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Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 7 - Jesus' Olivet Discourse About the Future of Jerusalem and the end of the World (Mark 13:1-37)

10. The Wise Servant Keeps Watching (Mark 13:34-37)


MARK 13:34-37
34 “It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; 36 lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping. 37 What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.”

Jesus likened himself to a traveling man. He did not end in the tomb after his crucifixion, nor did he enter into nonexistence by his resurrection and ascension, but he lives, and sits at the right hand of his Father, upholding the universe with the word of his power. Judgments have not yet destroyed us because of his intercession.

Jesus did not leave his spiritual house and temple in a state of disorder. He called servants, appointed them to posts, gave them gifts, and authorized them to carry out duties and offices. The believers must put themselves under the power of God, and strive in their Lord’s service, as otherwise they change themselves. The Lord did give anyone of them a specific duty, but gave the necessary power for service to everyone who wants to obey. We do not live under the Old covenant where the godly were broken by the Mosaic Law, but under the new covenant, where Jesus gave us the power of love.

Our self-sanctification is not the only aim to receive everlasting life, but Christ consecrated us to service, and sent us out to testify. Therefore let us spend our days in works of evident love. Our reasonable service is not only meditations, prayers, sayings, and deep thought, but hard work, and different charities for the sake of the Lord who gave us an example by his self-sacrifice for the unworthy. It is not good to expect others to serve the Lord, but to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1).

Do you know the work entrusted to you by God? Pray faithfully, and ask him personally, what he wants you to do. If you did not know how to serve the Lord in a practical way, write to us, and we will show you how you can serve the Lord practically in your surroundings.

The Lord appointed one of his servants as a doorkeeper, that he might always look at the horizon, expecting the coming Lord. This office indicates the gift of prophecy and eager prayer for the Lord’s coming, which did not end completely in the church. Jesus gives every individual of his body special gifts that they may understand the signs of the times in harmony with his word, and tell the people of the church the results of their study.

In addition to this gift, the Lord commands all his servants to be spiritually watchful, that they may perform their services with a sense of responsibility, keeping in mind that the Lord will call us to give an exact account of our time, money, words, thoughts, acts, and prayers. The Lord will show if you were lazy, or hardworking, if you served him wisely or foolishly, if you thought of yourself and your family, or cared about the weak and the simple. The Lord wants you to love as he loved, by the power and guidance of his word.

Are you watchful in spirit, or are you sleepy in lusts? The hands of the universe´s clock are drawing near midnight. Multitudes are sitting before TV passing their precious time in amusement, and forgetting God.

Is your heart filled with the living word of God? Let your light shine in the dark night, and your senses watch for the coming Lord, that you may be prepared, at every moment, to open the door of your house to the Lord, and give him account. Have you arranged the drawers of your office or your closet? Is your life and work well organized, or are you disordered in your life and your thoughts? Do you hide a known sin, or do you keep an evil problem in your heart against the Spirit of God?

Hurry with the help of the Holy Spirit, and prepare your life before it is too late. Prepare the way of the Lord. Ask forgiveness of those whom you have offended. Return stolen goods which are not yours and many times more, as the Lord said: “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”

If you were a minister, or if you were spiritually responsible for other friends, then pray to your Lord that he may prepare your life and your family for his own coming, and that he may cleanse your fellowship with the blood of Jesus, that they may be prepared for his coming. Speak to them with humility about the true requirements, and declare to them all the promises of the love of God, for if you do not warn them clearly, the Lord might require their souls from you, but if you declared to them every thought and all the mysteries revealed to you by the Lord, then they themselves would bear their own sins. Pray earnestly and steadfastly for every one of your community, to be broken in his pride, crushed by the love of God, and become a good, hardworking servant to Jesus, prepared to meet him with shouts of joy.

PRAYER: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! We are not worthy to meet you for we have not yet fulfilled what you commanded us to do. Cleanse us with your precious blood that we may be worthy to come to you without fear when you appear with your great glory. Guide and strengthen us with your wise Spirit that we may urge those who neglect your coming that they may be prepared with us and changed, and that all our life may become a thank offering for your redemption. Come, Lord Jesus, and prepare your way for all peoples, and particularly the children of Abraham. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. How do we watch the coming of the Lord?

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