Mark 13:28-31
“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. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Mark 13:28-31 NIV
We’ve all, throughout our lives, have had experience with doctors. But I’ll bet that, for every one of us, our first real conscious encounter with a doctor came during a time when we were very young, and when we were probably just a little scared.
When as he or she was treating us, that wise and tender physician looked us gently in the eye and said, Now, this will only hurt for a minute.
Those are nice words, but I also have to admit that there were times when they made things worse for me. I remember hearing them and then wondering, what will hurt? And how much?
Then waiting with horrified anticipation of the coming hurt from whatever it was that was about to be done, whether it was for a minute or not.
I usually had my eyes closed and it made me jumpy at every move of the doctor’s hand and the smell of every drop of rubbing alcohol he poured—until it was done; and afterward, he or she would say, there, all better.
I still pretty much have those same feelings when I go to the physician’s office, by the way. Here I am an older adult now but whenever I’m giving a blood sample, or taking a shot of some kind, I still look away while the doctor or the medical assistant does his or her job.
I just don’t like it. I admit it. I have the maturity now, of course, to know that it’s something that needs to be done. But I also take comfort in knowing—even without being told that if it hurts, it’ll only hurt for a moment or two.
I believe that we can find a spiritual parallel to this in that, under the hand of our loving God, something painful that He brings us through is only going to be painful for a short while.
Jesus does stand right at the door and waits to enter into our world again and bring us home. While we cannot know the exact time of His arrival, the events that have been mentioned have been occurring since the days of that first Pentecost after his resurrection and that first generation of Christians.
Jesus is near. The barrier that separates our world and the next is paper thin. Our call is to be ready,
always living in expectation of his imminent coming
Even in our darkest hour the Lord does not abandon us. His eye always upon us He watches over us night and day.
In today’s verses, Jesus speaks of being on our guard for we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called to Him. But if we take His Words to heart and stay close to Him as we journey, we have nothing to fear. His gift to us is His presence with us ‘till the end of the world.
Like a doctor, our Lord is telling us that the events that precede the beginning of His kingdom reign on earth will be dark and difficult and trying and painful.
And just like the child who is about to get a needed shot, His people wince just a bit at the thought of anticipating that pain. But He assures us that, though it will hurt, it will only hurt a little while.
And then, it will be over and the summertime of humanity. The reign of Jesus Christ on earth will begin.
As if to give us the greatest possible assurance of this, Jesus adds in verse 31, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
This is surely true of all that our Lord says. But it is particularly and especially true with respect to the words of promise He makes in this passage.
We can be sure of it and history will prove it to be so. And when He finally sits upon His throne afterward—reigning upon this earth, with us reigning with Him in glory, it will be as if the doctor tells us, “There. All better.”
Father thank You for this day and l make us ready in heart, soul, mind, and strength for the return of your Son. Lord let Your abundant blessings flow from the storehouses over my friend and family today. Lord use us to help prepare others for that day so that they can join in the victorious celebration of Your people. Lord we rejoice that we are living in Your story and that the events of our lives are not random things, but fit into a much larger whole. Lord let us have peace each day knowing that all things work out according to Your will and purpose. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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