Key Thought

There are many ways this statement has been interpreted: (1) Some understand this to mean that all of Mark 13 is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem -- which occurred in the Jewish war with Rome in A.D. 66-70. (2) Others see it to mean that all these events happened in the first generation of believers and that we have been on the edge of Jesus' return ever since. (3) Some even declare that Jesus was wrong and this promise wasn't fulfilled. (4) Others even claimed that Jesus returned and many Christians missed him. While I believe the second is the more probable (and the third and fourth seem ludicrous to me), the point is that Jesus' own word, his assurance, stands behind his promised return. He has triumphed over death once through his resurrection. He will triumph a second and final time completely, when he returns and destroys death and brings immortality to life. And the unfolding of this promise begins at any moment!

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

"The fig tree teaches us a lesson: When the fig tree's branches become green and soft, and new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is near. It is the same with these things that I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, then you will know that the time is near, ready to come. I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while people of this time are still living. The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed. But the words I have said will never be destroyed. "No person knows when that day or time will be. The Son and the angels in heaven don't know when that day or time will be. Only the Father knows. Be careful! Always be ready! You don't know when that time will be. This is like a man that goes on a trip and leaves his house. The man lets his servants take care of the house. He gives each servant a special job to do. One servant has the work of guarding the door. The man tells this servant to always be ready. This is the same as I am now telling you. So you must always be ready. You don't know when the owner of the house will come back. He might come in the afternoon, or at midnight, or in the early morning, or when the sun rises. The owner might come back quickly. If you are always ready, then he will not find you sleeping. I tell you this, and I say this to every person: 'Be ready!'"

— Mark 13:28-37 (ERV)

Comments on "This Generation":

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