Mark 13:1-5 - Olivet Questions

This week on Proclaiming His Word, we’re diving into Mark 13:1-5, stepping further into the Olivet Discourse. Jesus is pulling back the curtain on what’s to come, and today we’re zeroing in on the location of this pivotal conversation—the Mount of Olives—and the two big questions the apostles asked Him. We’ll unpack how this moment sets the stage for everything ahead, reminding us that prophecy isn’t just about the future—it’s about fueling us to live for Christ right now. Join me as we explore God’s Word together, digging into its truth and looking to Jesus, our true hope! 

Transcript

88 - Mark 13:1-5 - Olivet Questions

Intro

• If you have your Bibles please turn with me to the Gospel of Mark and find verse 1.
  • Once again we step into what is known as the Olivet discourse as Jesus pulls back the curtain on what is to happen in the days to come.  
  • This is now the fourth week that we have stepped into this chapter and we will finally get to the questions asked by the Apostles and the beginning answer from Jesus.
• Today our sermon will be a bit shorter than normal but it will set us up well for the weeks to come as we continue working through this passage.
  • Today we will see…
    • The Location of the Discussion…
    • The Two Questions asked of our Lord…
  • So if you have found Mark 13 let us read together, and…
• For context let us go ahead and read from verse 1 even though our main focus will be verses 3-5…

Mark 13:1-5

• Today as we dip our toes a bit further into this passage I feel the need to remind you just a bit of what we have already seen in this text.
• So to start, today, let us be reminded, just briefly, of what we have already learned so that we can step forward with a proper understanding of these verses.
  • First, as we approach this chapter we do so with the understanding that this is prophecy, it is about what is to come.
    • With that there is certainly the temptation to focus more on chapters like this than we should so it is important we remember the purposes of prophecy.
    • We have this chapter, and others like it, because it first brings Glory to God, then it prepares the church for what is to come, and ,lastly, it urges the church to be about the work of the Gospel.
      • It reminds us that our God is Sovereign and eternity dwells within His Hands.
      • It is a comforting thing to know and remember that our God will bring about the end of all things in His time and in His way.
        • It is dependent upon no other but rests firmly in His Sovereign grip.  
      • It is also important to keep this eternal perspective that we make much of the time we have been given and make much of every Gospel opportunity that presents itself.
    • In a nutshell, prophecy is intended to fuel us and drive us to be about obeying the command we have been given, to make disciples of all nations, to the Glory of the Father.
  • Second, as we just read these opening verses I hope you recall and think about the beauty of this glorious structure that existed in the days of our Lord.
    • It was truly something to behold, I remind you that the Temple was one of the wonders of the ancient Roman world.
    • This means that it would have been something the Jewish people took pride in.
    • Unfortunately, the Temple, though marvelous and mighty, was filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
      • Earlier this week Jesus began this final week of His life driving out the money changers.
      • During this week we can certainly speculate that the people responsible for the death of our Lord discussed their plot within the walls of this beautiful place.
    • This challenges us to remember that it is not about what we see or about what we want others to see but rather about what is inside.
      • The Temple reminds us that though we may present ourselves in a righteous way, true righteousness is not found in how we look but rather in what is found within.
        • True Righteous is Christ in us and nothing else.  
      • The harsh reality of the Temple is that beautiful things come to an end and if all we have is our external righteousness then we are simply awaiting judgment.
    • Just as the Temple fell in 70 AD so also will all hypocrisy be judged by our Lord in the appropriate time.  
    • This testifies to us that this chapter, though about the final days and the coming judgment…
      • Is worthless to us if we do not consider how it should cause us to live today. 
      • This is so important to grab on to…
        • This chapter is worthless to us if we simply use it to consider what is to come in the days ahead.
        • It, like the rest of scripture, is meant to instruct us in righteousness and urge us to live for Christ even today.  
    • So though we will speculate in the day's head all that we find in this chapter the real challenge before us each week is to be sure that we are living for eternity and not for the temporary.  
  • Third, the Temple was a gauge for God's blessing or His judgement upon the nation of Israel.  
    • This is so important to our understanding of this chapter and how we interpret these verses.
      • If we neglect this observation then we are in danger of seeing this chapter simply as a chapter that is detailing the fall of the Temple in 70 AD and nothing more.
    • The reality is that the destruction of the Temple represented the judgment of God being poured out upon His people.
    • So even though the conversation begins with Jesus telling them the Temple will be destroyed it is much more than simply that, it is also a foreshadowing of the final destruction and the judgment to come.
  • It is vital as we step further into this chapter that we strive to keep these things in mind so that we properly understand and apply the verses before us.
• As we consider our verses today I want to finally point out that last week we talked extensively about this Temple Mount and all it represented for the people of Israel.
  • We took a tour throughout the Old Testament to be reminded of the importance of this place.
  • Today, we are going to consider together the other Mount listed in our verses, the Mount on which this conversation unfolded…

The Mount of Olives

• We see this location pointed out in verse 3, look again with me at that verse.
  • Mark 13:3
    • Mark 13:3a - “And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple…”
  • Now, this is not the first time we see this Mount mentioned in this Gospel.
• I would argue that this Mount holds great significance in the life and ministry of Jesus.
  • Although it is particularly significant in the final days and house of His life. 
    • In Mark 11 as He is preparing for the triumphal entry into Jerusalem He first stops at this Mount.
      • Mark 11:1 - “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples”
    • Then, here in Mark 13, He shares what is to come in what has come to be known as the Olivet Discourse.
    • Finally, as Jesus steps into His final day after celebrating the Last Supper with His Apostles we are told in Mark 14:26…
      • Mark 14:26 - “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
    • It was upon this Mount that we find the place scripture calls Gethsemane, the final place of Jesus' prayer and His arrest.
  • It does not just stop at the end of His ministry though, it is also a place that holds great significance after the Cross and in the days to come.
    • In the book of Acts we find that it was the Mount of Olives that was the place where the Apostles saw the Lord for the final time.
    • In Acts chapter 1 verses 6 through 11 we have the final words of Christ to His 12 apostles.
      • Then, after He gives them the final command to be “His witnesses” He ascends to heaven.
      • Afterward the Apostles looking up at the ascending Lord were told in the second half of Acts 1:11…
        • Acts 1:11b - “...“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
      • A careful reading of the scriptures reveal to us that this final meeting, this place where our Lord ascended was upon the Mount of Olives.
    • The very next verse tells us…
      • Acts 1:12a - “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet…”
    • All of this makes this place worthy of a pause but that is not all though.
  • There is one final verse that we must consider regarding this place.
    • That is from Zechariah 14 as we are told that this is also the place that our Lord will return.
    • When He does this Mount will be split in two…
      • Zechariah 14:4 - “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.”
    • When Jesus returns He will return to this place…
      • The place He spent time teaching His Apostles…
      • The place where He overlooked Jerusalem and wept for what was to come…
      • The place He prayed and sweated drops of blood…
      • The place He was arrested and healed for the final time…
      • The place He ascended and commissioned His Church…
      • And when He returns it will be here and He will split this Mount in two.
• It should be no surprise to us that our Lord revealed what was to come in the days ahead at this place.
  • Before we move forward in our verses let me also help you to picture this location…
    • As they sat upon this Mount it is important that you know that it sat taller than the Temple Mount.
    • Not by much but it did in that sense overlook the Temple, so as they discussed what was to come they looked over the Temple and at the city of Jerusalem.  
    • As they gazed upon this structure that they knew would not last and knew that it meant judgment was coming upon their land.  
  • As they sat upon this place that had been a confort, that would also represent sorrow, and future hope, the Lord graciously gave them the opportunity to ask some questions…
• So the inner three apostles, plus Andrew came near to Christ and asked… 

Two Questions

• Let us look at our verses again and see what these apostles asked…
  • Mark 13:4
• These two questions asked by these four Apostles led to our Lord’s response over the next 32 verses.  
  • So it would do us well before we consider the words of Christ to first consider the questions that started this discussion.
  • The first question asked is essentially, when will this happen?
    • Like many who came after them and many today they wanted to know when all of this will unfold.
    • It is so interesting that man is basically the same throughout the generations.
      • We have the same struggles, though they may be expressed differently…
      • We have the same wonderings, the same questions, and the same desires…
      • This first question, especially, shows that man is very much the same and should give us confidence that what the Bible has to say about man is still very much applicable today.
    • This first question though, for the most part, does not go answered until the very end of Mark 13.
      • Though it is not our primary focus today let us go ahead and see how our Lord answers this first question of when will this happen?
        • Mark 13:32-37
      • Jesus tells us, no one will know the day or the hour.
    • In other words this first question goes unanswered specifically…
      • Not saying that our Lord did not answer them but rather He told them that no one will know.
        • Let us keep in mind as we discuss prophecy and future events that the Son of God in response to this question told us that no one would know when it will all unfold.  
      • Let us also realize that many have come throughout the years since this point to claim to know when all things will come to pass.
    • Friend, let us keep in mind that if someone is willing to contradict the Lord in this way that they will also speak deceitfully in other ways.  
      • The whole point across these verses is that we are to be ready, we are to stay awake, though we do not know the day or the hour let us act as if it is this very day and hour. 
      • Again, when asked the timeline the Lord simply responded with it does not matter, stay awake, stay engaged, and remain obedient.
  • Now, let us go back to the start of this chapter and let us consider the second question, or the second part of this question.
    • They asked…
      • “...what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
    • Now, instead of a timeline, instead of asking when, they are asking what…
      • What is going to occur leading up to this Temple destruction…?
        • And, by connection, what is going to occur before this coming judgment.
      • What is going to happen as we get nearer to this judgment from God?
    • Now, to that question our Lord speaks many things.
      • The majority of this chapter is our Lord unfolding the signs that will occur before the coming judgment from God.
      • From verse 5 through verse 31 we see the Lord talking about all that will come to pass and the signs that will be revealed.
    • There is much in this chapter that points us to specific things that will occur prior to the final judgment.
  • However, what is most important throughout this chapter is what Jesus speaks to them at first…
    • That is because what He speaks at first He continues to speak again and again throughout this passage.
    • He tells His Apostles, and by proxy through them tells us the same…
      • At the end of verse 5…
      • “...See that no one leads you astray.”
    • The whole point of what Jesus says in the rest of the chapter is intended to circle back to this first statement.
      • He reveals these things not so that we can construct a timeline, remember he shuts that down in the final verses.
      • He reveals these things not so that we can argue about our end time doctrine…
      • He reveals these things so that the church will be strengthened in the days to come, so that we will not be led astray.
    • This is what often gets lost when it comes to the study of the last days, we get stuck in the weeds and forget that this was given to us for our good.
      • That we might not be led astray.
        • Take note, church, that throughout the ages false teachers have arisen and much of what they focus on and fixate themselves on…
          • Is the last days and their own version of what will come to pass.
            • It is so interesting that much false teaching that has existed has an unhealthy obsession with how and when things will unfold.
          • It is like our Lord knew that man would twist His words and try to deceive the elect.  
        • It is also important to note that as people have become obsessed with the “when” and the “how” they often depart from Biblical Christianity.
          • There seems to be a correlation between obsessive end times theories and a rejection of clear Gospel Truths.
      • We can see this and observe throughout historic Christianity…
        • Even within the time of the Apostles there arose Gnostics…
          • They taught that flesh, all flesh, was sinful and therefore Christ did not come in the flesh.
          • They rejected the humanity of Christ.
            • That is important because if you reject the humanity of Christ you reject His ability to pay for the sins of man.
            • It is why He had to come in the flesh to live a perfect life and to die in the place of sinful man.
          • You reject that, you reject the very Gospel itself.
        • It should be no surprise to us that they went on to teach about what they called “secret knowledge”.
          • This “secret knowledge” became their focus instead of what Christ taught in His bodily return.
      • Though we see less Gnostics today it does not mean that we are short those who have obsessed with last days and departed from the Gospel.
        • Consider the Jehovah Witnesses, who preach and teach a false Gospel and pervert the person of Christ.
          • Though they believe that He came in the flesh, they doubt His divinity.  
            • They believe Him to be a created being, even believing Him to be Michael the Archangel.
          • In this they reject the Deity of Christ and the Trinity that is expressed so clearly within the Word of God.
        • Considering their view of the last days they have over the course of several years predicted that the end would come to pass.
      • Though hard to put an exact number upon the predictions, because they later changed their definition, some sources claim that they have predicted and missed the return of Christ more than 20 times.  
    • The point is that when people become fixated on the when and what of the last days…
      • Not only can they miss the point that we are given these verses…
      • But they can also stumble into heretical teaching that departs from Biblical Christianity.
    • We do not want to fall in either of those camps when it comes to Last Things.
  • Instead, though we may have questions that go unanswered…
    • There is much about the last days that we do not know…
      • We do not, and cannot, know when…
      • There is much speculation on how it will all unfold…
  • I want to remind you of the answers that are extremely clear and have been agreed upon for two thousand years…
• I urge you to keep the foundational truths in mind…
  • For example, when it comes to the person of Christ we know without a doubt that He is both Lord and God…
    • He came in the flesh and lived a sinless life to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. 
    • He died upon the cross bearing the full judgment of the Father.
      • He did that to stand in our place and to offer forgiveness to the least of us.
      • So that it is not by merit but by faith in Him alone that we can be forgiven.  
    • Of all the speculation that exists across this chapter let us keep in mind that…
  • The Gospel is extremely clear and simple, a child can understand and believe.
    • Therefore we have been given these prophetic words not to cloud up any of that but instead for us to keep our purpose as believers in mind.
    • That we would be about the Gospel and the Hope that is found in Christ and that we would make it the focus and that our priority would be to make disciples of all nations…
      • Just as our Lord commanded.

Closing

• With that as we consider the judgment to come and eternity and as we will draw to a close and I would ask you to consider two things…
  • First, have you placed your faith in this Jesus?
    • Judgment is coming and there is much we do not know. 
    • Yet let me share with is clear. 
      • We will either stand condemned in our sins or stand forgiven in Christ. 
  • Second, church, do you have an eternal perspective?
    • This Gospel will be proclaimed among the nations and we are to play a part in that. 
    • Let us be sure to look at verses like this through that lens as we keep the Gospel at the heart of all we do. 
• Let us pray.