Mark 13:9-10 - Bearing Witness To Christ

Mark 13:9-10
9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. 10 The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

Message: Bearing Witness To Christ

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Christ is in the middle of giving his Mount of Olives presentation or what is known as the Olivet Discourse on the future of Jerusalem and the temple. The previous four verses spoke of warnings that would occur - such as false teachers, wars, rumors of wars, and natural disasters, such as earthquakes. These would be come and the people of God need to be careful to not heed the teachings of those that will seek to coerce and mislead them, and also we are not be frightened.

But beyond these warnings are admonitions and commands that Jesus gives. But be on your guard. In essence, don't assume all is good all the time. Continue to carry out your duty amidst all of these disasters and misleading and deception that are occurring. It is somewhat to sad to see the number of people that have been deceived. It's rather alarming to see. That so many people can be convicted into the think that their truth is the right way is chilling. for they will deliver you to the courts which means people will end up in courts that they think will give them a fair trial but they will not. This nation of ours (USA) is becoming more and more secular and we cannot be surprised of the unjust way in which Bible believing people are being treated now. Yet, still we need to press on and continue the message that Christ has given us: to preach repentance and believe in His name. and you will be flogged in the synagogues; It is easy for me today to see this application to today's time. But for many they would be taken before the Sanhedrin (the ancient Jewish court system). It was normal in these times, in order to keep order, to beat people, scourge them or flog them. and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake; apostles would appear before Gallio (apostle Paul), Festus (apostle Paul's final hearing), Felix (Paul and other Judeans), Herod (John the Baptist), Agrippa (Paul), Nero (Peter and Paul), Domitian, and others. as a testimony to them - We do not simply accept these flogging and punishments, but do it for the testimony of Jesus.

The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

“The fulfilment of this part of the prophecy we learn chiefly from the writings of the New Testament, which inform us that the gospel was preached by Paul in Arabia, and through the vast tract from Jerusalem to Iconium in Lycaonia, and in Galatia, and through all Asia Minor, and in Greece, and round about to Illyricum, and in Crete and Italy, probably also in Spain and Gaul. Besides, the gospel reached much farther than this apostle carried it; for we find him writing to Christians who had never seen his face. Also, we have still remaining Peter’s epistles to the converted Jews in Pontus, Asia, Cappadocia, and Bythynia. Probably the gospel was preached in these and many other countries by the Jews who sojourned there, and who, having come to Jerusalem to the passover, were converted on the day of pentecost. The Ethiopian eunuch, converted by Philip, would carry it likewise into his country. But whatever way it happened, the fact is certain, that in most of these countries churches were planted within thirty years after Christ’s death, or about ten years before the destruction of Jerusalem." - James Macknight (1721-1800) Scottish Minister

So this literally took place. The gospel was indeed preached to the known world at the time before the destruction of Jerusalem. This is also encouragement for me to preach the gospel, wherever I go and to support others who do this, like Shane and Alicia who are in India, which I discovered is the world's second biggest country with 1.3 Billion people. Wow. I had no idea.

Summary - This passage has relevance mostly to 2,000 years ago and its immediate prophetic fulfillment of the disciples and followers experiencing persecution for their faith. It was prophesied that the Gospel would also be preached and it was before the destruction of Jerusalem.  

Promise: Faithfulness to Christ may lead to difficult times, trials, and even arrest before governing authorities. But, through all of this we are to be witnesses and continue to proclaim the gospel. 

Prayer: O Lord, you are beautiful, thank you for tough times. Remind me that I can go through them because you have been so great to me and it is all for your glory. Thank you for the men and women that have come before me and have shown me what it means to suffer and die for the sake of Your Name. Lord, I struggle at times today knowing what it really means to suffer for You with all of the creature comforts I have and I often think that much of life now is protecting myself against that suffering. I think of the missionary that died recently in Cameroon after raising support for 3 years and then being there for just 2 weeks. That is hard to reconcile, but you will be glorified no matter what. Keep me focused on You day in and day out, teaching me what it means to follow you.