Randy and I were blessed to make a trip to Purdue University this past weekend to see our grandson play his instrument with the college orchestra in his first year in college. The music was beautifully and artistically executed.  It was truly a joy to be there and see his talent extended with other students who love to play their instruments.

While there we took a brief tour of the beautiful campus.  We were told about 50,000 students attend this university, making the campus a city of its own.  We were impressed and in awe as we walked around, observing the beautiful old buildings with carved embellishments created in the late 1800’s but kept in pristine shape for this generation to enjoy.  What a great place to learn in the classrooms and halls of study of these great buildings.  This is one of the top engineering schools in the world, so the buildings reflect their engineering ingenuity!  It is easy to be in awe of greatness!

The fishermen of the sea along with others who made their living in small towns follow Jesus into Jerusalem. Like us who marvel at great structures, they, too are in awe of the Temple that rises up in the sky with intricate architecture in the stonework.  They know  how much time and care it took from the creative designer’s drawings along with the sweat of those who carried stone by stone to put in place according to the plan.

Then Jesus redirects their sighs of awe and wonder with what is to come that is greater still!  God has a Plan.

Mark 13, The Message

Doomsday Deceivers

13 As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”

² Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.”

^3-4 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, “Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?”

^5-8 Jesus began, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming.

^9-10 “And watch out! They’re going to drag you into court. And then it will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You’re placed there as sentinels to truth. The Message has to be preached all across the world.

¹¹ “When they bring you, betrayed, into court, don’t worry about what you’ll say. When the time comes, say what’s on your heart—the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you.

^12-13 “It’s going to be brother killing brother, father killing child, children killing parents. There’s no telling who will hate you because of me.

“Stay with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.

Run for the Hills

^14-18 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up where it should never be. You who can read, make sure you understand what I’m talking about. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you’re working in the yard, don’t go back to the house to get anything; if you’re out in the field, don’t go back to get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won’t happen in the middle of winter.

^19-20 “These are going to be hard days—nothing like it from the time God made the world right up to the present. And there’ll be nothing like it again. If he let the days of trouble run their course, nobody would make it. But because of God’s chosen people, those he personally chose, he has already intervened.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

^21-23 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and bewitching performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. So watch out. I’ve given you fair warning.

^24-25 “Following those hard times,

Sun will fade out,
    moon cloud over,
Stars fall out of the sky,
    cosmic powers tremble.

^26-27 “And then they’ll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky—no one will miss it! He’ll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

^28-31 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

^32-37 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don’t know the timetable. It’s like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don’t want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I’m saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We had to read the entire chapter to get the whole story.  Simply put: Jesus is coming back.  Be ready for His coming. 

Mark relates the conversation Jesus had with his disciples in short, imperative statements:

• Watch out for doomsday deceivers!
• Keep your head—don’t panic!
• Preach the Message!  God’s Holy Spirit will give us the words.
• Stay with it—that’s what is required.  Even if they hate you because of Me.
• Be ready to run from evil that will permeate the places evil should not be.  God has already intervened on behalf of believers. No one knows the Day or time—only God. When Jesus arrives—all will know it is Him.  No one will miss it!
• Stay at your post—keep watch!  Keep doing what God has given you to do until He comes—stone by stone.

Peter, who walked with Jesus that day, reminds all of us that in the wait:

“Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent: Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor.”  1 Peter 2:4-8, (MSG)

Lord,

I believe.  I will keep watch.  Lord, Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us, one stone at a time as we build our lives on You, the Cornerstone.  We will keep watch as we keep building upon your firm foundation.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing in worship and awe to the One who deserves all praise!—

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
And I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
He then is all my hope and stay

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
He is Lord
Lord of all

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless, stand before the throne