What Jesus Did

It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. "But not during the Passover celebration," they agreed, "or the people may riot."

—Mark 14:1-2 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus' enemies were determined to kill him. However, they knew that Jesus was popular with the people. With Jerusalem flooded with yearly visitors for Passover, a...

 

It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.

—Mark 14:1 NLT

Key Thought​

In all the Gospels, the Passover festival played a huge part, partially because Passover was so important to the Jewish people and the Hebrew faith and more importantly because Jesus connected his sacrifice to Passover. Jesus came to earth to be...

 

[Talking about his second coming, Jesus continued,] "I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for [the Son of Man]!"

—Mark 13:37 NLT

Key Thought​

As Jesus tells this story about his second coming (Mark 13:34-36), he is in effect saying, "Watch for my return!" Throughout his ministry, he emphasized that he, the Son of Man, would return in glory and with the angels of heaven. His return would usher in the ultimate victory of God and bring complete and eternal salvation for his...

 

[Jesus continued,] "The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You, too, must keep watch! For you don't know when the master of the household will return — in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning."

—Mark 13:34-36...

 

[Jesus continued,] "Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that [the Son of Man's] return is very near, right at the door."

—Mark 13:28-29 NLT

Key Thought


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...

 

[Talking about his second coming, Jesus continued,] "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows."

—Mark 13:32 NLT

Key Thought


The greatest secret of all time is the exact day and hour of the Lord's return. What should our response be to this indiscernible answer to one of life's most important questions? Doubt? Frustration? Disappointment? No! We know the heart of God...

 

[Talking about his second coming, Jesus continued,] "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear."

—Mark 13:31 NLT

Key Thought


While heaven and earth will pass away, Jesus' words — his promise to return along with all of his other promises — will be fulfilled. We can count on it because he is faithful and because we can see the track record of God in keeping his promises in the Old Testament. Jesus' words are sure and can be trusted...

 

[Jesus continued,] "I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place."

—Mark 13:30 NLT

Key Thought


There are many ways this statement has been interpreted:

1. Some understand this verse to mean that all of Mark 13 is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem — which occurred in the Jewish war with Rome in A.D. 66-70.
2. Others see it to mean that all these events happened in the first generation of believers and...

 

[Jesus continued,] "And [the Son of Man] will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world — from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven."

—Mark 13:27 NLT

Key Thought


Those who belong to the Lord will be gathered to meet him. Those who belong to the Lord will join this celebration whether they are physically alive or dead. All who belong to him will be gathered together for the great reunion of the children of God. What a day of celebration...

 

[Jesus continued,] "At that time, after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory."


—Mark 13:24-26 NLT

Key Thought


When Jesus returns in glory, no one will doubt his arrival. His return will be triumphant, glorious, and universally acknowledged. Won't that day be...