The Lesson of the Fig Tree
“From the
fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out
its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things
taking place, you know that he is near, eat the very gates. Truly, I say to
you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
No One Knows That Day or Hour
“But concerning
that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:28-32,[2]
Many events
of life can serve as reminders of the end of the world. The end of a week, the
end of a calendar year, the end of a road, the end of a television or radio
program all can serve as such reminders.
Yet out
flesh resists the thought of change. We try to shut out any thought of
disruption of the pattern of our daily routines. We reason that since the world
was here before we were born, it will remain forever. We are also tempted to
think that we are the one exception to the pattern of life and death we see
around us and that we shall live forever on this earth.
Jesus
prophesied that the end of all things will come about. He also revealed to the
inner circle of His disciples that He will come again in triumph and glory to gather
His followers. He promised that he will come to claim His church. Jesus invites
us, His disciples today, to an awareness and sense of anticipation of His
second advent. He reminds us that though heaven and earth will pass away His
words will not pass away.
Old
Testament prophets already predicted the last days of which Jesus speaks.
Prophets
such as Joel (3:14-21) and Amos (5Z:18-20) pointed to “the day of the Lord,” as a day of judgement.
Prophets
such as Jeremiah (9:25) and Amos (4:2; 8:11) use the expression, “behold, the days are coming,” to
forecast a time when God’s wrath and anger would be poured out on sinful humankind.
Jesus taught
His inner circle of disciples about the last days.
There will
be sings in the sun, moon, and stars.
Heaven and
earth will pass away. The process of the original creation will be reversed.
Christ’s
second coming will be the occasion of final deliverance and salvation for God’s
people. Jesus Christ identifies Himself with the “one life a son of man,” in
Daniel 7. He pointed forward beyond His crucifixion, resurrection, and
ascension to His second coming in triumph, majesty and glory, the time when He
will gather His saints to share with Him the glories of His church triumphant.
As believers
anticipate Christ’s second coming, Jesus reminds us that His words are forever.
They ”will not pass away.” v.31
Believers also need to hear the proclamation of both Law and Gospel (Matthew
28:20) We daily need to hear that we have been saved by God’s grave through
faith for Christ’s sake.
The earth on
which we live is not eternal. Heaven and earth will pass away, as the Lord
Jesus prophesied. The Lord Jesus has promised that His words will last forever.
He invites us to trust and to treasure particularly the assurance of
forgiveness that comes from His death and resurrection.
What do you
make of Jesus’ words in verse 32, “But
concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father”?
[1] The
budding fig tree © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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