Mark 13:12-23: a reflection

12“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. 14“But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 15and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house. 16Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 17But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! 18Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter. 19For in those days there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. 20Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. 21Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it. 22For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 23But you watch. “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand.

Jesus describes a coming time of severe tribulation, betrayal even within families, false christs and false prophets performing signs to lead people astray. It is a sobering forecast. But notice why he tells them: But be on your guard; I have told you all things beforehand. Jesus does not describe the coming trouble to frighten his disciples, but to prepare them, so that when it comes, they will not be caught off guard or deceived.

Notice the kindness in being forewarned. Jesus does not leave his followers to be blindsided by hard times and clever deceptions; he tells them in advance what to expect, so they can be ready and watchful. I have told you beforehand, he says. Forewarned, they can recognize the trouble when it comes, hold steady through it, and see through the false christs and false signs designed to lead them astray. The advance warning is a gift, a mercy, not a threat.

There is comfort in that for us. Jesus does not promise his followers an easy road with no tribulation or deception; he is honest that hard times and convincing falsehoods will come. But he tells us beforehand precisely so we will not be shaken or deceived when they do. When difficulty or deception arises, we can remember: he told us this would come; he was not caught by surprise, and neither need we be. Be watchful, hold fast, endure to the end, and take courage that the one who told you beforehand holds the whole of it in his hands.

Lord Jesus, you forewarn your followers of coming tribulation and deception, not to frighten us but to prepare us, so we will not be blindsided or led astray. Thank you for the mercy of being told beforehand. Help me be watchful and hold fast when hard times and convincing falsehoods come, remembering that you saw it all and hold it in your hands. Keep me faithful to the end.