“Buying up the Opportunities”  Mark 13-14

 Sermon by Pastor Dennis Gleason -- June 25, 2006

During the Revolutionary War, a loyalist spy appeared at the headquarters of Hessian commander Colonel Johann Rall, carrying an urgent message. General George Washington and his Continental army had secretly crossed the Delaware River that morning and were advancing on Trenton, New Jersey where the Hessians were encamped. The spy was denied an audience with the commander and instead wrote his message on a piece of paper. A porter took the note to the Hessian colonel, but because Rall was involved in a poker game he stuffed the unread note into his pocket. When the guards at the Hessian camp began firing their muskets in a futile attempt to stop Washington's army, Rall was still playing cards.

Without time to organize, the Hessian army was captured. The battle occurred the day after Christmas, 1776, giving the colonists a late present--their first major victory of the war. 

Today in the Word, MBI, October, 1991, p. 21.

Our text for today is found in Mark 13:37  “And what I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert’”

The disciples are with Jesus as they walk through the temple area. They are impressed with all the magnificent buildings of the temple and the area surrounding it including the huge, magnificent stones they used to build it. Jesus’ response was to tell them that the temple would be destroyed and not one of these great stones would be left standing upon one another. They left the temple  area and crossed to the mountain over against it. They could look back at the Temple.

 The disciples (Peter, James, John and Andrew) wanted to know when these events would take place and when the end of the world would take place. Jesus’ answer to them is the prophecy that follows.

 According to Matthew’s account of this event in the life of Jesus and His disciples, there are three sections.

 The first runs from Matthew 24:4-44 and contains predictions that pertain to the people of Israel, the Messiah of the Hebrew people and the theocracy of God (Kingdom of God). These predictions are in line with the Old Testament promises related to Israel. The section ends with reference to the Son of Man.

There is a break at verse 45 introducing us to the second section which seems to shift the focus over to what we know as the Church and it’s responsibility. There is no reference to the Son of Man in this section.

And then there is another break at verse 31 of chapter 25 which speaks of the Son of Man once again. However, this section has to do with neither the people of Israel or the Church. It is the Nations of the world which are in view in the last section.

 “What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the consummation of the age?”  That is their question. Jesus answers them and in doing so he describes the major crises to come. It is as if you were looking out over a range of mountains. You see a number of mountain tops, but not the valleys that stretch out between them. To get to the tops one must go through the valleys and the tops of the mountains seem so close together when in reality they are great distances apart. So it is with the various elements of this prophecy. What appears to be close at hand is not.

 Mark does not include in his Gospel the second or third section contained in Matthew’s account.

 He calls the disciples to be careful as to their loyalty to Himself. (Verses 5-8)  He told them that when they heard of wars and rumors of wars they would know that they were in the beginning of the end. The movement toward the consummation of all things was beginning. But it was not the end yet.

 In verses 9-13 Jesus gives his disciples personal instructions. He tells them of the persecution to come and that the strength and comfort they would need would come from the Holy Spirit.

 In verses 14-32 he describes the crises to come, of which there would be two. In verses 14-23 he told them of the things which would come that were actually fulfilled in the fall of Jerusalem with in a generation. And then he said, “But in those days after that tribulation…” The second thing, the days after the tribulation are separated from the first by what has already been almost 2,000 years.

 Luke tells us that:  “…they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)  This verse covers the period of time from the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD when the Romans besieged the city and today. Both Luke and Mark follow that event with the notation of the sun becoming dark and the moon giving no light.  Again there is a great period of time between the two events.

 But what we should note is this:  Jesus makes clear that the period of time between his first advent and his coming again will be time of turmoil and conflict. There will be no gradual cessation of violence or turmoil and conflict. It will continue up to the very end when Jesus returns. The very end will be in carnage, and bloodshed.

 Wars and rumors of wars are not to be understood as the sign of his coming. Armageddon will come one day, but the wars of today and the rumors of wars tomorrow will have nothing to do with it. These things are a perpetual part of the fallen world we live in and in some way totally unknown to us God, overruling the forces of this world, causes the wrath of man to express itself in ultimate praise to God. He also restrains it within his own will.

Jesus gives his disciples warnings about false prophets, and false Christs. I think we can be assured that on the day of Jesus’ return we will know it, should we still be here on earth. No one will have to tell us. And when people do tell us of that great event, we can be assured that it is a false Christ. The final manifestation of Jesus at his return will be accompanied by supernatural signs, stars falling, the sun being darkened and the moon refusing to shine its light. The powers of the heavens will be shaken and the Son of Man will be clearly revealed to everyone. There will be no mistake about his coming.

 It is rather interesting that the largest type available for newspapers is called Second Coming Type. I suppose it is befitting the ego of journalists to believe that they will actually be reporting his coming and that there will be people reading about it.

 When is Jesus coming back?  Jesus answers it very clearly in this passage. In 13:32 he clearly states: “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is.”

 You can’t get plainer than “You do not know.”  Don’t bother to sell everything you have and go to the mountain top in Arkansas and wait for the day. You won’t pick the right day and it will be a waste of your time and energy.

“Take heed…you do not know when the time is…” and that is followed by: “Watch, therefore: for you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming.”

Students of the Greek New Testament learn that there are two words that are translated “watch” in the English language. They are not contradictory, but are complementary to each other. What does “watch” say to us?  It literally means “be wide awake”.  At the heart of the word is the thought of the market place. The Apostle Paul uses the word in writing to the Ephesians, when he says that they should “buy up the opportunities” or “redeem the time” as the King James Version rendered it. Here you have the idea of the merchant eager and alert with his heart set upon his business. He is watching for the opportunity to succeed in his business. Hence, the idea of being wide awake, ready to act.

 Some years ago an energetic young man began as a clerk in a hardware store. Like many old- time hardware stores, the inventory included thousands of dollars' worth of items that were obsolete or seldom called for by customers. The young man was smart enough to know that no thriving business could carry such an inventory and still show a healthy profit. He proposed a sale to get rid of the stuff. The owner was reluctant but finally agreed to let him set up a table in the middle of the store and try to sell off a few of the oldest items. Every product was priced at ten cents. The sale was a success and the young fellow got permission to run a second sale. It, too, went over just as well as the first. This gave the young clerk an idea. Why not open a store that would sell only nickel and dime items? He could run the store and his boss could supply the capital. 

 The young man's boss was not enthusiastic. "The plan will never work," he said, "because you can't find enough items to sell at a nickel and a dime." The young man was disappointed but eventually went ahead on his own and made a fortune out of the idea. His name was F.W. Woolworth. 

Years later his old boss lamented, "As near as I can figure it, every word I used in turning Woolworth down has cost me about a million dollars!"  Bits and Pieces, Vol. F, #41.

Watch….take heed…buy up the opportunities you have…redeem the time…”

 When we apply these thoughts to our spiritual lives, we recognize that we, too, should be watchful.

We have a spiritual obligation to make the most of the opportunities God gives us.

Jesus told his disciples that wherever they were, they were to be alert, watchful, wide awake and ready to redeem the opportunities for sharing the Gospel lest they be led astray by the voices of those claiming to be Him or even a false prophet.

The second injunction to be watchful was ( verse 35) one challenging them to be courageous. The first use of the word “watch” was positive. This time it is used as a negative. It means “be sleepless”. He is telling them not to be troubled with word of wars or rumors of wars. He tells them not to be anxious. Watching is the sleepless vigil of  the God-desiring soul.

Watching is the responsibility of the believer in loyalty to Jesus to maintain our spiritual walk, to be alert to the spiritual needs of others.

 We missed him. Our chance to change things came and passed and we did not know it was there. A dark-skinned little boy sat through Sunday School classes for three years at a great Baptist Church (First Church, San Antonio) but some one missed him. His name was Sirhan Sirhan, and at age 24 he shot and killed Senator Robert Kennedy. In a welter of words and the shudder of grief throughout our nation, the persistent thought keeps recurring...someone missed him. 

 Dr. Jimmy Allen, former pastor of First Baptist Chruch, San Antonio, Texas in Pulpit Helps, May, 1991.

Watching is the courage of heart not to be troubled by wars or rumors of wars and not to be anxious even in the hours of suffering that may come to us.

 Watching is the ever seeking of the Kingdom of God, His glory and the accomplishment of His purposes in this world right now.

We need to remember that none of the things in this world that surprise or startle us, surprise or startle God. Nothing that is yet to come is unknown to God. Our Lord saw them clearly so long ago. He knew the world into which he came. He saw the age and he knew the measure of the forces arrayed against him and His Kingdom. His Kingdom is one of righteousness, peace and joy.

  --Dennis Gleason