The Gospels · Chapter 13 of 16

Mark 13

As they leave the temple, Jesus foretells its destruction. On the Mount of Olives he warns his disciples of deceivers, wars, persecutions, and false Christs, and of the abomination of desolation. He describes the coming of the Son of man in glory to gather his elect, teaches the lesson of the fig tree, and repeatedly urges them to watch, for no one knows the hour.

What happens in Mark 13

A disciple admires the temple's great stones, and Jesus foretells that not one will be left upon another. Privately four disciples ask when. Jesus warns them not to be deceived, for many will come in his name. There will be wars, earthquakes, and famines, only the beginning of sorrows. His followers will be delivered to councils and rulers for his sake, but the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Families will betray one another, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

He warns of the abomination of desolation, of tribulation shortened for the elect's sake, and of false Christs. Then the Son of man will come in clouds with power and glory to gather his elect from the four winds. The fig tree teaches that these signs mean he is near. Heaven and earth will pass, but his words will not. No one knows the day, not even the Son, so all must watch.

Mark 13 in context

This is Jesus' longest single discourse in Mark, spoken on the Mount of Olives days before his death. It weaves together warnings about the temple's coming destruction, the sufferings of the church in a hostile world, and the final coming of the Son of man.

Mark's readers, facing persecution, would have heard it as pastoral instruction to endure faithfully and stay awake for their Lord's return.

Main themes of Mark 13

Mark 13 (KJV)

1And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 5And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 15And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 18And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 19For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. 24But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. 28Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Verses to carry from Mark 13

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”Mark 13:13

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”Mark 13:26

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”Mark 13:31

Reflection

Jesus does not tell us the day so that we will be ready every day. Are you living as a servant awake at his post, or asleep? Let the certainty of his coming steady you through whatever trials arise, and let his unfading words anchor you when everything else seems to shake.

A prayer from Mark 13