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In Order. Power and Glory

November 6, 2017. Mark 13.

 

As Peter, James, John, Andrew and Jesus sit opposite the temple on the Mount of Olives the disciples ask Jesus a question. Jesus’ answer consists of telling about numerous events.  If we were to sum up the majority of these events it would be that Jesus gives a list of one ugly, disastrous event after another.

  • Hearing about wars and rumors of wars
  • Earthquakes and famines
  • Believers arrested and delivered up to councils to be beaten
  • Family members betraying other family members to be put to death
  • Hated by all for the sake of Jesus
  • Tribulation like never seen before
  • False Christs and false prophets
  • Heavens (sun, moon and stars) shaken

Quite the list.  Not very encouraging or uplifting, but an honest list of events Jesus gives to His disciples to answer their question.  Toward the end of this list of disasters He tells them of two other events that more than balance this ugly list.

Mark13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

All of these disastrous events will pale to Jesus, the Son of Man, coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Think about that for a moment.  Our own personal life may be a life full of disasters.  The things in our life may look to us as ugly as this list from Jesus. Yet we can actually add our list to Jesus’ list.  And just like His list, at the end of our list we will see Jesus, the Son of Man, coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 

It is an event that we can have 100% confidence in because of the second event Jesus speaks about, concerning His words. Even though heaven and earth will pass away, the words of Jesus (including these words of His coming in power and glory) will by absolutely no means pass away.  His words will happen.

Using the parable of a fig tree, Jesus really encourages His disciples with that fact that when they see these disastrous events it can remind them that the Son of Man is coming in clouds with great power and glory.  

Our disastrous events are not on His list but that is no reason we cannot use our events as a personal reminder that the end is not this disastrous event in our life, but Jesus, who is our Savior and Lord, coming in power and glory.

Even if each day brings a new disaster, our hope and encouragement is Jesus coming in power and glory.

Robert McClendon

Bob McClendon grew up in Pennsylvania, spent most of his adulthood in Colorado, and is now ready to learn how to be a Texan. He married his high school sweetheart, Tracy, in 1975. They have two...more