Mark 13:21-37

Two phrases jump out at me in this passage.

The first is “I have told you everything ahead of time.” This puts me in mind of what Jesus would say later in John 13 and 14. In speaking of His betrayal He tells the disciples, “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.” (13:19) It wasn’t as if the betrayal took Him by surprise as some could spin it. In speaking of the His death on the cross He tells His disciples, “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” (14:29)

This indicates to me that the times before the end will be times of great testing which it will be very easy for the world to spin. Millions will buy into the spin. Just remember that He has told us beforehand so that we will believe when these things happen.

The other phrase which jumped out at me is, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Somehow I had always thought the phrase was “Heaven and earth may pass away...” It isn’t “may,” it is “will.” That’s something to look forward to. And we should! According to 2 Peter 3:13, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”