“The Apostles’ Job Description” – MARK 13:1-13

When struggling with my faith, I have often thought how it would have been so much easier to have been someone like Abraham, Joshua, Andrew or John.

You know, these guys in the Bible who were placed in circumstances that would have made it easier because of the special relationship they had with God. We all actually know that is simply not the case, for we each have our own cross to bear. As the day of His own cross drew a bit closer, Jesus makes some frightening predictions for the future of His disciples. It began with an innocent comment about the majesty of the temple (13:1) and ended with Jesus describing events that would lead to the destruction of that temple at the hands of the Romans in AD 70 (13:2).

The magnificence of the church is not in a physical structure.

Like the Babylonians before them, the Romans had the power to destroy a man-made structure. No, the magnificence of the church is in the perseverance of her people (13:13). The disciples/apostles listening to Jesus must have been shocked when Jesus said the temple would again be destroyed and they wondered “when?” (13:3-4). Although He answered their question, Jesus displayed much more concern for the people than the temple.

Rome could tear down the stones, but could she tear down these men who would be the building blocks of the church?

Some would come to tear down with false claims of Messiahship (13:5-6). Truth is a weapon of perseverance, and the apostles would stand for truth or fall into destruction. Some would wrongly interpret signs and events (13:7-8) preceding the destruction of the temple, but the apostles would have to be patient and keep the faithful calm.

Tough times were coming upon these men and the brethren they would lead.

Up until this point, Jesus took the brunt of the questions and accusations of the scribes, elders and priests. He always had the right answer and the apostles could simply stand, watch and listen. Soon it would change (13:9). These startled men would be the spokesmen for God on behalf of Jesus Christ (13:10) and would have to stand firm against the Jews before they could stand against the Romans. In the war of words, the apostles need not worry (13:11) as the Holy Spirit would speak through them.

There is the key to all of these troubles.

God is with them.

Jesus would never forsake them.

The Spirit would guide them.

The Jews would have no effective response. The Romans would have no ability to lay siege to a spiritual structure. The real enemy would be friends and family (13:12). The real struggle would be the power of being despised by others (13:13a).

That is the essence of the Lord’s church to this very day.

When things are crumbling around us … will we stand?

When others tempt us to abandon or compromise our faith … will we listen?

Our spirit cannot be destroyed by them, it can only be surrendered.