Mark
Chapter 13
Overview
As Jesus leaves the Jerusalem temple, one disciple pauses to admire its enormous stones. Jesus warns that even the grandest human structures can fall. Later, on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple, four disciples ask him privately when this will happen. Jesus speaks about deception, war, violent opposition, terrible suffering, and his coming as the Son of Man, a title he uses for himself. But instead of giving them a timetable, he repeatedly tells them not to panic, to endure, and to stay alert.
1As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent stones and buildings!”
2Jesus replied, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another. Every stone will be torn down.”
3Later, Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, across from the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew questioned him privately.
4They asked, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What sign will show that all of them are about to be completed?”
5Jesus began to tell them, “Be careful that no one deceives you.
6Jesus continued, “Many will come using my name and claim, ‘I am the one.’ They will deceive many people.
7“When you hear about wars and reports of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end has not yet come.
8“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are only the first pains of childbirth.
9“Be on your guard. People will hand you over to local courts and beat you in synagogues, where Jewish communities gather. Because of me, you will be brought before governors and kings to testify to them.
10“The good news must first be announced to all nations.
11“When people take you away and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Say whatever you are given at that moment, because you will not be speaking on your own. The Holy Spirit will be speaking.
12“A brother will hand his brother over to be killed, and a father will hand over his child. Children will turn against their parents and have them killed.
13“Everyone will hate you because of me. But whoever endures to the end will be rescued.
14Jesus continued, “When you see the appalling thing that brings devastation standing where it must not stand—the reader should understand—then everyone in the region of Judea must flee to the mountains.
15“Anyone on a rooftop must not go down or enter the house to take anything out.
16“Anyone in a field must not turn back to get a coat.
17“How terrible those days will be for pregnant women and for those breastfeeding babies!
18“Pray that this does not happen during winter,
19“because those days will bring suffering unlike anything since God created the world. Nothing like it will ever happen again.
20“If God were not to cut those days short, no human being would survive. But for the sake of the people he chose, he will cut those days short.
21“Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look! God’s promised king is here!’ or ‘Look! There he is!’ do not believe it.
22“People falsely claiming to be God’s promised king, along with people falsely claiming to speak for God, will appear. They will perform astonishing signs and wonders in an attempt to mislead, if possible, even the people God has chosen.
23“But you must be on your guard. I have warned you about everything in advance.
24Jesus continued, “In those days, after that terrible suffering, the sun will grow dark, and the moon will not give its light.
25“The stars will fall from the sky, and the forces in the heavens will be shaken.
26“Then people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and splendor.
27“Then he will send out the angels and gather the people God has chosen from the four winds—from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.
28Jesus said, “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branch becomes tender and grows leaves, you know that summer is near.
29“In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the time is near—right at the door.
30“I assure you: this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
31“Heaven and earth will pass away, but what I have said will never pass away.
32Jesus continued, “But no one knows when that day or hour will be—not the angels in heaven and not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
33“Watch out! Stay alert, because you do not know when the time will come.
34“Think of a man who leaves home on a journey. He puts his servants in charge, gives each one a task, and orders the doorkeeper to stay awake.
35“So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house will return: in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
36“Otherwise, he may arrive suddenly and find you sleeping.
37Jesus concluded, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: Stay awake!”