Mark 13:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

NIV: Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?'

NASB: Tell us, when will these things come about, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?'

CSB: "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished? "

NLT: Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?'

KJV: Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

NKJV: “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

After a last day of teaching on the Temple Mount, Jesus warns the disciples that the temple itself will be torn down so thoroughly one stone will not sit on another (Mark 13:2). After they leave Jerusalem and settle on the Mount of Olives in the east, the four fishermen—Peter, John, James, and Andrew—are rattled by the prophecy and ask Jesus for clarification. Where Mark records a more generic question, Matthew adds that they ask, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)

It's as if the disciples have finally asked the right question. For three years they have followed Jesus, much of that time anticipating that He will free the Jews from Roman rule and take His rightful place as king. These men expect that when He does so, they will have positions of authority in His kingdom (Mark 10:35–45). Jesus has told them many times that first, He must die (Mark 8:31; 9:30–32; 10:32–34). Between the expectations of glory and splendor and the veiling work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 9:45; 18:34), the disciples still don't understand that Jesus is about to be crucified. But it is possible they may be getting the idea that Jesus' victory is not coming as soon as they thought.

Jesus' answer, the longest answer to a question recorded in the Gospels, covers His coming and signs of the end of the age. The prophecy encompasses the disciples' near-future of persecution; the AD 70 destruction of Jerusalem; our present time of persecution, wars, and natural disasters; and the catastrophic horror of the tribulation.

Jesus' words are not primarily to the disciples but to Christ-followers in the end times. The theme is applicable to all believers, however. They need to know that the hardships will be temporary (Mark 13:30), they have work to do (Mark 13:34–37), and they must guard themselves against sin (Mark 14:37–38). These end-times prophecies have vague, incomplete fulfillment in our own modern age; this means we need to keep our eyes on God's kingdom, as well. Our anticipation of the end times should fuel the urgency of our work, not distract us from it. That sense of Jesus' imminent return should always remind us that while this world is temporary, our relationship with God is eternal.

Mark 13:3–13 occurs less than a week after a crowd celebrated their belief that Jesus is the Son of David, come to restore Israel from her Roman oppressors (Mark 11:10). The disciples think Jesus spent the last three years preparing them to rule in His royal court (Mark 10:35–45). Moments ago, Jesus prophesied it is the temple and Jerusalem that will be destroyed, not the Romans (Mark 13:1–2). The disciples were understandably confused, even as He continues His dire predictions. Jesus' warnings are also recorded in Matthew 24:4–14 and Luke 21:8–19.

Days before the crucifixion, the disciples praise the glory of the temple. When Jesus tells them the temple will be destroyed, they ask for signs of that coming destruction and of His return (Matthew 24:3). Jesus answers their second question with information crucial for believers in the end times, and any time. Tribulation Christians will face horrifying hardships and violence, as may believers of any era, but they must remember that the hardships will not last. Jesus will return so quickly, any attempt to live by the world's rules will be futile.

The prior chapter contained several parables and Jesus' answer to assorted questions. In this section, Jesus turns His teaching towards the disciples. He explains concepts related to the end times: the still-future period when God will complete His plan for judgment on sin. Those details include a prophecy about the impending destruction of the temple. The final chapters of Mark then describe events up to and after the crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of His enemies.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.