famines and earthquakes and wars, 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:39.620 we can say, oh, yes, that is part of the plan. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:43.200 Jesus told us that's going to happen before he comes again. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.380 Jumping forward a couple of weeks, what we're going to talk about, 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:48.500 let's be ready and prepared. 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:55.180 Suffering reminds God's people to prepare for his return. 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:58.019 It's not the only thing it does, though. 00:24:58.080 --> 00:25:00.180 It also is meant to lead people to repentance. 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:05.940 Suffering in the world presents a small picture of God's ultimate judgment. 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:11.519 It's meant to remind us that we live in a world where God's judgment is real, 00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:13.279 and it comes to bear on us. 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:19.259 And so that small J judgment is meant to awaken us to a capital J judgment, 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:22.519 that it would lead people who do not know Christ to repentance. 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:26.940 That's part of how God is using suffering to prepare the world. 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.660 Now, I'm not going to go through all of them, 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:35.759 but the other one he points to is persecution is used in the Bible to spread missionaries. 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:40.960 The example he gives is in Acts 8, when there's a great persecution in Jerusalem, 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:44.900 and it spreads the early church throughout the Mediterranean. 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:52.680 And so we see the specific ways in which God is using these sufferings 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:57.580 as the beginning of birth pains to bring the new world into existence. 00:25:57.940 --> 00:26:01.400 He's using it to remind his people of his second coming, 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.340 that they would be prepared. 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:06.160 He's using it to provide a picture of judgment, 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:09.759 so that those who do not know him would be called to repentance. 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:14.019 He's using it to spread his witnesses throughout the earth, 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:16.460 so that verse 10 can be fulfilled. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:22.480 It'll be not until the gospel's been preached to all the nations. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:27.759 In 2020, when we were going through COVID-19, 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:30.539 and racial tension and civil unrest, 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:34.500 I received a text from someone from a previous life, 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:37.640 who asked me, hey, with all these things going on, 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:40.299 it seems like the end times are around us. 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.819 Is Jesus coming back soon? 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:47.079 And I replied, what we'll talk about in a couple weeks, 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.720 Mark chapter 13, 32, 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:52.160 not even Jesus knows the day or the hour. 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:56.460 And so, hey, we can't claim to know things that Jesus doesn't know. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:59.180 Now, I didn't say this in that text, 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.400 but maybe I would say it now, 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:03.380 but in a sense, you're thinking in the right way. 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:08.100 The purpose of these things is to remind us of eternal realities. 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:12.520 If this brings to your mind Jesus' second coming, 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:14.740 then the purpose has been accomplished. 00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:19.440 It is meant to wake us up. 00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:27.400 But, verse 7, do not be alarmed. 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:34.100 There's a difference in the way that Christians think about these things. 00:27:34.540 --> 00:27:37.500 And so, Jesus is giving us instruction along the way. 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:39.500 He's telling us how to handle each of these things. 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:42.019 Verse 5, false teachers, don't be led astray. 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:46.800 Verse 7, sufferings, do not be alarmed. 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:49.880 When we were going through the book of Daniel, 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:52.140 remember I told you that as you read the newspaper 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:54.060 and you see the events around the world, 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:57.180 the overarching thing that you should think about and see 00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:59.620 is God and his throne on control of the world. 00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:03.660 This adds another step to that. 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:06.180 It's not just that as you read the newspaper 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:08.720 and see suffering as you experience it personally, 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:11.200 it's not just that you see God in control 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.860 on his throne over the world, 00:28:12.860 --> 00:28:17.180 but that you also know that that king is working out his plan. 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:20.740 This is a step in a larger strategy. 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:24.519 This is not arbitrary or out of God's control, 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:28.860 but instead he is using each and every one of these pieces 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:33.840 to bring the new heavens and the new earth to completion. 00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:39.700 And so that realization is what allows verse 7 to be true of us, 00:28:39.820 --> 00:28:42.180 that we are not alarmed because we know 00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:44.720 this is what's supposed to happen. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:47.740 It's part of the plan, 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:50.220 not the end of the story, 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.680 not outside of God's control. 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:56.319 The famine, the wars, and the earthquakes 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:59.660 are a part of his process. 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:05.620 And so Jesus has warned us about two things, 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:08.700 false teachers, verse 5, don't be led astray. 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:13.539 General suffering, verse 7, do not be alarmed. 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:16.579 And then verses 9 through 13, 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.539 they're going to face persecution, 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:23.659 suffering specifically for their loyalty to Jesus Christ. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.899 We see verse 9, they're going to be beaten. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:31.839 Verse 12, there's going to be family turmoil. 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:35.079 And then in verse 13, it gets even worse, 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:39.420 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:44.460 Don't just be prepared for false teachers. 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:47.519 Don't just be prepared for general suffering. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:56.460 Know that your life as a Christian will involve suffering specifically because you follow me. 00:29:56.460 --> 00:30:01.819 And of course, we know that this continues around the world. 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.600 We pray for it in our services, 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:07.480 that the church around the world would be strengthened as they face persecution. 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.440 We can look at the history of the church 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:12.039 and see that what Jesus has talked about here 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:15.940 has happened and will continue to happen. 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:21.480 This also is part of the plan. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:25.120 In fact, we can see it is connecting to verse 10. 00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:29.059 What will necessarily happen for the gospel to be preached to all nations? 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:34.259 Well, it's going to include those who preach that gospel facing persecution. 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:39.440 But just like in the past, two warnings, 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:45.140 Jesus here also does not leave us to wonder about how to respond. 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:48.579 In fact, in this one, he gives us not one command, but two commands. 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:53.180 Verse 9, he says, be on your guard. 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.759 In other words, Jesus is saying, don't be caught off guard. 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.920 Don't be surprised. 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:02.539 Don't be shocked when persecution happens to you. 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:04.440 Be aware. 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:06.759 That's part of what it means to be a Christian. 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:09.819 Could be a small persecution. 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:12.180 Could be a slight or an insult. 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.319 It could be a large persecution. 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:15.639 It could be that you're beaten or killed or thrown into prison. 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:20.539 When that happens, just like with the first two challenges, 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:23.859 you know that's part of the plan. 00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:26.579 Don't be alarmed. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.159 Be on guard. 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:32.660 Know that that is part and parcel of the Christian life. 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:38.000 But then he gives us not just one command, but a second one here in verse 11. 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:41.960 Not just that we would not be caught off guard or taken by surprise, 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:44.740 but also do not be anxious. 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:50.279 When those things come, because it is part of God's plan, 00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:52.560 because he's working it out in the world, 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:56.659 and he sits as the king on the throne over all of the earth, 00:31:57.179 --> 00:32:00.399 he has planned it all out. 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:06.079 He is not going to leave you helpless and alone. 00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:11.619 Instead, the promise here is a promise that we can claim. 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:15.659 Say whatever is given you in that hour, 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:18.419 for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 00:32:19.739 --> 00:32:20.839 Jesus then is saying, 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:24.179 My child, you will face persecution, 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:27.500 and I will be with you. 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:31.779 Not just to comfort you and encourage you, 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:34.419 but in fact, to speak through you. 00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:38.799 And so there's no need for you to be anxious. 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:41.659 In fact, we could apply this to all three of these. 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:44.480 Don't be anxious when false teachers come. 00:32:44.919 --> 00:32:45.940 You don't need to be confused. 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.680 You know my word is your foundation. 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:52.339 Don't be anxious when wars and earthquakes and famines come. 00:32:52.919 --> 00:32:54.720 You know the end of the story. 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:56.460 You know this is part of my plan. 00:32:58.099 --> 00:33:01.079 Don't be anxious when persecution happens, 00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:04.119 because I will be with you and I will provide for you. 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.440 When you're pulled into courts, 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:09.180 I will give you the words to say. 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.620 Even more than that, 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:13.279 he gives us the motivation. 00:33:14.360 --> 00:33:14.980 Verse 13, 00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:18.840 The one who endures to the end will be saved. 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:21.900 No matter what happens in this life, 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:24.460 no matter what you face and go through, 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:29.340 1 Peter chapter 1 is true. 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.799 There's an inheritance waiting for you 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:34.619 that's imperishable and undefiled. 00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:37.419 The things that I've prepared for you, 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:40.460 the things you have to look forward to and to wait for, 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:44.819 they cannot be touched by the suffering of this world. 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:51.919 You have something infinitely more valuable and secure. 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.019 Endure. 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:54.400 And so hang on. 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:55.940 Endure. 00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:58.500 Stay to the end. 00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:00.600 And of course, 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:05.480 that call to endurance is not a call to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. 00:34:05.580 --> 00:34:10.920 It's a call to embrace the power that God already gives. 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:13.619 It's the power he's given through his instruction here. 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.519 Power of knowledge and information. 00:34:15.680 --> 00:34:18.720 The power of knowing his plan of being able to trust it. 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:23.380 And it's also his power and his promise to provide. 00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:26.539 To provide words when we need them during persecution. 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.539 And most of all, 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:29.780 his promise in verse 13, 00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:33.500 that he will save the one who endures to the end. 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:37.760 And so it's Jesus' instruction and his promises 00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:41.239 that sustain us and guide us 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:44.340 as we are the ones who endure. 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:48.420 I told you this story two years ago 00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:49.880 when we were in Daniel chapter eight, 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.940 and I'm going to tell it to you again. 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:54.960 And it's the story of the Stockdale paradox. 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:58.980 And the Stockdale paradox was given by this man named Jim Collins 00:34:58.980 --> 00:35:00.699 in his book, Good to Great. 00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:03.440 And it's about Admiral Jim Stockdale. 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:07.000 Who was the highest ranking military officer in Hanoi Hilton. 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:10.400 It's the name for this camp, this prisoner camp. 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:12.420 He was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:16.019 And he was in prison there for eight years. 00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:22.440 Eight years he suffered the torture and indignities 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:25.559 of living as a POW during the Vietnam War. 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:28.920 And so Jim Collins came to interview him and said, 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:31.440 hey, how did you make it through this time? 00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.980 How did you endure to the end? 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:34.940 How did you survive those eight years? 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:37.219 And who was it that didn't make it? 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:39.579 And he said, well, it's easy. 00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:42.119 The people who didn't make it were the optimists. 00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:45.780 The optimists would always say, well, we'll be out in a month. 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.760 We'll be out by Christmas. 00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:48.079 We'll be out by next year. 00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:55.279 And eventually, Stockdale says, they died of a broken heart. 00:35:55.280 --> 00:36:05.240 And that's where he gave birth to this principle that it is mistaken to underestimate what there is to face. 00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:07.760 But it also needs to be faced with great hope. 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:10.980 And so he has this famous quote that's on page seven of your worship guide. 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:24.119 God's people face the brutal facts of their current reality. 00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:34.159 God's people face the brutal facts of their current reality. 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:41.480 They persevere until the end because they do have the faith that they will endure. 00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:49.639 Not a pie in the sky faith, but one that is rested on God's provision, his presence, and his promises. 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:58.420 We face the brutal facts of false teachers and wars and famines and persecutions. 00:36:59.299 --> 00:37:03.440 And we know that Mark 13, 13 is correct. 00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:11.339 And you will be hated by all for my namesake, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. 00:37:12.359 --> 00:37:13.199 Let's pray. 00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:19.679 Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word which comforts us and guides us. 00:37:20.319 --> 00:37:25.279 And we thank you for your heart, the heart of a father that instructs us and encourages us. 00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:30.859 We ask that you would cause these truths and these commands to live in our hearts and our minds 00:37:30.859 --> 00:37:34.480 as we face the challenges of this world that we would never give up, 00:37:35.319 --> 00:37:37.919 that it would be true of us that we are not led astray, 00:37:38.419 --> 00:37:41.000 that we are not alarmed, that we're not anxious. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:46.900 Because we know that you give us everything we need to face the challenges ahead. 00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:49.960 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:50.679 Amen.