Expository Thoughts On Mark - Mark 13:1-8
J.C. Ryle expounds on Mark 13:1-8 to reveal Christ's prophecy about Jerusalem's destruction and His second coming, urging believers to understand and prepare for these pivotal events.
In this expository sermon on Mark 13:1-8, J.C. Ryle explores the profound prophecy given by Jesus concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and His eventual second coming. Ryle emphasizes the significance of these events for the Church and encourages believers to prioritize spiritual history over worldly affairs. Through careful exposition, he calls Christians to attentiveness and readiness for Christ’s return.
Text
The chapter we have now begun is full of prophecy--prophecy of which part has been fulfilled, and part remains to be accomplished. Two great events form the subject of this prophecy. One is the destruction of Jerusalem, and the consequent end of the Jewish dispensation. The other is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the winding up of the state of things under which we now live. The destruction of Jerusalem was an event which happened only forty years after our Lord was crucified. The second coming of Christ is an event which is yet to come, and we may yet live to see it with our own eyes.
Chapters like this ought to be deeply interesting to every true Christian. No history ought to receive so much of our attention as the past and future history of the Church of Christ. The rise and fall of worldly empires are events of comparatively small importance in the sight of God. Babylon, and Greece, and Rome, and France, and England, are as nothing in His eyes by the side of the mystical body of Christ. The march of armies and the victories of conquerors are mere trifles in comparison with the progress of the Gospel, and the final triumph of the Prince of Peace. May we remember this in reading prophetical Scripture! "Blessed is he that reads." (Rev. 1:3.)
The first thing that demands our attention in the verses before us, is the prediction of our Lord concerning the temple at Jerusalem.
The disciples, with the natural pride of Jews, had called their Master\
Sermon Outline
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I. Introduction to Prophecy
- The chapter contains prophecy partly fulfilled and partly future
- Two main events: destruction of Jerusalem and Christ’s second coming
- Importance of prophecy for every true Christian
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II. The Destruction of Jerusalem
- Predicted by Christ to His disciples
- Significance in ending the Jewish dispensation
- Historical fulfillment within 40 years after Christ’s crucifixion
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III. The Second Coming of Christ
- Yet to be fulfilled event
- Marks the winding up of the current age
- Encouragement to live in readiness
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IV. The Priority of Spiritual History
- The Church’s history outweighs worldly empires
- The progress of the Gospel is paramount
- Believers should focus on prophetic Scripture
Key Quotes
“The chapter we have now begun is full of prophecy--prophecy of which part has been fulfilled, and part remains to be accomplished.” — J.C. Ryle
“No history ought to receive so much of our attention as the past and future history of the Church of Christ.” — J.C. Ryle
“Blessed is he that reads." (Rev. 1:3.)” — J.C. Ryle
Application Points
- Believers should study prophetic Scripture to understand God’s plan.
- Live with readiness and anticipation for Christ’s second coming.
- Value the eternal progress of the Church above worldly events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two main events in Mark 13:1-8?
The destruction of Jerusalem and the second coming of Christ.
Has the destruction of Jerusalem already happened?
Yes, it occurred about forty years after Christ’s crucifixion.
Is the second coming of Christ a past or future event?
It is a future event that believers should anticipate.
Why is prophecy important for Christians?
Because it reveals God’s plan for the Church and encourages readiness.
How should Christians view worldly empires compared to the Church?
Worldly empires are insignificant compared to the eternal progress of the Church.