Step 40

Mark 13:24-31 Full Disclosure

About Mark: We now come to the words of Jesus omitted when we looked at the previous section of Mark chapter 13. There, phenomena occurring throughout the church's experience were mentioned. Here, promises associated with the second coming of Christ and the culmination of his purposes are emphasised. One of the words used in the New Testament for Christ's coming is Parousia, which literally means "being with". It indicates Christ's future presence with his church. It also implies his physical absence for the present. The Lord's Supper is a regular celebration of the promise of his coming during this apparent absence.

Another term used about his coming is Revelation. It implies the disclosure of something presently concealed. Jesus promised that wherever two or three Christians gathered in his name, he would be in their midst (Matthew 18:20). And he promised his followers that His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, would be with them. In other words, while he is apparently absent, which we feel, he is actually present, which some people at some times may feel more than others. 
 
So in this present period there is ambiguity, and the need for faith. Christians are not alone, even if we may feel alone. Christ's absence in the physical dimension will always be felt by Christians until the Parousia, until his Revelation. Similarly, the rest of the world are often unaware of him, until the full disclosure of which Mark here writes, when Christ comes again.

Bible: Mark 13:24-31 The Coming of The Son of Man

24 "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Comment: FULL DISCLOSURE
THE CLIMAX, a crescendo of cosmic activity, culminates in "`the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Then will he send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven" (26-27) This is "the end" which in verse 7 is "still to come."  

The references to celestial activity - sun, moon, stars, powers - are all drawn from Old Testament passages related to the day of the Lord, and the coming of the Messiah (see Joel 2:10, 2:30, 3:15). They indicate the intervening action of God upon the human stage, which in this case is the time when God "gathers his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven" (27).
 
This is the final act in the earthly drama of redemption. This is the promise on which Christian hope is based. This makes the troubles and suffering endurable. This is the ultimate revelation of the kingdom of God!  

William Lane says, "The purpose of this first section of the discourse is to discourage a false sense of imminence..." No-one knows the time, and certainly not that it is soon. What we do know is that the kind (generation, 30) of people who go through the troubles of 3-23 will participate in the glory of the parousia of 24-27.
 
There is nothing hidden here. In keeping with full disclosure, Jesus has told us everything (23). And in a much wider sense as well, Jesus refers to his full disclosure to the world when "they will see the Son of Man" (26) as he is, and when those who have lived for him throughout the world shall be gathered to him.
 
The absolute certainty of these things is found in the forcefulness with which Jesus asserts the truth of his promise to Christians, "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away (31)."

Discipleship today: Perhaps you wonder why some people see the reality of Jesus and others don't. Throughout the centuries Christians have been people who have seen that God is real, that he truly reigns, and that he calls people to belong to him.Invariably they have felt privileged to be included, to see what others don't seem to see, and to hear God's call to them. We know it is not due to our own merit or capacity. It is somehow due to God's grace, who has so compellingly yet winsomely revealed himself to us.
 
A term occasionally used in the New Testament to recognise God's initiative in calling people to himself is "the elect," appearing above in verse 27. Peter, whose memoirs Mark writes, believed that Christians are "chosen and destined by God" (1 Peter 1:2). This is not a reason for apathy. Instead, Peter also says, "Be eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you" (2 Peter 1:10-11).