Our focus of attention in Mark13:32-40 is drawn once again to being watchful and prepared for the return of Jesus. Since several parables focus in this area it underlines the importance of the message. Here Jesus speaks about a man going abroad who committed his business affairs into the hands of his servants during his absence. Emphasis again is laid on the uncertainty of the exact time of his return. The Bible does give us conditions that would be prevalent in the world prior to His return making us to be aware of the season, but nowhere does it specify an exact time, showing us the necessity of constant preparedness! When men try to set dates, whether hour, day, or even year, don’t count on it; even Jesus Himself, at least while He was on this earth as a physical man, said He did not know; this was the Father’s secret! I personally think it is likely to be coordinated with the timing of the Old Testament shadows of the feasts of Israel, but I leave that decision to Him; what we do know is that the signs of the season He spoke of are all around us! What Jesus did do before going back to heaven was to commit His kingdom affairs on earth into the hands of His followers, and tell them to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” Mark 16:15-18, placing the word of reconciliation into their hands, and so we find Paul writing in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 saying that God “has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God…” To “watch and pray” does not imply idleness and speculation; rather we need to be actively engaged until the last minute! Hear Jesus words in Matthew 24:46, “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, shall find so doing.”
Be watchful
By Rose Hill
We don’t want to be left behind,
So we better be watching all the time.
While watching not forgetting to pray,
And working for Jesus every day.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.