Mark 13:24-37 – Be Watching!

Read Mark 13:24-37

What a passage to reflect on for Advent! We hear from Jesus directly about what his second coming will be like. How helpful it is to know what we are preparing for. Advent reminds us that our job is to be ready, stay alert, and keep watch.

Jesus shares some details so that we’ll be able to recognize them. Otherwise, we might miss some of the signals. Just like when we see trees blooming or grass sprouting up from the ground. We know what those signals mean and can respond accordingly. I’m especially thankful to live in Mexico, where all the flowers and fruits bloom year-round. Continue reading “Mark 13:24-37 – Be Watching!”

Mark 12:35-13:2 – Forever With God

Read Mark 12:35-13:2

Jesus covers a lot of ground here with his discussions about the Messiah, the widow’s offering, and a glimpse into the future. Jesus continues to share truth bombs to speak to his followers. Whether or not these all happened on the same afternoon or not doesn’t matter. The Gospel of Mark is a great collection of the life and teachings of Jesus.

When we hear Jesus talk about the Messiah (himself), our viewpoint is a lot different than that of his first audience. For the disciples and early followers, waiting for the Messiah to come was on the forefront of everyone’s minds. For centuries, since the prophets first foretold this Savior and promised deliverer, the people had been waiting and watching. Continue reading “Mark 12:35-13:2 – Forever With God”

Luke 21:5-38 – What the Future Holds

Read Luke 21:5-38

Our journey to the cross with Jesus continues, and today we see Jesus teaching in the Temple. The topic in this reading seems to be very timely for us today, too. But we miss the point if we think that Jesus was talking about a specific set of calamities. In every age, there have been false prophets and plenty of natural disasters. Yet Jesus wanted to include this lesson so his followers would know what to expect. Even more, he didn’t want them to be afraid.

Jesus wanted to prepare us so that we would not be led astray. Over the centuries, there have been plenty of examples of people claiming to be the Messiah or making predictions about Jesus’ return. Jesus warns us about that. “Don’t panic,” he says. All of these things will take place as Jesus said, but his words are meant to calm us not elicit fear.

Continue reading “Luke 21:5-38 – What the Future Holds”
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