The Servant Son of God: Watch
Mark 13 is the Servant Son's longest prophetic discourse — often called the Olivet Discourse.
As they leave the temple, one of the disciples marvels at the great stones and great buildings. Jesus responds with a sober prophecy:
"Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
What looked indestructible would be destroyed. What seemed eternal would fall. And the disciples must learn to live in the meantime — between the first coming and the second — with one word ringing in their ears: Watch.
The disciples' question
On the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew ask Him privately:
"Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?"
He answers carefully. He weaves together the coming destruction of Jerusalem (which happened in AD 70) with the ultimate return of the Son of Man. Both are previews of each other. Both are warnings to watch.
Do not be led astray
"See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray."
The first warning is about deception. False christs and false teachers will arise. Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines — these are not the end. They are the beginning of the birth pains.
The Servant Son does not give us a calendar. He gives us a posture: do not panic, do not chase signs, do not follow imposters.
You will suffer
"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."
This is the cost of following the Servant. His path is the cross, and the path of His witnesses runs parallel.
But He gives a promise:
"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."
The Spirit will give the words at the moment they are needed. The Servant Son does not send His witnesses unaccompanied. The Spirit goes with them into every courtroom.
The gospel to all nations
"The gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations."
Before the end, the message of Christ will reach every people. The Servant Son who was rejected at Nazareth will be heralded to the ends of the earth. The mustard seed will become a tree.
The abomination of desolation
He warns of a specific sign: "When you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be… then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."
The Servant Son tells them how to escape. Do not go back into the house. Do not return for your cloak. Pray that it will not happen in winter.
For the immediate horizon, this pointed to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the temple. For the longer horizon, it points to a final tribulation before His return.
"If the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days."
Even in the worst days, God is restraining the storm for the sake of His people.
False signs
"If anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it."
There will be signs and wonders to lead astray. The Servant Son tells us in advance — so we will not be deceived.
He does not want us guessing. He wants us watching.
The coming of the Son of Man
"In those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."
The same Son of Man who came in humility on a colt will come in glory on the clouds. The Servant will return as the King.
He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
The Servant Son's story has two acts: the cross and the crown. The first is finished. The second is coming.
The lesson of the fig tree
"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates."
Read the seasons. Know the signs. Live in alertness.
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
Everything you can see will end. The words of the Servant Son will not.
Watch
Of the day and the hour, He says, no one knows — not the angels, not the Son, but the Father only.
"Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come."
He gives a small parable. A man going on a journey leaves his servants in charge, each with his work. He commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.
"Therefore stay awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning — lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."
This is the closing word. Watch. Stay awake.
The Servant Son will return. The hour is hidden. The duty is given. Be at your post, doing the work He assigned, with one ear always tuned for the master's step at the door.
Closing prayer
Father, the Servant Son is coming again — in clouds, with power, with glory. Keep us from chasing false christs and false signs. Keep us awake at the post You gave us. Let the gospel be proclaimed to all nations. And when the day comes — whether evening, midnight, rooster-crow, or morning — find us at our work, ready to welcome our returning King. In Jesus' name, amen.
