When Jesus Returns: Mark 13:24-37

In our last podcast episode, we began focusing in on a question several of Jesus’ closest disciples ask Him about the time of the end, and Jesus began sharing His response. However, Jesus’ response is much longer than one podcast could hold, so we stopped part way through, saving the last section for this episode.

If you missed our last episode, Jesus described a time of intense suffering and a time where we should not believe anyone who claims to be the Messiah or to know where the Messiah has appeared. Even if we see signs, wonders, miracles, or other amazing things, we shouldn’t be fooled, because as we discussed in our last episode, Jesus’ return has a distinctly different goal than His first coming.

In our last episode, we stopped reading before Jesus describes the time of His actual return. Let’s pick back up where we left off. Our passage for this episode comes from Mark’s gospel, chapter 13, and we will read from the Contemporary English Version. Starting in verse 24, Mark continues sharing Jesus’ response:

²⁴ In those days, right after that time of suffering,
“The sun will become dark,
and the moon
    will no longer shine.
²⁵ The stars will fall,
and the powers in the sky
    will be shaken.”

²⁶ Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.

Let’s pause reading here briefly because I want to draw our attention onto what Jesus has just described.

In the days after the time of suffering that God cuts short for the sake of His people, we are warned not to believe any one claiming to have discovered the Messiah, or anyone claiming to be the Messiah. Jesus then describes how the sun will be darkened, the moon will cease to give light, stars will fall, and the powers in the sky will be shaken. All of these things could be describing independent events leading up to Jesus’ return, or they could be describing different aspects of the grand event known as Jesus’ return.

But regardless of these details, verse 27 makes it clear: Jesus “will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.” Nothing in this passage hints at Jesus actually coming to this planet to stay. Instead, as I read this, the events leading up to Jesus’ return might be so dramatic that it makes the earth uninhabitable. With no sun, we would have no light, no warmth, and no vegetation.

Everything Jesus has described leading up to His return is so dramatic that if there is any doubt in your mind regarding Jesus’ return, it is likely a false Jesus coming, rather than the real one. In Paul’s writings, we see him describing Jesus’ return as gathering God’s people together in the clouds with Him. (For reference, this can be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.)

Because of this, we can be certain that Jesus is not returning to set up an earthly kingdom, but to bring us home to a heavenly one.

But Jesus isn’t finished sharing. In verse 28, He continues saying:

²⁸ Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. ²⁹ So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. ³⁰ You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. ³¹ The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.

³² No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know. Only the Father knows. ³³ So watch out and be ready! You don’t know when the time will come. ³⁴ It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. ³⁵ So be alert! You don’t know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. ³⁶ But if he comes suddenly, don’t let him find you asleep. ³⁷ I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!

While there is enough in this last section to fill an entire other podcast episode, for our remaining time together in this episode, I want to focus in on three big ideas in three of these verses.

The first big idea is one of the most time sensitive ideas, and it is stated in verse 32: “No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know. Only the Father knows.” This is important for us to pay attention to because it tells us that setting a date for Jesus’ return is pure, 100% speculation. Setting a date for Jesus’ return when He tells us that the angels don’t know (which also includes Satan and his angels), and even that He doesn’t know tells us that any date that is set is a guess, and it is way more likely to be wrong than right.

Since Jesus tells us that only the Father knows this, we can conclude that even the Holy Spirit doesn’t know the date for Jesus’ return, which then means that any date set is not an inspired action, but a random guess at a number. This sounds more like gambling or picking lottery numbers rather than being inspired by God. Instead of spending mental energy on trying to figure out a date, we should live each day with the expectation that today could be the day, being ready if Jesus comes, while also planning our future lives in case tomorrow happens. In every case but one, tomorrow will come, but we don’t want to assume there will always be a tomorrow, because if we do, Jesus’ return will catch us off guard.

The second verse and idea I want to draw our attention to is found a couple verses earlier, in verse 30, where Jesus tells His followers, “You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens.” While this might be an easier way of translating Jesus’ words in this verse, when we compare this statement to what some of the more literal translations say, we can see a potential misunderstanding or bias appear.

In the New American Standard Bible translation, we find this verse being worded like this: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The NASB translators also include the note on the word generation, saying that an alternate word they could have used is the word “race”.

This means that Jesus may simply be saying that humanity will not cease to exist before all that Jesus predicted comes to pass. This also subtly suggests that after Jesus returns, there may be a point when this race passes away, and in the context of this idea, we could conclude that Jesus may be referring to the sinful race and sinful generation He often describes in other places in the gospels.

However, another way of understanding this verse is in light of our third big idea, which is a promise that comes in verse 31. Jesus promises us that “The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.” The NASB includes a little bit of wordplay in this promise, saying that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

Jesus promises in this warning about the time of the end that even though heaven and earth pass away, which we know happens when God recreates the new heaven and new earth, Jesus’ words won’t pass away, and Jesus tells the disciples that His words have purified them.

When we listen and apply Jesus’ words into our lives, we will not pass away with the world. Like many of Jesus’ disciples and followers living during the first century, we can look forward to Jesus’ return and a future life with Him that lasts longer than sin, longer than our sin stained earth, and longer than we could possibly imagine. With Jesus’ words in our heart, we will outlive and outlast sin, and we will ultimately be united with Jesus forever!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first and place your faith, hope, trust, and belief in Jesus and His sacrifice for you on the cross.

Continue intentionally praying and studying the Bible for yourself to grow closer to God and Jesus each and every day and let His word challenge your life, your heart, and your mind. Accept and apply God’s word into your mind and your heart to let His love change your life and prepare you for the eternal life He has promised to give all His people.

And while we look forward to the time He returns, and as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!