Mark 13 - A rambling concerning anxiety
This is a particularly difficult chapter to discuss. Jesus is telling the future to His closest disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew. The answer He gives is in response His earlier prediction concerning the destruction of the temple (v. 2). I do not believe that Jesus’ answer is entirely the one they were looking for. He instead told them many of the events that will happen before His second coming. But there is hope despite the dim outlook…
The four disciples must have been amazed at what He said. They couldn’t have possibly understood that He was talking about His second coming. That would imply that they understood that He needed to die first and return to heaven but we are told in several passages that they did not understand His need to die.
Jesus paints a grim picture of the future for His disciples in this chapter. Wars will break out everywhere; families will turn on one another; Christians will be persecuted and thrown in jail. In all this, the Gospel will be preached to all nations and it will be the Holy Spirit that gives us the right words to say at the right time so “Just say what God tells you to. Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (v. 11)
Those words are encouraging. It shows us how we should rely on Holy Spirit when we are in tough situations. We who have the Holy Spirit should not worry about the circumstances we find ourselves. Are we worrying about a task at work because we don’t have any experience in that particular area? What about our health or the health of a sick loved one? Are you worrying about how you are going to pay your rent? Here are some verses talking about anxiety:
Eccl 2:22-23 - What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
Phil 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Ps 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Luke 12:22-26 - Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
These notes were aimed directly at me.
