Day Two Mark 13:1-8
13 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4 “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 7 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 8 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”
Discover
1. What are the disciples focused on in the first few verses?
2. What does Jesus focus on in His answer to the disciples?
3. What do you think Jesus is trying to teach the disciples here?
Respond
The disciples are like tourists. They are mesmerized by the Temple as they sit with Jesus on the Mount of Olives and ask Him questions. Instead of acknowledging their fascination with the Temple, He redirects their attention back to God. He points out that worshipping a Temple is temporary, but worshipping God is eternal, and He encourages them to have an eternal mindset so they can overcome the birth pains that Jesus mentions. The birth pains imply that the trials and tribulations will only become more intense until the birth of the new age. Do you have an eternal mindset or are you focused on earthly things? What or who is replacing Jesus in your life? Are you relying on Jesus to get through the birth pains in your own life? Spend some time now praying through these questions, and ask God to direct your attention back to Him.
For Further Reading: What Does Mark 13 Mean?
For Families with Kids at Home
Prior to Jesus coming, the Jewish people considered the temple to be God’s “home”, his physical presence here on Earth. But because of what Jesus did on the Cross - his death and resurrection - God no longer lives in one spot, the temple - He lives in each of us! We each become a “temple” for God when we choose to place our faith in Jesus, and God goes with us wherever we go!
Take time to explain to your kids that God doesn’t just “live at church” - He lives in each of us and goes with us!
*TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.