A Woman Anoints Jesus (Mark 14:1–9)

 

A Woman Anoints Jesus (Mark 14:1–9)

What is the greatest of all things a person can do? There is nothing greater than receiving salvation. For without salvation, one faces eternal punishment. This is because people have fallen for the deception of the cunning Satan the devil. God purposed before the ages that he would restore Adam, who had fallen into sin, through the woman's offspring — through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came as the Son of Man.

In Mark 14:1–9, Jesus received with delight the act of the woman who broke open the costly perfume and poured it on his head as the greatest of all things. This is because it was a preparation for the death and burial of Christ. Jesus came for that very purpose — to be the sacrificial offering that hangs on the cross and atones for the sins of this world. Therefore, whoever believes in the merit of Christ's death receives eternal life.

The Plot to Kill Jesus (Matt. 26:1–5; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–53)

1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 "But not during the festival," they said, "or the people may riot." (Mark 14:1–2)

The time had now fully come for God's Son to drink the cup of sacrifice — it had risen all the way to the throat. God's wrath came upon the children of the devil, whose hearts were hardened and rebellious, and they could no longer delay the arrest and condemnation of the Son of Man. They did not fear God — they feared people. So they plotted to arrest and kill the Son of God, deliberately avoiding the Passover festival when great crowds would be gathered.

The Jewish religious leaders had been grinding their teeth in their desire to arrest and kill Jesus of Nazareth for the past three and a half years. They had attempted to stone him to death on several occasions and had tested and challenged him at every opportunity to trap him. Their hearts had hardened like stone, and even though they witnessed with their own eyes the good and life-giving work of Jesus Christ, it was like reading the Scriptures to a cow — it went in one ear and out the other.

God would have been entirely justified in judging them at once. Yet in his patience he continued to lead them through truth and love, that they might turn back, repent, and come to salvation. Jesus taught them with the word of truth in unchanging love, in spite of all their tests and accusations. God stands all day long with arms spread wide, longing for his people to return to the embrace of the love of God their Creator (Rom. 10:21).

Yet they did not repent. Why, then, was this the moment? Because God leads and moves all things according to his will and purpose. At times, it seems to us that God is slow, as though he is doing nothing. But that is not so. With the Lord a thousand years are like a day, and a day is like a thousand years (2 Pet. 3:8). God created all of heaven and earth according to his will and purpose, and he governs it without the slightest deviation. God's time comes like a thief, suddenly arriving at a time no one expects (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).

For now we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is seen dimly will be seen clearly (1 Cor. 13:9–10). We do not yet see all things in submission to the Lord God who is sovereign over all, but on the day when the Judge of all things comes, we will see everything bowing down and submitting at his feet (Heb. 2:8). But until the day of the Lord comes, all these things remain hidden — yet we see them, believe them, and hold to them with the eyes of faith.

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2)

Jesus Anointed at Bethany (Matt. 26:6–13; John 12:1–8)

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. (Mark 14:3–5)

This event is recorded in all four Gospels. However, it can be viewed not as one event but as two. Luke's Gospel is seen as recording a different event from the other three Gospels. In Luke's Gospel, a sinful woman appears, whereas in the other three Gospels it is Mary or an unnamed woman. The three Gospels differ in location and name, but in all of them the people viewed the pouring of the perfume as a waste, while Jesus said it was a preparation for his burial.

Why then did this woman pour such expensive perfume on Jesus? It was probably not with the intention of preparing for his burial. It was to offer gratitude and worship for the great grace she had received (Luke 7:40–42). We have had a debt cancelled that we could never repay (Matt. 18:24). It is a debt that is utterly impossible to pay back. Sin demands death (Rom. 6:23). There is no other way apart from death. Yet God made his Son the sacrificial offering in our place and atoned for our sins.

God first made Christ his Son — who gave himself up without sparing his own life — the sacrificial offering (Rom. 5:8). This was not because we had performed righteous acts before God. He had compassion and mercy on us who had fallen into sin, who could not see ahead and were groaning in the chains of darkness. He displayed on the cross a love that sacrificed the Son without reservation, and he gives eternal life to everyone who believes.

Now God has commanded us, in response to his love, to love the Lord God with all our life, will, strength, and heart, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. God so loved the world that he did not spare his one and only Son but gave him up (John 3:16). Love is obedience. Obeying God's word is the proof of love for the Lord. Following the example of Jesus who died on the cross, we love our neighbors to the point of death. This woman gave everything she had for the Lord.

Then some of those present were indignant and rebuked the woman, asking what kind of waste this was. Matthew mentions the disciples, and John identifies Judas Iscariot — the one who later betrayed Jesus — as the one who spoke (Matt. 26:8; John 12:4). They were angry and indignant that the expensive perfume had not been sold and distributed to the poor. But in reality, it was not out of concern for the poor but out of greed for money. Judas Iscariot was in charge of the money bag, and he was a thief who used to help himself to what was put into it (John 12:6).

To judge and rebuke the pouring of the perfume as a waste was a complete failure to understand the woman's motive and sincerity. Those who are enslaved to their own greed do not hesitate to judge and rebuke people carelessly. In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you — for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 7:12). For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged (Matt. 7:2).

She Has Done What She Could

6 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Mark 14:6–9)

Jesus looked at the motive at the center of her heart and received with delight the woman's pouring of the perfume as preparation for his own imminent burial. Jesus knew that his death was near. It was for this very purpose that he had left the heavenly throne, been clothed in the form of a servant, and was incarnate on this earth. Now God's time had fully come and the moment to offer his body as a sacrificial offering had arrived. Because Jesus came precisely for this — to bear the sins of this world and die — he commanded that the pouring of perfume on his body be remembered wherever the gospel is proclaimed.

Jesus had to die. For without his death there is no forgiveness of sins and no salvation. Without the blood of Jesus, no one can be freed from sin and death. And if one is not freed from sin and death, trouble and distress never cease; true satisfaction, peace, and rest cannot be found; and ultimately one falls into the eternal fire of hell (Rom. 2:9; Isa. 66:24; Mark 9:48). The life that is under sin is never filled no matter what it eats, and never finds fulfillment no matter what it does (Mic. 6:14; Isa. 9:20).

No one has true peace and joy until they are clothed in the righteousness of God. But when one is washed by the blood of Christ, they are freed from sin and enter into the rest of God's glory. And those who have been freed from sin are now at last able to do good.

"There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Rom. 2:9–10)

How does one put on the righteousness of Christ? We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God whom God sent, shed his blood and died in place of the sins of this world. We believe that Christ's death is an atoning death that stands in place of my sin and is the payment for my sin. God frees us from the heavy yoke and chains of sin and death the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not because we are worthy — it is through faith in Christ the Son alone.

Putting on the righteousness of Christ happens only through the spiritual and holy grace of God that belongs to heaven. We respond in faith with gratitude for the grace God pours out on us — and that faith itself is also a spiritual and holy gift that comes down from heaven. Faith belongs to heaven, and so does righteousness. Nothing is our own. Therefore, receiving forgiveness of sins and salvation in Christ is entirely by God's grace.

Then how does one do good? No one is good except God alone. Therefore, only God can do good. We cannot do good (Rom. 7:19). The ability to do good comes from being clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Whoever is clothed in the righteousness of Christ has Christ dwelling within them. When by faith we offer up our bodies — just as Christ offered his body as a sacrificial offering — Christ who dwells within us does good through us.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)

Jesus commanded that the preparation for his burial be testified to wherever the gospel of salvation is proclaimed. This is because without the death of Christ there is no forgiveness of sins. To enter into eternal life, one must be washed by the blood of Christ. God is pleased to receive our offering of our lives. This is because the debt of sin has been atoned for through the death of Christ.

"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb. 9:22)

Amen!

September 20, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Learn the Lesson of the Fig Tree (Mark 13:28–37)

 

Learn the Lesson of the Fig Tree (Mark 13:28–37)

Everything has a day of reckoning. The family, the school, the company, the government, the church — all of them settle their accounts every year. Life, too, has a day of reckoning. Life is not an accident, nor a picnic — it has a purpose and a destination. We come from God and return to God. And each person will stand before God's judgment seat and give an account according to what they have done (Rom. 2:6). Those who have stayed awake, practiced righteousness, and obeyed the word will be given a reward, but those who have not obeyed will face eternal judgment.

In Mark 13:28–37, Jesus warned his disciples to always be on the alert because no one knows the day — that is, the day when the Lord will return. Being alert means understanding God's word and obeying it accordingly. This refers to a life filled with the Holy Spirit — following the way of the cross that Christ walked. For the suffering and death of Christ is the one and only path that leads to salvation.

When the Branch Puts Out Leaves, Summer Is Near

28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door." (Mark 13:28–29)

By observing natural phenomena, one can predict what is about to happen. When dark clouds gather, rain is coming. God planned and made the universe and all creation according to his will and purpose. All things in creation reveal the purpose, will, and intent of God. All creation obeys God's law without the slightest deviation. Through this, God teaches people who have fallen into sin and are wandering and lost — using all of creation to lead them to repentance (Rom. 1:19–20).

Jesus taught his disciples about the signs of the end times. Many deceivers will arise, wars and rumors of wars will break out, natural disasters of earthquakes and famines will occur (Mark 13:5–8). People will be handed over to councils and persecution will come (v. 9). The abomination that causes desolation will stand in the holy temple (v. 14). And the heavens will be shaken, the sun and moon will fall, and then people will see the Lord Jesus coming on the clouds with the sound of the archangel's voice and the trumpet call (vv. 24–27).

The apostle John said in the first century that it was already the last hour (1 John 2:18). If that was true then, how much closer must the end be today in the twenty-first century. In fact, every person is living in the end times. At the moment we die, we will stand before the Lord Jesus — the Lord of lords — who comes on the clouds with the voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet.

The history of humanity has never been free from wars and rumors of wars, conflict and slaughter. Natural disasters continue as well — earthquakes, famines, floods, heat waves, and wildfires. Jesus said this is the beginning of birth pains. Birth pains, once they begin, cannot be reversed — they must be endured all the way through. Therefore, we can know that the day of the Lord's coming is drawing near.

No One Knows the Day or Hour — Only the Father

30 "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:30–32)

"This generation" refers to the period until God's kingdom comes and rules on this earth. Yet at the moment each person dies, they will see Jesus — who comes as the King of kings — with the voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet. Every person is given one life on this earth on equal terms. This period is a time to learn, absorb, and obey the secrets of God's kingdom. It is the period of preparing for the eternal kingdom of heaven in the age to come.

At the end of the age, the heavens will be shaken, and the solar system and all of heaven and earth will melt away like snow. Just as the landscape changes beyond recognition in ten years, so this world is not eternal — it will decay, become defiled, and pass away. This world cannot be our hope. The kingdom of heaven, which is eternally imperishable, unfading, and undefiled, is the true hope. To those who have believed God's promises and lived holding on to the hope of heaven, God gives the kingdom of heaven as their inheritance.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Heb. 11:6)

But God's word will never pass away — it is eternal. Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means pass away from God's word before everything is accomplished (Matt. 5:18). Nothing on this earth can pass through death. But God's word is the power and authority that is alive and passes through death. When God speaks, the dead come back to life, the blind receive their sight, and leprosy comes and goes.

When God spoke, there was light; the waters above were separated from the waters below; the sea drew back and dry land appeared, becoming the earth. When God spoke, Aaron's staff budded, blossomed, and produced almonds (Num. 16:6). When God spoke, the Red Sea parted, water gushed from the rock, and manna fell from heaven.

The Word became flesh and came to this earth and displayed the glory and power of God (John 1:14). That glory and power was seen in the death of the Son of God in place of this world's sin. Through the shedding of his blood in sacrifice and his death, he broke the power of sin and death over this world. God raised his Son from the dead by his word and made him Lord of all. Jesus, who is the Word, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God's throne, reigning until his enemies bow their knees under his feet.

Yet no one knows when the end of the earth will come — that is, the day when Jesus will return. Only the heavenly Father knows, and even Jesus, who came as the Son of Man, did not know it (Matt. 24:36). Our lives are entirely in God's hands. Whether we live or die seems to be something people determine, but it is not so. It is entirely in the hands of God, who created heaven and earth and loved us to the point of sacrificing his Son.

The generation before the flood lived nearly a thousand years (Gen. 5). Yet Moses said that the years of our life are seventy, or eighty if we are strong (Ps. 90:10). God allowed the Amorites to remain in the land for four hundred years before judging them because their sin had not yet reached its full measure (Gen. 15:16). God delayed judgment on the city of Nineveh for a hundred and fifty years because they heard the prophet Jonah and repented (Jonah 3:10; Nah. 1:1; 3:13).

God desires that no one perish but that everyone come to salvation (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:3–4). So in his patience God leads and guides people throughout their lives, giving them the opportunity to repent, turn back, and come to salvation. Every person has been given an equal opportunity to turn back to God, and God has planted in all creation the knowledge by which his power and glory can be known.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13)

Be on Guard! Be Alert!

33 "Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" (Mark 13:33–37)

Therefore, Jesus commanded us to keep watch. "Keep watch" appears three times in repetition. Not one of God's promises will fall to the ground — every single one will be fulfilled. Jesus is the Lord of all things who, as depicted in the parable of the tenants, made a vineyard capable of bearing good fruit, entrusted it to his servants, and went away to a far country. The meaning of what was entrusted is that good fruit should be borne and returned to God. Life on this earth belongs to no one. Since everything belongs to God, it must all be returned to him one day. This means that a day of reckoning for everything — good and evil alike — is coming.

The reason we must keep watch is that no one knows when the Lord will come. It could be tonight or it could be tomorrow at dawn. Because Jesus will come suddenly, we must always be prepared. We must not let him find us sleeping when he arrives. This does not refer to physical sleep at bedtime, but to not being alert. Jesus comes like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 3:3; 2 Pet. 3:10). Jesus will come suddenly at an hour no one expects (Matt. 24:44). No one knows when they will die.

Being alert means faithfully and wisely distributing the food — that is, God's word — at the proper time (Matt. 24:45). So being alert is faithfully doing the work entrusted to us when the master comes. What God has entrusted to us until the day of reckoning includes everything in this life — life itself and time included. Life is by no means something that comes and goes by chance — it has an origin and a purpose. And that purpose is to live for the glory of God whether we eat or drink (1 Cor. 10:31).

This is why there is reason to diligently study God's word. We examine all sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments without missing any of them, and day by day we strengthen our grasp of the secrets of God's kingdom and the hope hidden within the word. Living the life of a pilgrim and a sojourner, we hold firmly not to things of the earth but to the eternal and glorious hope of heaven. And by faith we humbly make that heavenly hope known to our neighbors.

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Pet. 3:15)

Being alert also means, above all else, diligently loving our neighbor as ourselves. This is because this is the new commandment given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Love is not merely something expressed in words. Nor is it something done only in the mind. It means willingly bearing the shame and pain of the very cross that our Lord Jesus Christ carried. It is a heart that esteems others more highly and willingly yields. It joyfully bears the pain of self-dying. This is the example our Lord Jesus Christ showed on the cross.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.'" (Matt. 16:24–27)

Being alert also means, like the five wise virgins, having the lamp and the oil ready and being prepared to meet the bridegroom (Matt. 25:1–13). The lamp represents God's word, and the oil represents being filled with the Holy Spirit. But the five foolish virgins had the lamp yet had not prepared the oil, and so when the bridegroom came suddenly in the middle of the night, they were unable to participate. They had God's word but had not obeyed it (Mark 12:34).

What is being filled with the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth who bears witness that Christ died on the cross as the Son of God (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit also confirms that the way of the cross of Christ is the path that leads to life. Therefore, being filled with the Holy Spirit is believing and obeying that Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, is the Son of God — and following the way of Christ's cross in actual daily life.

Amen!

September 13, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

They Will See the Son of Man Coming (Mark 13:1–27)

 

They Will See the Son of Man Coming (Mark 13:1–27)

Where is this world heading? It is heading toward the end times — toward the last day. This is also the path that each person's life walks. From the moment a person is born, they move toward death. Why must there be an end? The end is like the pain of childbirth. It is the process of bringing forth new life. And because it is the day on which good and evil are distinguished as clearly as bright daylight, God's judgment must certainly come.

In Mark 13:1–27, Jesus taught his disciples about the signs that would occur at the end of the age. In the end times, false prophets will arise and deceive, wars and famines will break out frequently, and nation will clash against nation, language against language. These signs are the beginning of the end — the beginning of birth pains. After the gospel of God's salvation has been proclaimed to all nations, then the end will come. The purpose is not judgment but to lead people to salvation.

Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple (Matt. 24:1–2; Luke 21:5–6)

1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" 2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." (Mark 13:1–2)

The Jerusalem temple of that time was a massive construction project by Herod that had taken a staggering eighty years. The disciples were astonished at the grandeur and majesty of the temple and the stones used in it, much like tourists would be. They had seen the temple before, so why were they so astonished and moved at this particular moment? This can probably be connected to the fact that their expectation that Jesus would soon establish an earthly messianic kingdom had reached its peak.

Yet Jesus said that not one stone of this temple would be left on another — every one would be thrown down. And in fact, the final section of Herod's temple was completed between AD 62 and 64, and just a few years later, in AD 70, it was completely destroyed by the Roman general Titus. Contrary to the disciples' expectations, God's just judgment was drawing near for Israel. God is a God of love and at the same time a God of judgment. Yet God gives advance warning that judgment is coming — as he did in the days of Noah's flood.

Signs of the End of the Age (Matt. 24:3–14; Luke 21:7–19)

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 "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)

The disciples took the destruction of the temple as a cosmic end-of-the-age event. After the destruction of Solomon's temple, Israel had been in Babylonian captivity for seventy years. So Jesus' words could not but come as a great shock. They asked when these things would happen and what the sign would be. In response, Jesus explained both the imminent destruction of the temple and the end of the age that was yet to come. However, Jesus answered concerning the signs of the end times but did not speak about the exact time (Matt. 24:36).

Watch Out That No One Deceives You — This Is the Beginning of Birth Pains

5 Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains." (Mark 13:5–8)

Above all else, a prominent sign of the end times is that deception will be widespread. That is why Jesus commanded us to watch out so that no one deceives us. In the end times, many will come in the name of Christ and deceive many people. There have been countless examples of false Christs appearing and leading many people astray down the path of destruction. The spirit of deception has been present from the very beginning. The cunning and crafty Satan the devil deceived the woman and brought her down, and Adam then fell as well.

The reason many come in the name of Christ is fundamentally that people are desperately longing for a messiah to come. But the problem is that because people crave the wrong kind of messiah, they fall prey to deception. Some people crave success, some crave wealth, others crave power, and many crave recognition and praise. No human being can fundamentally save, help, or change another. Yet many come in the name of Christ and, like wolves in sheep's clothing, deceive people by appearing to satisfy their deep longings and bring them down.

There will also be wars and rumors of wars and violent conflicts between nations and kingdoms, along with natural disasters of earthquakes and famines. The earth on which we live has wars everywhere, with murder and violence being carried out in every place, and heat waves, earthquakes, and famines recurring every year. Yet Jesus said this is not yet the end, but rather the beginning of birth pains (ἀρχὴ ὠδίνων).

Right now we are at the beginning of birth pains, where wars, famines, and earthquakes are falling on us in part. The characteristic of birth pains is that once they begin, there is no going back — the process of pain must be endured all the way through. In the end times, disasters, wars, earthquakes, and famines will occur on a cosmic and sweeping scale, and no one will be able to stop them. But when the pain of labor is over, a breathtaking moment of new life being brought forth is at hand. Therefore, the end must certainly come, and after it the glorious and powerful kingdom of heaven arrives.

Because this generation is sexually immoral and corrupt, it cannot escape the just judgment of God. God's judgment is to illuminate everything as clearly as bright daylight, exposing all evil and darkness before all of creation. Those who hold the power of darkness will no longer be able to hide in the darkness but will be exposed for what they truly are and will face the wrath of God's judgment (Isa. 14:15–17).

But it is also the day on which the righteous who have believed in God, trusted in him, and obeyed him to the point of death will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). God will vindicate every injustice and repay each person according to what they have done. That is why the end must certainly come upon us like the pain of childbirth. God extends the grace of salvation to those who stand firm to the end (Mark 13:9; Matt. 24:13).

The Gospel Must First Be Preached to All Nations

9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what you will say. Just say whatever is given you to say at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:9–13)

Persecution will also come. The disciples will be examined before councils, flogged in synagogues, and brought before kings — and the disciples faced exactly this kind of persecution after Jesus had ascended to heaven. Paul stood before the proconsul in Cyprus, and when he was arrested and imprisoned in Jerusalem, he proclaimed the gospel before the Roman governors Felix and Festus and King Agrippa (Acts 13:7; Acts 24–25). This was to serve as a testimony of the gospel of Christ to them.

Jesus said that before the end comes, the gospel must first be preached to all nations. It has been nearly two thousand years since the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed on this earth, counted from his death, resurrection, and ascension. During that time, the gospel has been proclaimed to places we cannot even imagine — in communist countries, Muslim nations, and even the depths of the Amazon jungle. The gospel of Christ's salvation has spread to every corner. This means that the day of God — the day when Christ will return — is drawing that much closer.

"Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.'" (Rev. 14:6–7)

How is the gospel proclaimed to all nations? Of course, the gospel is testified through Bible teachers and missionaries. But fundamentally, the proclamation of the gospel is something God does himself. In the midst of persecution, God's Holy Spirit personally teaches us what we should say. God called Moses and sent him to the stubborn Pharaoh to command him to let his people go out of Egypt. And to Moses, who was afraid, he said: "Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say" (Exod. 4:10–12).

There will also be hatred from family members and from all people. Jesus warned his disciples in advance that they would be hated by the world on his account (John 15:18). This is because we do not belong to this world but belong to God the Father. Therefore, we must endure with patience, just as our Lord Jesus Christ endured the cross (Heb. 12:2).

The Greatest Distress (Matt. 24:15–28; Luke 21:20–24)

14 "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong — let the reader understand — then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now — and never to be equaled again. 20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time." (Mark 13:14–23)

The abomination that causes desolation will stand in the temple — the place where it does not belong. This prophecy of Daniel had already been fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes IV (Dan. 11:31). He halted the sacrificial offerings in the Jerusalem temple and placed a pig's head in the temple in their stead in 167 BC. He removed the altar from the temple and set up an altar for the worship of Zeus in its place. Jesus said that this would happen again in the end times. There is currently no temple in Jerusalem, but this implies that one will be rebuilt in the end times (Dan. 7:25).

When this abomination is seen to have taken place, Jesus said to flee to the mountains. This is because God's wrathful judgment is that close at hand. He also said to pray that this will not happen in winter, and that he will cut short those days. This great tribulation will be unlike anything that has come before it and unlike anything that will come after it. At that time, false prophets will gain power and deceive people by saying that Christ is here or there. This world is truly overflowing with knowledge. And to that same degree, false Christs are seizing every opportunity to deceive people from every direction.

They Will See the Son of Man Coming (Matt. 24:29–31; Luke 21:25–28)

24 "But in those days, following that distress, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' 26 At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." (Mark 13:24–27)

After the seven-year great tribulation has passed, a great cosmic upheaval will occur in which the powers of the heavens are shaken (Heb. 12:26–27; Matt. 24:29). After this, people will see with their own eyes the Son of God, Jesus Christ, coming from heaven on the clouds with great power and glory (1 Thess. 4:16–17; Rev. 1:7). When Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels said to the disciples who were gazing intently up into the sky that Jesus would come back in the same way they had seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).

Jesus, coming as the Judge of all things, will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from the four winds. And as he promised, he will place the crown of life on their heads. They will inherit the kingdom of heaven in all its glory, honor, power, and authority. But those who do not believe will be gathered together and judged with eternal fire and sulfur.

Amen!

September 6, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.