Mark 13:28 - Meaning and Application

Here is the lesson from this prophetic sermon: learn to look ahead in the right way.

As for Jerusalem’s destruction, expect it to come soon. When the branch of a fig tree grows soft and its leaves begin to appear, you know summer is near (Mark 13:28). In the same way, when you see the things Christ described beginning to happen, you should know the end is close. The Jewish nation would be torn by wars, misled by false Christs and false prophets, and brought under Roman anger. This would be especially clear when they persecuted the disciples for their Master’s sake, joining themselves to the same guilt as those who put him to death and so filling up the full measure of their sin.

The disciples themselves, except for John, were taken away from the trouble that was coming. But the next generation they were to train would live to see it. By the instructions Christ left behind, they would be kept from sharing in that ruin. The generation then rising would not pass away before all the things Christ had spoken about Jerusalem came to pass, and they would soon begin to happen. Since this destruction was near and easy to see coming, it was also certain. The decree had already gone out, and the matter was firmly decided (Daniel 9:27). Christ did not speak this just to frighten them. These were announcements of God’s fixed purpose. Heaven and earth will pass away at the end of time, but his words will not pass away (Mark 13:31). Not one of these predictions will fail to happen exactly as he said.

As for the end of the world, do not try to find out when it will come. That is not a question people should press, because no one knows that day or hour, not men on earth and not angels in heaven. The exact time is fixed in God’s plan, but God has not revealed it. The angels will get timely notice when they must attend that day, and a trumpet will announce it to people when it comes. For now, both people and angels are left in the dark about the exact time, so both may keep to their proper duties in the present.

The words, “nor the Son,” raise a difficult question. Is there anything the Son does not know? Scripture speaks of a sealed book that the Lamb opened, but did he not know what was in it before the seals were opened? Was he not aware of it already? Some early Christians, called the Agnoetae, taught from this text that Christ, as man, was ignorant of some things. They thought this was no stranger than saying his human soul felt grief and fear, and many orthodox church fathers agreed with them.

Others tried to explain the words by saying Christ spoke this only for practical reasons, to turn the disciples away from more questions. But one ancient writer replied that we should not speak too sharply here. Archbishop Tillotson said that Christ, as God, could not be ignorant of anything. Yet the divine wisdom in our Savior could, by God’s will, communicate itself to his human soul in such a way that his human nature might not always know every thing. That is why Scripture says he grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52), which could not be said if his human nature had to know everything by virtue of union with the divine.

Dr. Lightfoot explains it another way. Christ calls himself “the Son” here as the Messiah. As Messiah, he was the Father’s servant, sent and appointed by him (Isaiah 42:1). In that role, he often referred to his Father’s will and command, and said he did nothing on his own (John 5:19). In the same way, he might be said not to know something of himself. The revelation of Jesus Christ was what God gave him (Revelation 1:1). Lightfoot therefore says we should distinguish between Christ’s gifts that came from the union of his divine and human natures, and those that came from the anointing of the Spirit. From the union came his perfect freedom from sin. From the Spirit came his power to work miracles and his knowledge of things to come. So what he was to reveal to the church, he received not from the mere union of his human nature with the divine, but by the Spirit’s revelation. In that sense, he did not know this, but the Father only knew it, that is, God alone, the Deity. As Tillotson explains it, “the Father” here is not used to mean one divine person against the Son and the Holy Spirit, but as the Fountain of Deity.

As for both these matters, your duty is to watch and pray. The time is kept secret so that you will always stay on guard (Mark 13:33). Be careful of anything that would make you unfit for your Master’s coming and make your account hard to give, and your heart troubled too. Watch for his coming, so it does not catch you by surprise. Pray for the grace you need to be ready for it, because you do not know when the time will be. You must be ready every day for what may come any day.

Christ ends with a parable to make this clear. Our Master has gone away and left us something in trust, something we must answer for (Mark 13:34). He is like a man who went on a long journey, for he has gone away for a long time. He left his house on earth and put his servants in their places, giving authority to some so they could oversee, and work to others so they could labor. Those who were given authority were also given work, because those with the most power have the most to do. And when he took his last leave, he told the porter to keep watch, ready to open when he returned, and in the meantime to guard the entrance carefully, opening it not to thieves and robbers, but only to his master’s friends and servants.

So our Lord Jesus, when he ascended into heaven, left every servant something to do, expecting all of them to serve him in his absence and be ready to welcome him back. All are appointed to work, and some are given authority to rule. Therefore we must always stay watchful, looking for his return (Mark 13:35-37). The Lord will come as the master of the house to settle accounts with his servants, with their work and with what they made of it. And since we do not know when he will come, he has wisely kept us uncertain, so that we may all stay ready at all times.

We do not know exactly when he will come. The master of the house may come in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrow, or at dawn. This applies both to his coming to each of us at death and to the final judgment.

Our present life is like a night, a dark night compared with the life to come. We do not know in which watch of the night our Master will come, whether in youth, middle age, or old age. But as soon as we are born, we begin to die. So as soon as we are able to think about it, we must be ready for death.

Our great concern must be that, whenever our Lord comes, he does not find us sleeping. That means living safe in ourselves, off guard, easing into comfort and laziness, forgetting our work and duty, and not thinking about his coming. It is easy to say, “He will not come soon,” while being unready to meet him.

His coming will truly be sudden. It will shock and terrify those who are careless and asleep, because it will come like a thief in the night. For that reason, it is the clear duty of all Christ’s disciples to stay watchful, awake, and ready.

What I say to the twelve, I say to all my disciples and followers. What I say to you in this generation, I say to all who will believe through your word in every age: watch, keep awake, and expect my second coming. Prepare for it, so that you may be found in peace, without stain, and blameless.