The Deceivers Will Come! - Mark 13:1-6
The Deceivers Will Come! - Mark 13:1-6
By Pastor Lee Hemen
December 26, 2010 AM
Mark 13 is sometimes called the eschatological discourse, the prophetic discourse, the Olivet discourse, or the Little Apocalypse. It depends on whether you see within these verses Jesus teaching about the culmination of events, future events, if you are concerned about where it occurred, or if you believe that Mark wanted us to read about the end of the world. However, we do not find the usual visionary and cryptic language that most apocalyptic literature contains. Rather, we read more of a practical and ethical discourse and warning by Jesus to his followers. He wanted them to be aware that deceivers will come and what they needed to do about it when it occurred.
Whether one believes in the biblical narrative of the end times or not we live in a day and age where folks love to speculate about the end of the world as we know it. From movies that cater to pagan Aztec calendars predicting it or a French apothecary’s prophetic meanderings, folks love to read or watch how the world might end. This is nothing new. In this section of Mark’s gospel we find the disciples walking with Jesus and in the process of their conversation we find some enigmatic references that might refer to this subject. Jesus was concerned about his followers remaining true to the gospel. Deceivers would come to try and steer them away. Let’s find out what deceivers will come and perhaps by knowing, we can be aware of it for our own lives as well…
READ: Mark 13:1-6
Within Jesus' comments in answering his disciple’s questions, Jesus related some of his last instructions for his followers. They are to be aware of those things in the world that might pull them away from doing the task he is about to leave them with. Preaching that the kingdom of God had come would be vital after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. His warning concerns those of who would come after as well. Therefore, we need to understand that…
I. Christians can be deceived by material things! (Vv. 1-2)
1. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things! (Colossians 3:2 NIV) It is so easy for us to focus on the here and now and forget that eternity awaits all of us. Jesus began very early on teaching his disciples the basic truth to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV) The disciples were looking at the things of man, the temple “stones and buildings.” For the Hebrews the temple was everything. And, even though Herod, a half-blooded usurper, built it – it was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Jesus, however, pulls them back to reality. He responds by letting them know that even the huge stones of Herod’s temple will not last. “You see these great buildings?” he asks them, “Not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one of them will be thrown down.” They had been excited about being in the temple, watching the people prepare for Passover, and their exuberance spilled over. Perhaps they saw in Jesus a different attitude, because he had been more confrontational in these last days and he had let them know on several occasions that his ministry was coming to some kind of climax. Yet, Jesus does not want them to lose their focus on what will matter in the long term. Temples will be destroyed and "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35 NIV) Jesus was pointing to a time when Jerusalem, the temple, and all of Israel would shortly lay in ruins. In 66 AD the Jews rebelled against Rome. In response, Nero dispatched an army under Vespasian. By 68 AD resistance in the north had been eradicated and the Romans turned to Jerusalem. Nero committed suicide, creating a power vacuum in Rome. Vespasian was declared Emperor and returned to the Imperial City. Titus, his son, lead the remaining army in the assault on Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and lay siege to the Jewish stronghold. In 70 AD the attackers breached Jerusalem's outer walls and ransacked the city. The Temple and its magnificent stones were destroyed. What we put our trust in today soon rusts, decays, or is destroyed by men. We would do well to not be deceived by material things!
EXAMPLE: No one person and no one thing lasts forever. Not temples or people. No matter how big the building or famous the person, we would do well to remind ourselves that the edifices we place our names on today will be so much rubble later. The Lady Gagas of the world will soon be the weird old lady has-beens. I found it interesting that Ozzy Osbourne recently spoke out about Lady Gaga in an interview with Us Magazine, saying he believes the pop star needed to tone it down a bit. Yes, Ozzie Osbourne. He related, “I do think Lady Gaga should take a break for a little while. She’s getting to be too much, and she doesn’t watch the exposure of her clothes. She’s just too overexposed. She could be the next Madonna if she played her cards right.” He added, “I like her, but I’m getting a bit sick of her.” Who will remember Lady Gaga once her clothes are rags and her makeup is washed away? Where the temple of the Jews once sat, now stands a pagan mosque. Only the gospel of the stone the builders rejected has lasted. Do not be deceived by material things.
It cracks me up when I watch preachers pontificating with amazing multimedia presentations concerning the end times. The fact remains, no matter what kind of large banner you use or what computer graphics blaze across your sanctuary screen know one knows when Jesus will return. In fact, in this area Christians can be guilty of focusing so much on the end of days they forget about the nowadays. Here in Mark we are warned that…
II. Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much! (Vv. 3-4)
1. In fact, people who think they know so much don't know anything at all! (1 Corinthians 8:2 CEV) Later, as “Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, across from the Temple” we find that “Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him in private.” Why would these men, where some seemed to be at every important moment during Jesus’ ministry, come to him privately? I believe it was because they wanted additional knowledge concerning what Jesus had spoken about earlier. They were on the Mount of Olives, 2,700 feet above sea level, and about 100 feet higher than Jerusalem. West of them was the panorama of the temple and the entire city. It must have seemed as if they were on top of the world, being near Jerusalem and Herod’s temple. Having heard Jesus’ words, perhaps he was about to declare himself as Messiah? After all, they also knew what Zechariah the prophet had stated concerning the Messiah. That “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem… The LORD will be king over the whole earth!” (Zechariah 14:4, 9) Were the things Jesus spoke about and Zechariah’s words coming true? The disciples ask Jesus two questions. “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:4 NIV) They actually thought these things were going to happen right then and there and they wanted Jesus to let them in on it. They were being deceived, seduced, and did not even know it. What if the disciples continued in the direction they wanted to go instead of that which Jesus had chosen? Remember Judas also tries to force Jesus’ hand and betrays him. There are those in our day who want to force Jesus’ hand by trying to figure out when he will return. We do not need to know. Jesus would warn, “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” (Mark 13:33 NIV) Being concerned about Jesus’ return is not as important as being about Jesus’ ministry! We can become distracted. When we are distracted over such things, we are allowing ourselves to be deceived into thinking this is more important than serving the Lord. Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much!
EXAMPLE: There are literally thousands of books written about the end times. From those who predicted the date to those who think they have figured out the antichrist. Millions of dollars have been spent and made in making movies and documentaries on the same subject. It amazes me that intelligent people would actually think that ancient pagans living one-step removed from the Stone Age, who never developed past a cultic savage bloody sacrificial slave infested society could possibly know when the world would end. And sadly, it is all based on a faulty set of assumptions. Their calendar ends on the year it does simply because they did not make one that went past that date. And there is a myriad of credible conflicting theories as to exactly what date, when, and why. Jesus was trying to warn his disciples to pay attention to what he has already told them and to understand the gospel and to be able to share it after his death, burial, and resurrection. Satan loves it when we focus on things that do not matter. Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much.
Deception can happen when believers willingly allow it to occur. We often want to think that we are tricked, fooled, or are simply hoodwinked into falling for ungodly things, people, or doctrines. Yet this is simply not the case for the most part. Far too often we know we should not allow ourselves to go and do the things we go and do or allow ourselves to believe. The disciples had Jesus right there and they were being deceived! This is why here in Mark’s gospel Jesus warns that…
III. Christians can be deceived by false relationships! (Vv. 5-6)
1. Let no one deceive you, my children! Whoever does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous! (1 John 3:7 GNB) Some believe that Jesus ignores the disciple’s first question and begins to answer the second. I believe he is ignoring both and answering what he thinks they need to know for the near future. Why would I say that? Notice Jesus immediately tells them, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Literally they could be seduced if they were not aware of who was trying to trick them and why they were trying to do so. In fact, “Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.” Jesus tells them. He knew the early church would face many detractors. The impact of Jesus’ warning was not lost on the apostle John who would later write, “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 1:7 NIV) Very early on the new church would face those who would try to dissuade Christians from following Jesus’ gospel message. They would even try to use Jesus’ name and say he had given them the authority to do so! Peter would say that, “These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.” (2 Peter 2:17 NIV) We live in a day and age where far too many Christians look for the wrong relationship concerning their faith. They want what pleases them for the moment, from self-centered worship, service, or ministry to seeking after someone who can scratch their itch with fine sounding words. The apostle Paul would warn his friend Timothy, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV) We can also be deceived by false relationships of those who claim Christ but are only saying what we want to hear at the time so they can gain what they desire. We are warned, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV) Christians can be deceived by false relationships!
EXAMPLE: We are to watch out that no one deceives us. Recently the Barna Group released a study that relates six mega themes concerning today’s Christianity. He found that: 1) The Christian Church is becoming less theologically literate creating weak faith and a reliance on motivation instead. 2) Christians are becoming more ingrown and less outreach-oriented focusing on ourselves. 3) Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life. If it does not focus on our problems, we are not interested. 4) Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating, but it is not producing long-term involvement. When the initial thrill is gone, so is the believer. 5) The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian Church. Homosexuality and sexual relationships outside of marriage are not seen as sinful. Situational ethics seem to rule the lives of believers rather than biblical morality. And finally, 6) the influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible. We are no longer the salt and light of the world. The church today has allowed itself to be deceived by false relationships.
Conclusion:
The deceivers will come. Christians can be deceived by material things! Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much! And, Christians can be deceived by false relationships! What are you deceived by?
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2010 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
December 26, 2010 AM
Mark 13 is sometimes called the eschatological discourse, the prophetic discourse, the Olivet discourse, or the Little Apocalypse. It depends on whether you see within these verses Jesus teaching about the culmination of events, future events, if you are concerned about where it occurred, or if you believe that Mark wanted us to read about the end of the world. However, we do not find the usual visionary and cryptic language that most apocalyptic literature contains. Rather, we read more of a practical and ethical discourse and warning by Jesus to his followers. He wanted them to be aware that deceivers will come and what they needed to do about it when it occurred.
Whether one believes in the biblical narrative of the end times or not we live in a day and age where folks love to speculate about the end of the world as we know it. From movies that cater to pagan Aztec calendars predicting it or a French apothecary’s prophetic meanderings, folks love to read or watch how the world might end. This is nothing new. In this section of Mark’s gospel we find the disciples walking with Jesus and in the process of their conversation we find some enigmatic references that might refer to this subject. Jesus was concerned about his followers remaining true to the gospel. Deceivers would come to try and steer them away. Let’s find out what deceivers will come and perhaps by knowing, we can be aware of it for our own lives as well…
READ: Mark 13:1-6
Within Jesus' comments in answering his disciple’s questions, Jesus related some of his last instructions for his followers. They are to be aware of those things in the world that might pull them away from doing the task he is about to leave them with. Preaching that the kingdom of God had come would be vital after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. His warning concerns those of who would come after as well. Therefore, we need to understand that…
I. Christians can be deceived by material things! (Vv. 1-2)
1. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things! (Colossians 3:2 NIV) It is so easy for us to focus on the here and now and forget that eternity awaits all of us. Jesus began very early on teaching his disciples the basic truth to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV) The disciples were looking at the things of man, the temple “stones and buildings.” For the Hebrews the temple was everything. And, even though Herod, a half-blooded usurper, built it – it was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Jesus, however, pulls them back to reality. He responds by letting them know that even the huge stones of Herod’s temple will not last. “You see these great buildings?” he asks them, “Not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one of them will be thrown down.” They had been excited about being in the temple, watching the people prepare for Passover, and their exuberance spilled over. Perhaps they saw in Jesus a different attitude, because he had been more confrontational in these last days and he had let them know on several occasions that his ministry was coming to some kind of climax. Yet, Jesus does not want them to lose their focus on what will matter in the long term. Temples will be destroyed and "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Matthew 24:35 NIV) Jesus was pointing to a time when Jerusalem, the temple, and all of Israel would shortly lay in ruins. In 66 AD the Jews rebelled against Rome. In response, Nero dispatched an army under Vespasian. By 68 AD resistance in the north had been eradicated and the Romans turned to Jerusalem. Nero committed suicide, creating a power vacuum in Rome. Vespasian was declared Emperor and returned to the Imperial City. Titus, his son, lead the remaining army in the assault on Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and lay siege to the Jewish stronghold. In 70 AD the attackers breached Jerusalem's outer walls and ransacked the city. The Temple and its magnificent stones were destroyed. What we put our trust in today soon rusts, decays, or is destroyed by men. We would do well to not be deceived by material things!
EXAMPLE: No one person and no one thing lasts forever. Not temples or people. No matter how big the building or famous the person, we would do well to remind ourselves that the edifices we place our names on today will be so much rubble later. The Lady Gagas of the world will soon be the weird old lady has-beens. I found it interesting that Ozzy Osbourne recently spoke out about Lady Gaga in an interview with Us Magazine, saying he believes the pop star needed to tone it down a bit. Yes, Ozzie Osbourne. He related, “I do think Lady Gaga should take a break for a little while. She’s getting to be too much, and she doesn’t watch the exposure of her clothes. She’s just too overexposed. She could be the next Madonna if she played her cards right.” He added, “I like her, but I’m getting a bit sick of her.” Who will remember Lady Gaga once her clothes are rags and her makeup is washed away? Where the temple of the Jews once sat, now stands a pagan mosque. Only the gospel of the stone the builders rejected has lasted. Do not be deceived by material things.
It cracks me up when I watch preachers pontificating with amazing multimedia presentations concerning the end times. The fact remains, no matter what kind of large banner you use or what computer graphics blaze across your sanctuary screen know one knows when Jesus will return. In fact, in this area Christians can be guilty of focusing so much on the end of days they forget about the nowadays. Here in Mark we are warned that…
II. Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much! (Vv. 3-4)
1. In fact, people who think they know so much don't know anything at all! (1 Corinthians 8:2 CEV) Later, as “Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, across from the Temple” we find that “Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him in private.” Why would these men, where some seemed to be at every important moment during Jesus’ ministry, come to him privately? I believe it was because they wanted additional knowledge concerning what Jesus had spoken about earlier. They were on the Mount of Olives, 2,700 feet above sea level, and about 100 feet higher than Jerusalem. West of them was the panorama of the temple and the entire city. It must have seemed as if they were on top of the world, being near Jerusalem and Herod’s temple. Having heard Jesus’ words, perhaps he was about to declare himself as Messiah? After all, they also knew what Zechariah the prophet had stated concerning the Messiah. That “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem… The LORD will be king over the whole earth!” (Zechariah 14:4, 9) Were the things Jesus spoke about and Zechariah’s words coming true? The disciples ask Jesus two questions. “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:4 NIV) They actually thought these things were going to happen right then and there and they wanted Jesus to let them in on it. They were being deceived, seduced, and did not even know it. What if the disciples continued in the direction they wanted to go instead of that which Jesus had chosen? Remember Judas also tries to force Jesus’ hand and betrays him. There are those in our day who want to force Jesus’ hand by trying to figure out when he will return. We do not need to know. Jesus would warn, “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” (Mark 13:33 NIV) Being concerned about Jesus’ return is not as important as being about Jesus’ ministry! We can become distracted. When we are distracted over such things, we are allowing ourselves to be deceived into thinking this is more important than serving the Lord. Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much!
EXAMPLE: There are literally thousands of books written about the end times. From those who predicted the date to those who think they have figured out the antichrist. Millions of dollars have been spent and made in making movies and documentaries on the same subject. It amazes me that intelligent people would actually think that ancient pagans living one-step removed from the Stone Age, who never developed past a cultic savage bloody sacrificial slave infested society could possibly know when the world would end. And sadly, it is all based on a faulty set of assumptions. Their calendar ends on the year it does simply because they did not make one that went past that date. And there is a myriad of credible conflicting theories as to exactly what date, when, and why. Jesus was trying to warn his disciples to pay attention to what he has already told them and to understand the gospel and to be able to share it after his death, burial, and resurrection. Satan loves it when we focus on things that do not matter. Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much.
Deception can happen when believers willingly allow it to occur. We often want to think that we are tricked, fooled, or are simply hoodwinked into falling for ungodly things, people, or doctrines. Yet this is simply not the case for the most part. Far too often we know we should not allow ourselves to go and do the things we go and do or allow ourselves to believe. The disciples had Jesus right there and they were being deceived! This is why here in Mark’s gospel Jesus warns that…
III. Christians can be deceived by false relationships! (Vv. 5-6)
1. Let no one deceive you, my children! Whoever does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous! (1 John 3:7 GNB) Some believe that Jesus ignores the disciple’s first question and begins to answer the second. I believe he is ignoring both and answering what he thinks they need to know for the near future. Why would I say that? Notice Jesus immediately tells them, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” Literally they could be seduced if they were not aware of who was trying to trick them and why they were trying to do so. In fact, “Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.” Jesus tells them. He knew the early church would face many detractors. The impact of Jesus’ warning was not lost on the apostle John who would later write, “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 1:7 NIV) Very early on the new church would face those who would try to dissuade Christians from following Jesus’ gospel message. They would even try to use Jesus’ name and say he had given them the authority to do so! Peter would say that, “These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.” (2 Peter 2:17 NIV) We live in a day and age where far too many Christians look for the wrong relationship concerning their faith. They want what pleases them for the moment, from self-centered worship, service, or ministry to seeking after someone who can scratch their itch with fine sounding words. The apostle Paul would warn his friend Timothy, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV) We can also be deceived by false relationships of those who claim Christ but are only saying what we want to hear at the time so they can gain what they desire. We are warned, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV) Christians can be deceived by false relationships!
EXAMPLE: We are to watch out that no one deceives us. Recently the Barna Group released a study that relates six mega themes concerning today’s Christianity. He found that: 1) The Christian Church is becoming less theologically literate creating weak faith and a reliance on motivation instead. 2) Christians are becoming more ingrown and less outreach-oriented focusing on ourselves. 3) Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life. If it does not focus on our problems, we are not interested. 4) Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating, but it is not producing long-term involvement. When the initial thrill is gone, so is the believer. 5) The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian Church. Homosexuality and sexual relationships outside of marriage are not seen as sinful. Situational ethics seem to rule the lives of believers rather than biblical morality. And finally, 6) the influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible. We are no longer the salt and light of the world. The church today has allowed itself to be deceived by false relationships.
Conclusion:
The deceivers will come. Christians can be deceived by material things! Christians can be deceived by wanting to know too much! And, Christians can be deceived by false relationships! What are you deceived by?
----
Pastor Lee Hemen has been the outspoken pastor of the same church for 25 years in Vancouver, WA. He writes regularly on spirituality and conservative causes and maintains several web blogs. This article is copyrighted © 2010 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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