THE SON OF MAN IS COMING
Mark 13:26-37
Key Verse 26
“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Introduction
Last week we learned of the signs of the end times. False teachers and godless teachings will come and deceive people. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be earthquakes, famines, floods or pandemics. And Christians will be persecuted. These are the signs of the end times. Today’s passage is the continuation of Jesus’ teaching about the end times. Jesus teaches us how he will come again and how we Christians should live while waiting for his coming again.
Read verses 26-31. Describe how the Son of Man will come. (26) What then will He do? (27) What lesson can we learn from the fig tree? (28) What do “these things” refer to? (29, 30) What can we learn from Jesus’ words while we live in this uncertain world? (30, 31)
1-1, Read verses 26-31.
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 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.
28 “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. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
1-2, Describe how the Son of Man will come. (26)
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Here, the phrase, “at that time” is related to verses 24 and 25. It is the time when “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.”
Just before Jesus’ second coming, the sun will be darkened and then the earth will be dark, cold and frightful.
People who live in sin, not knowing his second coming will say in darkness and fear, “What’s going on? What will happen?”
Then they will see Jesus coming in clouds with great power and glory vanquishing the darkness. The world will see heavenly power and glory as Jesus comes again.
Here we see that Jesus’ second coming will be quite different from his first coming. When he came to the world for the first time, he came silently and humbly, renouncing his power and glory in order to save sinners like us.
They saw no angels come, rescue him and take him to heaven powerfully and gloriously.
But when he comes again, he will appear in heavenly power and glory. He will come with the clouds of glory that will arrest people’s attention. His coming again will not be a silent event, but a spectacular and powerful event.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 says,
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Jesus will come back as the triumphal King who conquered death and Satan and who was raised as King of kings and Lord of lords.
So every knee should bow before him the everlasting King (Ph 2:9). He will come as King to reign over his kingdom eternally.
He is also coming back as the judge of the living and the dead (2Ti 4:1). On that day, everyone will see the King/the Judge Jesus coming with power and glory.
Daniel 7:13 says,
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.”
Revelation 1:7 reads,
“‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ So shall it be! Amen.”
1-3, What then will He do? (27)
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.
Jesus is going to take care of his elect first and foremost. On the day of his coming his angels call the names of the elect.
Jesus gathers those whose names are written in the Book of Life. He will say to them, “Well done, good and faithful servant!. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Mt 25:21).
His first concern and care on that day is his elect for whom he died on the cross. His elect is the fruit of God’s world salvation work.
He calls his elect in order to share his happiness in his kingdom. The day when Jesus comes again will be a great day for all believers who are gathered around Him to be with him and to share his happiness, after living by faith on earth.
Jesus will take us to his glorious kingdom where he will wipe every tear from our eyes and where there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Rev 21:4).
1-4, What lesson can we learn from the fig tree? (28)
28 “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.
When we see the fig tree have its tender twigs and leaves, we know that summer is near. Through nature, we can interpret the time.
The fig tree has a regular pattern. If its leaves appear, then summer follows. When you see the leaves you know summer is near.
1-5, What do “these things” refer to? (29, 30)
29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.
These things are all happenings just before Jesus’ second comings that had been mentioned in this chapter so far, particularly the abomination of desolation.
When these things happened, we know that the return of Jesus is near, at the door.
1-6, What can we learn from Jesus’ words while we live in this uncertain world? (30, 31)
30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
We can have spiritual insight through God’s words. Jesus’ words will surely be fulfilled. Noah knew that God would send the flood to judge the world, because he heard the word of God, but people of his time never knew God’s word.
The world is heading to an end according to God’s sovereign will and leading and God’s word reveals it.
Unbelievers might say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? But St. Peter says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise…Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2Pe 3:9).
Whether people doubt about his coming or not, Jesus will come back. Jesus says clearly, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
In other words, His second coming is absolutely certain. And human history on earth will end at Jesus’ second coming.
Jesus will come with great power and glory and take us to his eternal kingdom. Christians are waiting people, waiting for Jesus’ second coming.
Christians are also compared with the bride waiting for her groom to come and take her to his home.
While waiting for her groom, the bride keeps purity and love and beauty, ready to participate in the wedding banquet.
Read verses 32-34. Who knows that day or hour of Jesus’ second coming? (32) What then shall we do as Jesus’ servants who have been put in charge? (33, 34) What does Jesus mean when he says to ‘keep watch’?
2-1, Read verses 32-34.
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[e]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
2-2, Who knows that day or hour of Jesus’ second coming? (32)
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Jesus clearly said that no one, not even the Son knows about that day and hour. Only Father God knows. Jesus’ returning day is a secret.
Jesus wants his people not to spend their time to know the day or hour of his coming.
2-3, What then shall we do as Jesus’ servants who have been put in charge? (33, 34)
33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
Rather, he encourages his people to be on guard and be alert. On guard means being alert against someone or something.
A soldier on his guard duty should use all his senses to know what is happening at his post. He should watch and be ready to respond to the situation.
In the same way, we Christians are to be on guard and alert. We must be aware of what is happening around us.
We must be alert and ready to respond spiritually. Somehow we should not sleep, but be alert.
34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Here Jesus tries to explain the meaning of being on guard or being alert in our day to day life practically.
In short, being on guard practically means to carry out our assigned task with which God has put us in charge.
The door keeper was assigned to keep watch at the door. So he should do his work faithfully and diligently.
Our assigned task is to preach the gospel and to take care of God’s flock. Paul shares how he carries his assigned task in Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
2-4, What does Jesus mean when he says to ‘keep watch’?
We must keep watch. Anyone who watches is not caught by surprise. People are not ready because they fail to watch.
Some people have the idea, “We don’t know when Jesus is coming, so it doesn’t really matter.”
Others have the idea, “We don’t know when Jesus is coming, so we have to find out and set a date.”
The right response is, “I don’t know when Jesus is coming so I have to be alert, eager, and ready for His coming.” Keep watching means to be conscious of His coming without being alarmed at what is happening now.
Read verses 35-37. Why does Jesus repeat that we should keep watch? (35) What does it mean to be found sleeping when Jesus comes? (36) What is Jesus’ final word to everyone? (37)
3-1, Read verses 35-37.
35 “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. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
3-2, Why does Jesus repeat that we should keep watch? (35)
“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.
People say that Downey residents should keep watch because it is like the rose in the thorn bushes, for Downey is the most desirable place to live in this area.
Thieves came to Downey from neighboring cities to commit crimes. So security is an important issue in the city of Downey.
Likewise, spiritually speaking, keeping watch is important because the owner of the house may come anytime to His own discretion.
Luke 21:32-35 reads,
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
3-3, What does it mean to be found sleeping when Jesus comes? (36)
36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
One who says, “I will live a sincere Christian life tomorrow, not today,” is like a soldier sleeping during his guard duty.
If he falls asleep during his guard duty, he would get severe punishment, if not killed by his enemies.
3-4, What is Jesus’ final word to everyone? (37)
37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Jesus finishes with the word, “Watch!” Actually he started his teaching with the words, “Watch out…” in verse 5.
How terrible it will be that Jesus comes while we indulge in sin. How happy it will be that Jesus will come and see us keep watch by serving God’s flock wholeheartedly.
But we don’t know when he will come back. Therefore we must stay faithful. We must wake up from our spiritual slumber and serve God-assigned tasks to preach the gospel faithfully.
Conclusion
The signs of Jesus’ second coming are abundant around us today. His coming is near. Jesus will come back with great power and glory. When he comes, he will gather us and take us to his eternal and glorious kingdom. It will be the last day of human history and the first day of being in the eternal kingdom of God with Jesus, sharing his happiness. It will be a glorious day for those who have kept watch, carrying their assigned tasks faithfully. May we live in this end times by being alert and by watching faithfully.
One word: He is coming!
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