Daily Devotions
Mark
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, "Acts 2:33"
Day 277 – Mark 13
“Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.”
Acts 2:33
TROUBLED TIMES
The words of Jesus must have sent cold chills down the spine of His Disciples. He gave a third word of warning.
“But when you hear of wars and rumours of wars,
do not be troubled; for such things must happen,
but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
And there will be earthquakes in various places,
and there will be famines and troubles.
These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
MARK 13:7-8
It has always been the dream of mankind to create utopia, where people would live in peace, and there would be ample provision for all. Jesus gave to His disciples a very stark, even grim, reality of what the future would hold.
1. War
This is one of the deepest fears of mankind. Wars mean carnage, brutality, senseless taking of lives and more!
2. Rumours of wars
When war comes, rumours also abound. Rumours often spread fear. Hearts become unsettled. Unfortunately, rumours of war defy easy elimination.
3. Widespread war
Not only did Jesus foretell and warn of the fall of Jerusalem, and the destruction of the temple, He also foretold the fact that the nations of the world will go to war with each other. Peace agreements would not be easy to forge, nor would they be honoured even after long negotiations.
4. Earthquakes
Earthquakes were not new. Jesus warned that they would continue and would not abate. He warned that “natural disasters” like earthquakes must be factored in.
5. Famine
This problem has always challenged mankind for the longest time. Jesus warned that this problem would continue to pose a severe threat in the future too.
ONLY THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS
Jesus’ foretelling of the future was sobering indeed. For added impact, Jesus warned that what He had just said was only “the beginning of sorrows”!