The Great Persecution: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 13:1-13)

Should Christians expect a time of unprecedented persecution on a world-wide scale?  It seems Scripture indicates a time like this.

Jesus is at a time of personal persecution in the city of persecution, Jerusalem, soon to be arrested and convicted in a sham trial, then crucified.  But he has more to teach his disciples in preparation for the future.

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 

And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:1-13, ESV)

Jesus’ remarks about the temple bring to the disciples’ minds the previous destruction of the temple in Israel’s past due to God’s judgment.  So they understand that Jesus is predicting another judgment and they want to know the signs to look for.  Only now, they are beginning to understand that Jesus will be involved in this as Messiah.

Jesus lets them know that wars and natural disasters are not the signs of the end but merely birth pangs, the pain that precedes birth, not the birth itself.  More key as a sign of that day will be widespread persecution of believers, a hatred of Jesus’ followers that disrupts and divides families.  But he offers them the hope that when they are persecuted and brought to trial the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say in their defense (see Acts 4:8ff).  And he promises that the gospel will be proclaimed in all nations before the end comes.  It is unlikely they understand this to include preaching to Gentiles.

Perseverance is the key for disciples.  If they give in to the persecution and deny the truth to save their skins they will prove to not be his disciples.  True disciples will endure to the end.  This perseverance is not what makes them saved but what demonstrates that they have been saved.  Saved here cannot mean protected from death, because that would be obvious.  You live to the end so you will live?  Jesus is talking about eternal salvation here.

There has been much persecution of Christians through the ages.  Jesus seems to be pointing to an even more universal and destructive outpouring, a last attempt by Satan to accomplish victory in his war against Jesus (see Revelation 13).  This is called by Jesus, in Matthew’s Gospel, the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21).