BE ON GUARD! BE ALERT!

Passage: Mark 13:28-37

Key verse: 33

NIV

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[a] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation(A) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.(B) 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(C)

The Day and Hour Unknown

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.(D) 33 Be on guard! Be alert[b]!(E) You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants(F) in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”(G)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Mark 13:29 Or he
  2. Mark 13:33 Some manuscripts alert and pray
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, (A)at the very gates. 30 (B)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 (C)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (D)my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day or Hour

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, (E)no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, (F)nor the Son, (G)but only the Father. 33 (H)Be on guard, (I)keep awake.[a] For you do not know when the time will come. 34 (J)It is like a man (K)going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants[b] in charge, (L)each with his work, and commands (M)the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 (N)Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, (O)in the evening, or (P)at midnight, or (Q)when the rooster crows,[c] or (R)in the morning— 36 lest (S)he come suddenly and (T)find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: (U)Stay awake.”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Mark 13:33 Some manuscripts add and pray
  2. Mark 13:34 Or bondservants
  3. Mark 13:35 That is, the third watch of the night, between midnight and 3 a.m.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

In light of all that Jesus has revealed about human history, what does he ask his disciples (then and now) to do? First, to learn from the fig tree. In agriculture, when the leaves of summer appear, it is too late to begin planting. So too, waiting to take Jesus’ words to heart until we see cataclysmic signs is too late! Now is the time, before “these things” are seen happening, to live as Jesus’ witnesses, standing firm on the gospel.

Jesus states clearly the day or hour is unknown by anyone. Instead of spending time speculating and guessing, Jesus tells us the third time to be on guard (9, 23, 33). It means to watch over ourselves, what we are thinking, feeling, saying, and doing in light of what we are anticipating: Jesus’ return. Like the man who went away and entrusted his house to his servants, each with his assigned task, we each have a glorious purpose in life, which Jesus has entrusted to us. First and foremost, it is to be molded into the image of Jesus himself (Ro 8:29). But he also gives us unique gifts to be used in building up his church (Eph 4:11-13). In big and small ways, we must focus on growing as his servant and doing our task until he comes.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the hope of Jesus’ return. Help me keep this in my mind and heart. Help me to grow to be the person Jesus called me to be, and to do the task he empowers me to do each day until I see his face.

One Word: Be found faithful.