Unlimited: When Will All This Happen? | Good News Unlimited
Unlimited: When Will All This Happen?
Jun 24, 2024 1862
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately,“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled” (Mark 13:3–4, NIV)?
Jesus shocked his disciples by telling them that the magnificent temple would be destroyed. So, the disciples asked him the next logical question. They wanted to know when.
Jesus and his disciples sat on the Mount of Olives. The majesty and glory of the temple was arrayed before them.
It was this very temple whose destruction Jesus had just prophesied. This was an astonishing thing for his disciples. As a result, when they had the chance in private, they asked Jesus when these things could happen.
Jesus was not only a prophet he was the greatest of all the prophets. He is, indeed, the source of prophecy itself. As he looked across to the temple, his gaze spanned not just the decades, but all the ages until the end to time, as he tried to prepare his followers for what was to come.
His answer was important. That’s why Jesus’ answer to their question represents his longest prophecy in all the Gospels.
The disciples, as is natural to us human beings, were very interested in “when.” But Jesus rarely focused on the “when” of things. He was ultimately much more interested in the “who.” That’s why this prophecy tells us nothing really about time, but instead focuses on the trouble and suffering that his followers will go through. And you’ll see that the climax of this prophecy is the ultimate “Who” – Jesus Christ coming in the clouds.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: Think about yourself. Are you usually thinking more about the when than about people? Have you become so busy with timeframes and deadlines that you’ve forgotten what Jesus asks you to do?
