LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for February 14: When you feel overwhelmed

Anxiety, stress, dread, pressure, fear of the known, fear of the unknown and trauma confront the best of us, sometimes on a daily basis. Sometimes just getting through a day with life and limb intact may be the highest success for which we can hope. In such trying circumstances, to live for our Lord seems impossible. It is good, therefore, to know the Lord is knowledgeable of days that overwhelm us and has words of wisdom and reassurance ready for us.

This week’s lesson utilizes passages taken from Jesus’ discourse on Mount Olivet, also known as “The Little Apocalypse.” Mark 13 features the apocalyptic style of literature. Apocalyptic literature appears to be normal narrative discourse, yet it uses fantastic, vivid and “other worldly” imagery, its action takes on a grand scale and its time elements have little connection with real time. Complicating matters is the ever-present desire to explain these features, which has opened doors to seemingly endless interpretations.

The good news, however, is that the main message of apocalyptic literature is directly stated. Jesus delivered “The Little Apocalypse” to answer the question “when will these things happen” (v. 4).

Little did the disciples think Jesus would connect the destruction of the Jerusalem temple with the events at the end of the world. Furthermore, they likely had more questions when Jesus finished than when he began. Yet an unmistakable message came through Jesus’ words: God is in control of the events in the world and his kingdom will prevail. Consequently, the followers of Christ already are on the winning side. Therefore, they must act accordingly.

Jesus’ resounding message, repeated throughout the passage, is that his people must take care to live watchfully, even when life around them seems, from a worldly point of view, to be out of control. Thus, in the midst of overwhelming times, whether at the end of the world or somewhere along the way, Jesus declared he would be aware of his people’s stress. Jesus will not abandon his people. Instead, he would be present in his people’s lives to guide them with wisdom to their ultimate objective of eternity in his presence.

Prepare by trusting the Spirit (Mark 13:9-13)

A survey of this section reveals the stark picture of some fearfully overwhelming circumstances: persecution (v. 9), torture (v. 9), arrest (v. 11), betrayal (v. 12), rebellion (v. 12) and hatred (v. 13). These extreme actions will be targeted against Christ’s followers in the coming days of “distress” (v. 24). If one compares these events against what Jesus predicted for himself (Mark 10:33-34), it becomes clear God expects participants in his kingdom to endure suffering. Though this observation never is pleasant, God’s faithful ones rise to the occasion and endure suffering for the sake of Christ’s kingdom.

Strikingly, the Holy Spirit appears in the center of the description of the intense suffering of God’s people. The Holy Spirit represents God’s personal presence. God’s people draw great comfort and strength from their Lord’s faithful presence. The great message here is that, in their great hour of need and in the midst of great suffering, God is not absent, but present tending to his people. God’s kingdom does not ignore suffering. Knowing Jesus suffered supremely on the cross communicates that God understands suffering. Being familiar with suffering, God tends to his people, not merely by being present, but by knowledgably caring for them.

Verse 13 communicates the cause of Christian suffering: this world hates the exalted Lord Jesus Christ. Since its efforts to destroy Lord of the Universe were frustrated, the world resorts to terrorizing his people. For some people, the prospect of suffering for one’s faith does not compel them to commit their lives to the one whose presence only seems to invite trouble. Yet Christ’s servants understand the world unfairly targets Christ’s people and willingly stand firm to face the world’s hateful activities against them.

Verse 13 also proclaims a great promise: those who stand firm to the end will be saved. The true follower of Christ must endeavor to endure in their faith. True faith is persistent. True faith even may waver at times, but it always will have living, meaningful and compelling qualities for the believer. This reveals the divine reason for the suffering of the faithful. When one counts the costs of faith, one also must count the cost of suffering for one’s faith. False believers soon give up on such a costly faith. True believers, however, view any suffering they bear as a momentary trouble, greatly inferior to their Lord’s suffering. Thus, they bear their sufferings with joy in behalf of the one who suffered for their salvation.

Prepare by staying with the truth (Mark 13:21-23)

Across the years, imposters of Christ have appeared. These met their doom in some way and the world has moved on. With tremendous insight, Jesus pointed out the nature of these imposters: they will pop up in various locations—thus to know them, one must go to them. This completely disregards Jesus’ operational tactic of carrying his message to people.

One leading characteristic of Jesus’ earthly ministry was that Jesus traveled far and wide to communicate personally the gospel to as many people as possible. Nevertheless, people flocked to see Jesus the miracle worker when report came he was in a certain place. So what is the difference Jesus then and false “christs” now? The answer is in knowing the true Christ. Real followers of Jesus know him in a personal way that is valid apart from meeting him in an external location. A daily walk with Christ does not require an external meeting place to be valid.

Verse 22 states the imposters also will perform signs and miracles. A miracle demonstrates the power of God by setting aside certain laws of nature to glorify God. In the case of Christ’s imposters, God’s glory would be stolen and refocused on the one performing miracles.

Every true miracle conveys a confrontational message about God. Miracles that emphasize this message are called signs. The signs of Jesus are immensely important because they convey messages about the identity and mission of Jesus that must be responded to and cannot be ignored. An imposter performing a sign presented a disruptive, interpretive danger to the ministry of Jesus, yet Jesus took this development in stride. How could he?

The answer again is in the knowing of Christ. Why should these miracle-performing “Christs” be ignored? The inward testimony of the Holy Spirit will guard against following such false activity. The true disciple of Christ should ever strive to learn God’s ways, steadily grow closer to God and learn to recognize his voice above all voices which vie to direct one’s life. Thus, the external lure of a so-called “Christ” must be tested against the commanding and clarifying inward voice of truth found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

One final point to observe in this passage is Jesus’ advance warning that such imposters would appear. Biblical prophecy consistently warns God’s people to prepare for coming developments. Even when the details are vague, the core message is not. Here again Jesus follows the character of biblical prophecy by warning his followers not merely of the coming overwhelming stress, but also of imposters who will seem to offer relief during those stressful times. True comfort and assurance can be found only in the personally known Lord Jesus himself.

Prepare by rejoicing (Mark 13:24-27)

Jesus caps his warnings about the coming days by summarizing similar passages from Old Testament prophets. Translations that place the wording of verses 24 & 25 in quotes give the false impression of a direct quotation. Some passages that read similarly to Jesus’ words are: Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7-8; and Joel 2:10, 31; 3:15. It should be clear that Jesus was speaking his own prophetic utterance, though he styled it like older prophetic utterances.

The features of Jesus’ prophetic utterance catch off guard those who are unfamiliar with Hebrew prophecy. Such descriptive language is characteristic of passages discussing God’s coming judgment. A prophet would declare God’s pending judgment and call his people to return to the Lord, lest the dreadful day of God’s wrath overtake them. The prophet then would slip temporarily into an apocalyptic style to emphasize the fearful and dreadful day of God’s wrath.

Jesus was talking to people familiar with Hebrew prophecy. To indicate God’s judgment also will accompany the coming distress that will cause suffering among his people, Jesus used apocalyptic imagery. For Jesus’ listeners, the choices are to choose Jesus and endure the associated suffering or to risk God’s certain and dreadful judgment.

The imagery of verses 24 & 25 symbolizes the end of the natural order. The universe will come to a stop as the Lord appears in his glory and power before to all men (v. 26). The one who created the universe will terminate its existence—a sign of his great power as judge. Only God’s light will remain to distinguish good from evil and God’s people from God’s enemies.

Verse 27 states the angels will be sent to recover Jesus’ followers. Though this section of Jesus’ message contains intriguing language about the end of the world, the point cannot be missed that Jesus has provided for the recovery of his people at the time of the final judgment.

The term “elect” describes Jesus’ followers in verse 27. Certainly these are the ones who have endured suffering, stood fast in their faith and kept watch. Thus the message of the entire passage is that God’s elect show their elect status by doing these types of things.

Prepare by remaining faithful (Mark 13:32-37)

Jesus concluded the Little Apocalypse with an appeal that features three military commands: be on guard (v. 33), be alert (v. 33) and keep watch (vv. 35, 37). Though Jesus’ followers are not soldiers or sailors, these commands are no less important, given as they are by the Almighty Lord. Jesus has warned about the coming days and wants his people to keep their faith current and vibrant.

Verse 32 emphasizes this point by stating the timing of the end of the world is only known by God the Father who has not even revealed this to his own Son. Considerable energy has been given to determine the timing of the events at the end of the world despite Jesus’ declaration in this verse. Jesus’ interest, however, was not on the timing of events but on the preparation of his people for those events. The events will happen, but Jesus’ concern is for his people.

Not knowing the timing of the dreadful events of which Jesus spoke, his followers must live in a perpetually prepared state. An illustration of this preparedness is given in verse 34: servants must diligently perform their duties lest their master return and find them in error. So Christ’s followers always must be diligent to keep their faith current and their service to the Lord active.

Though the disciples asked for signs (v. 4), Jesus’ emphasized not the signs but the character of the times leading up to the final judgment of the age. The character of the times, producing wide-spread torment and destruction for all people as well as suffering for His people, was sufficient signage for His followers. What Christ’s followers need is not a checklist to countdown but strong exhortation to be watchful.

As it turns out then, there will be plenty of distress for all to experience. Jesus’ followers, however, while suffering for their faith, will have the benefit of their Lord’s personal presence as he coaches them and guides them to overcome that which overwhelms them. They will have a special place in the Lord’s attention on the dreadful day of judgment, whose timing is indefinite, but whose coming is certain. On that day, the Lord will fully answer the suffering that once seemed to overwhelm them.