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Gospel of Mark

Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mark 14:10-11

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Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Mark 14:10-11

Horsham 22nd October 2025

We have just seen Mary anointing Jesus with spikenard, a hugely expensive oil. Jesus saw this as a act of huge generosity and kindness, and so must we. To some who were there, this was seen as a hugely wasteful act. The oil could have been sold for a considerable sum and given to the poor.

Judas was the disciple who had responsibility amongst the disciples for looking after the money, so it is likely that he was amongst those who were angered by Mary’s actions.

We can’t be sure exactly when Judas made his decision to betray Jesus to the Jewish authorities. The chronology offered by Mark suggests that for him, this act of kindness by Mary was the last straw. Judas was resolved to put his plan into action. 

The text tells us that Judas took the initiative. It was Judas who deliberately sought out one of the senior priests and made the offer to help them arrest Jesus. It was Judas who agreed to accept payment for his betrayal. 

The Jewish leaders had been faced with an intractable problem of how to arrest Jesus at a place and time when it would be unnoticed by the crowds in Jerusalem. It was Judas who went out of his way to solve that problem for them.

It was Judas of who Jesus was later to say, ‘it would have been better for that one not to have been born.’

End Piece
We know surprisingly little about him, but the little we do know makes Judas Iscariot an enigmatic and controversial character. We are not told how he met Jesus, or how and when he was called to follow. We do know that he was appointed as one of the twelve by Jesus only after deep prayerful consideration (Luke 6:12-16). We know that he was sent out as one of the twelve with the authority of Christ to serve and minister to the sick, and that he learned the same lessons as his eleven friends at the feet of Jesus. Yet now, he is a changed man. Both Luke (Luke 22:2-4) and John (John 13:27) are clear that Satan entered into Judas, yet whilst his motives are unclear, there is no reason to see him as the victim of anything other than his own decisions..

‘Judas was neither a martyr nor a robot. He was a responsible human being who made his own decisions but, in doing so, fulfilled the word of God.’ (Wiersbe p164)

The story of Judas Iscariot is unique, but we can learn something from his actions.  It demonstrates that even the closest followers of Jesus can be led astray. We must never forget that temptations are out there. One unchecked and unrepented bad decision easily leads to another.  It demonstrates our need to allow ourselves to be accountable to other Christians, and to constantly uphold one another in prayer.

Keep praying!

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

Jesus Anointed: Mark 14:3-9

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Jesus Anointed: Mark 14:3-9

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Mark 14:3-9

Horsham: 21st October 2025

John’s Gospel places this incident very specifically at the beginning of Holy Week, six days before the Passover (John 12:1-8). Mark places it here, in the midst of his account of the Holy Week story, to show the contrast between the love of Christ’s friends and the venom of the religious leaders who want to kill him (Wiersbe, p161).

Jesus has arrived at Bethany with his disciples in readiness for the Passover festival. He will be spending his days a few miles away in Jerusalem, mostly in the Temple Courts. At night, he will return to the village. Bethany is home to Martha, Mary, Lazarus and other friends of Jesus. One such friend is a man called Simon. They call him ‘the Leper’, so we assume that he was probably someone who had recovered from Leprosy, possibly after an encounter with Christ. Some believe that Simon is actually another name for Lazarus.

The men are reclining at the table, on low couches or maybe on the ground. At some point during the meal, a woman, John tells us that it was Mary, comes into the room. Culturally, the women would have only come to the table to serve food, or remove unwanted dishes.

There was a tradition of hospitality that when a guest arrived at the house, a few drops on perfume would be offered, to refresh them from the dust of the road. Let’s be honest, it probably worked as a deodorant.

Mary is carrying an ‘alabaster jar’. These small lightweight jars were commonly used to contain liquids, spices or ointments.

Mary stands above Jesus (remember he is laying down to eat), and breaks open the flask. The entire contents spill over Christ’s head. and drip down his neck and shoulders. The whole house smells of incredible perfume. This is an anointing, reminiscent of the preparation of a body for the tomb.

Mark tells us that the perfume was pure spikenard. Spikenard comes from a plant which only grew in India. It was rare. It was precious. It was very expensive The contents of the flask would have cost close to a year’s wages for a working man. It’s perhaps not so surprising that some, including some of the disciples, thought that this was a truly wasteful act. They rebuked Mary sharply. It could, of course, have been sold The proceeds given to the poor.

Jesus, in turn, rebukes them. The woman has done something beautiful. The Greek work here (kalos) means ‘lovely’. She has done something very special. Something extravagant and generous. Something loving. She may have known that Jesus expected to die. Whether she did or not, she has anointed his body, as it were, in preparation for his burial.

Others criticised Mary, Jesus commended her.

End Piece

In this little scene, we see a woman doing all that she can to demonstrate her extravagant love for Jesus. Her reward is to face the frustration of people around her, even her friends. Yet her act of generosity and love is welcomed by Jesus.

‘No matter what others may say about our worship and service, the most important thing is that we please the Lord. The fact that others misunderstand and criticise us should not keep us from showing our love of Christ. Our concern should be his approval alone.’ (Wiersbe, p162)

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

Final countdown: Mark 14:1-2

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The Final Countdown Begins..

14 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

Horsham: 20th October 2025

The authorities in Jerusalem have a problem. They have had enough of this troublesome rabbi. They want rid of him. Not for the first time, they are looking for a plan to do that. This is the Wednesday, just two days before the Passover celebrations, which will be followed by the Festival of Unleavened Bread. That, in a nutshell is their problem.

Passover was one of the major festivals of the Jewish year (the others were Festivals of Weeks (Shauvot) and Tabernacles (Sukkot)). So many people have travelled for the celebration that a city which has a permanent population of less than 100,000 people, has grown exponentially with visitors for the festivals. Some commentators suggest that there might have been close to 2-3 million people crammed into the city (Barclay, Loc 6534). This overcrowding would of itself create a volatile atmosphere, even before you add in the religious fervor which was an attendant part of the celebration.

Just a few days ago, Jesus was welcomed by crowds of people as a hero. They called him the King, riding the colt of a donkey. Some in that crowd hailed him as the Messiah. For the Jewish leaders, things were getting out of control.

Since then, he has been commuting between Bethany and Jerusalem, where he is spending much of the day in the Temple. In recent days he has offered a masterclass in dealing with, and sometimes publicly humiliating, the religious leaders who have tried again and again to catch him out and arrest him for blasphemy.

The problem for the religious leaders is that the crowd, or more accurately a significant number of people in this crowd, are believing that this Jesus is, or might be the Messiah. If the Jewish leaders have him arrested at the wrong time, or in the wrong place, there will be serious public disorder, which will bring the Romans out in strength. Not only would the festival be disrupted, but that could only lead to greater violence towards and greater suppression of the Jewish people.

Their determination to do something about Jesus is now at fever pitch. One way or another, they will arrest him. They will do away with him.

“But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”

End Piece
To me, one of the most surprising features of this whole story is that Jesus has, so far, escaped arrest. There must have been many opportunities. At this point, they could surely arrange for a staged robbery or violent assault at a quiet location, perhaps on the path between Jerusalem and Bethany. Jesus could easily be done away with.

At the start of his ministry, one of his first encounters was with John the Baptist, who saw Jesus approaching and said “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

The Passover is celebrated with the killing of an unblemished lamb, commemorating the moment when the spirit of death ‘passed over’ the people of Israel before their escape from Egypt (You can read the story in Exodus 12).

Could it be that it was God’s will that the death of Jesus, the unblemished Lamb of God, should take place at such a time as it is inextricably linked to the Passover festival.

Every attempt to catch him out and arrest him has failed. So far. These verses stand out as a kind of punctuation mark. They mark a tipping point. They stand as an introduction to the sequence of events which will take Jesus to Gethsemane, to prison, and to the cross.

Things are about to move forwards, and when they do, they will move rapidly.

As in all things of His Kingdom, this is God’s timing. For in His Kingdom,

‘There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Uncategorized

Our God is Bigger Than All This: Psalm 20:7

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Horsham: 16th October 2025

I was reminded of a meeting with other leaders in my town. There were people from the local Council. Leaders of local charities. Church leaders responsible for food banks and community projects. All of us dependent on volunteers to deliver our services. We were there to talk about the cost of living crisis. We were there to look for opportunities for collaboration. We were there to network. To share information. To encourage each other. To inspire each other.

Encouraging or inspirational stories were in short supply.  Clients struggling to pay their bills. Clients struggling with rent and mortgages. Clients dependent on foodbanks who never thought they would need that kind of help. Clients getting into unmanageable debt. Anxiety and stress. Desperate clients stuck in poor accommodation. Families in inadequate refugee and asylum hostels. No end in sight.

Local services stretched beyond their capabilities. Charities trying to stand in the gap but facing desperate challenges with finance and resources. Compassion fatigue amongst volunteers. The clear expectation that this crisis is deepening and no end in sight. It was a bleak picture.

At the end of the meeting, I spoke to a Christian colleague who has huge experience and leads an important local charity. He sensed that the meeting had left me feeling challenged and even depressed.

‘Never forget,’ he said,’ that we have a God who is good. Jesus is much bigger than all of this.’

These are difficult days. I needed that reminder. I need to hold on to that. Maybe you do too.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”        Psalm 20: 7 (NIV)

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

 

Gospel of Mark

Olivet Discourse 6: Mark 13:28-34: Be on your guard

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Be on your Guard

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

Mark 13:28-31

Horsham: 15th October 2025

Mark concludes his record of the Olivet Discourse with two messages. The first paragraph references the fig tree.

The Fig Tree
 We have seen before that in Scripture, the fig tree may be taken to represent the nation of Israel. In this story we see the first leaves of the fig tree unfurling, heralding the start of summer. The Imagery of the preceding verses shows ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds of glory..’  and drawing together his elect from every corner of the world (Mark 13:26-27). This draws our mind to the second coming of Christ. So, says Jesus, in the same way as you recognise the time of year by the fresh new leaves on the tree, at the right time his people will discern  that he, the Son of Man, is coming. Yet when that will actually happen is a divine mystery.

The phrase ‘this generation ‘ will not pass away until these things have taken place *v33) has caused all kinds of confusion. It implies imminence of Christ’s return within a few years of his ascension into heave. To the Jews, a generation was generally understood as representing 38 years (Deuteronomy 2:14). After his death and resurrection, many early followers of Jesus looked back on these comments and they were disappointed. Other followers were passing away. This seemed to mean that Christ’s words were unfulfilled. Many stepped back from the early Church because Christ had still not returned.

However, the Greek word translated here as  ‘generation ‘ has much wider meaning beyond the simple concept of a 38 year ‘generation’.

[it…] can also mean “race, stock, family.” On several occasions, Jesus used it to refer to the Jewish nation (Mark 8:12, 38; 9:19), and that is probably how He used it in Mark 13:30. The chosen nation, God’s elect, would be preserved to the very end, and God would fulfill His promises to them. (Wiersbe, p155)

On the other hand, many of those who heard Christ’s words, although obviously not all, did live to see the fall of Jerusalem in 70CE. It is interesting to note that Jerusalem fell approximately 38 years (one Jewish generation) after Christ’s ascension into heaven? 

Jesus goes on to say that, in contrast to the transient nature, even of such extraordinary buildings as the Temple and the wider city, he claims the authority to assert that His Word is eternal.

31 Heaven and earth’, says Jesus,  ‘will pass away, but my words will never pass away..’

The Day and the Hour..
The second paragraph tells us that no-one, not even the Son, knows the day or the hour. Interestingly this phrase doesn’t appear in either Matthew or Luke. According to Adam Clark, it is absent from some Marcan manuscripts. Whether or not it is accurate and original, Wesley reminds us that Christ – as man – does not have the knowledge or attributes of God as Father. There will be things known to the Father, which are beyond the knowledge of Jesus.

‘as man [Jesus] was no more omniscient than omnipresent.  (Collective Wisdom, Wesley, Loc 2483)

This means that Taken together, the whole paragraph leaves us in no doubt of our need for vigilance. This Scripture gives us the assurance that Christ will return, and makes clear that we need to be ready (Matthew includes the parables of the Ten Virgins, the Bags of Gold and the Sheep and the Goats). Like the doorman, left on watch at all hours, this not a time to sleep. Be on your guard – be alert.

End Piece
There may be differing views of whether the Olivet Discourse offers prophecy of the end times, Christ’s return, or simply the Fall of Jerusalem. I’ve read commentaries by deeply spiritual commentators who take differing views. I have read commentators who use the words of Daniel to carefully calculate dates and times of the fall or Jerusalem or alternatively to prove conclusively that these words refer to the Second Coming.

I’m not qualified to judge the merits in detail or to argue with theologians who have drawn differing conclusions. For myself, I’ve learned to be cautious people who adamantly take sides on matters of theology.

It seems to me that the concept of multiple fulfilment of prophecy fits the Olivet Discourse.

  • Jerusalem did fall in 70CE
  • Christ will come again. (As he said he would) (Acts 1)
  • Jesus (the Son of Man) had not been given the time or the hour, so perhaps it’s not so surprising that we haven’t either.

There are things we can learn from the events of 70CE, but don’t lets waste time trying to second guess the timing for the return of Christ.

The resulting command, then, is not ‘sit down and work out a prophetic timetable’ – always a more exciting thing to do – but ‘keep awake and watch!’ (NT Wright, p185)

Be on your guard – be alert!

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Contemplative

October 7th 2025: Anniversary

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Israel
Two years ago today, we watched in horror as Israeli citizens in the area known as the Gaza envelope in the southern district of Israel, close to the Gaza border, suffered appalling attacks. A correspondent to the BBC, the father of a child survivor of kidnapping,  quite reasonably described this as the greatest attack on Jewish people since the holocaust. 

In a few short hours, 4300 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel. 21 communities were murderously attacked by around 7000 Hamas fighters who had ‘broken out’ of Gaza.

The stories of pain and human suffering which emerged over the following days were horrific and heartbreaking. 1182 people, mostly civilians, died in those attacks, including 38 children. 70 of the casualties were Arab Israeli’s. Words like slaughter and massacre are appropriate. Nearly 3500 more people were injured. There were many reports of beatings and rape. 247 people were kidnapped, trafficked and detained in Gaza, from where many of them will never return.  

Nothing can be said or written to justify what happened on that day in October, or the continued suffering of hostages of any other victim.

Tens of thousands of Israeli’s carry the emotional scars of loss, bereavement, uncertainty, and watching the ongoing suffering if people they love. For most, the scars of what happened on that day will never heal. The harsh blanket of despair covers a much wider proportion of humanity  than just those who were killed and injured on October 7th. 

Along with the people of Israel, and the global Jewish community, we should raise our voices once more in condemnation of the senseless brutality of those attacks. We should remember that every single victim had a name. We should pause today to mourn each and every one. We should pray for those who continue to suffer, and for those who mourn.

Gaza
Today marks 2 years since the start of the Israeli response to those brutal attacks. The response has been devastating and unrelenting. 

Since October 7th 2023, in response to the Hamas attack, at least 67,000 residents of Gaza have been killed by Israeli action. In many areas of Gaza, the destruction is so severe, that these figures may underestimate the total. 20,000 of those casualties were children – one child for each hour since 7th October 2023. The IDF claim that 12,000 Hamas fighters are amongst the dead, although that figure is unlikely to be confirmed. Words like slaughter and genocide are appropriate. 169,000 people have been injured as a result of Israeli action. It is suggested that up to 40,000 people are facing life changing injuries, with up to 21,000 children permanently disabled. The position for children in Gaza is beyond horrific.

The deliberate targeting of hospitals is a war crime. In Gaza, more than 100 hospitals have been destroyed or damaged beyond use by Israeli bombs.  Doctors, including senior surgeons, have been ‘arrested’ and transported to Israel to prevent them treating their own people. Journalists have been specifically targeted and murdered to prevent them communicating the horrors of everyday life in Gaza and the actions of the IDF.

As part of their military operation, Israel have blocked virtually all food, water and medical aid from entering Gaza. These tactics are medieval. They are indefensible. UNICEF figures say that in mid September 2025, 12,500 children (1 in 5 of the population) were acutely malnourished, and by the end of September, 459 people, including 154 children have died of malnutrition. They have starved to death. Many more will die unless they are provided with managed recovery from malnutrition. 

Like the victims of the Hamas attack in Israel, every man, woman and child in Gaza has a family, often extending beyond the borders of Gaza. Once more, there is a great multitude of people who are in agony and despair for the suffering of people they love. Meanwhile, the bombs continue to fall and the numbers of dead and injured continue to rise.

Along with the people of Palestine, we should raise our voices once more in condemnation of the senseless and barbaric attacks visited upon them by Israel under the leadership and direction of Benjamin Netanyahu. We should remember that every single victim had a name, and we should pause today to mourn each and every one. We should pray for those who continue to suffer, and especially for those who mourn.

Peace Process
We hope and pray that the current peace process is successful in bringing about a cessation of hostilities, the delivery of aid to Gaza, the release of all of the hostages, and a lasting peace.

It’s difficult to be optimistic.

United States
Yesterday, the President of the United States, who believes that he should receive the Nobel peace prize for resolving world conflicts,  was asked by a CNN journalist in a ‘text’ interview, what would be the response if Hamas refused to accept his latest peace deal. 

He replied with two words. ‘Complete obliteration’. 

Keep praying.

Gospel of Mark

Olivet Discourse 4: ‘Destruction of the Temple’ Mark 13:14-23

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Olivet Discourse 4: Mark 4: 14-23

’14 When you see “the abomination that causes desolation “ standing where it does not belong, – ‘let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains 15 Let no-one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now – and never to be equalled again.

20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you “Look, here is the Messiah!” or “Look , there he is!” do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard: I have told you everything in advance.

Mark 4:14-23

Destruction of the Temple
There are various interpretations of these verses. For some, this prophecy concerns the Second Coming of Christ. We’ll look at that in my next post. in this post, I’m reflecting on the interpretation which concerns the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Run for the Hills!
The first part of this chapter dealt with the coming destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus warned of problems which will arise in the months and years to follow, but said clearly, ‘do not be alarmed!’.

There’s a real change of pace in verse 14, with the exhortation that those who are in Judaea should run for the hills. This reads rather like a fire alarm or tsunami response briefing. Do not stop to pick up your bags. Do not go back for your mobile phone. Abandon your laptop. Get out – do it now!

‘Up until this point they are to stand firm: now, at a given signal, they are to take to their heels.’ (Wright, p180)

There can be no doubt that in verses 14-23 Jesus is delivering a prophecy about the fall of Jerusalem. We know that a brutal invading army will arrive and take control of the city, including the Temple. These events came to pass in 70AD, when the Romans delivered a crushing response to the Jewish uprising of 66-70AD.

In the verses we’re looking at here, Jesus describes the signal to run. He refers to the ‘abomination which causes desolation’ (the NRSV translates this term as the ‘desolating sacrilege’), which will appear in the Temple and bring some kind of disaster on the people of Jerusalem.

‘Jesus doesn’t seem to know precisely what this [abomination] might be, but it sounds like a pagan idol, or an image of another god, in the place of the One true God, set up in the middle of the Temple.’ (Wright p181)

At a time of turmoil in the Roman empire, it was Titus, one day to become Emperor himself, who led the destructive assault on Jerusalem. The brutal invasion, during which thousands of Jews were subjected to brutal beatings, sexual violence and execution, To the Jews of Jerusalem, their experience felt like the end of the world. But in reality, it seems that Jesus is predicting the end of the Temple at Jerusalem. As we would anticipate, his prophecy was horrifically fulfilled in full measure.

End Piece
So how does a prophecy about the fall of Jerusalem speak to us today.

Christ has taught us to listen to his word and put it into practice. He warned us that we will face persecutions of all kinds (eg Luke 21:12). He prayed that we would be given strength to stand firm in our faith. Paul encourages us to stand firm in the face of adversity, in the knowledge that nothing can separate us from his love.

Yet here is an interesting turn in his teaching. As the writer of Ecclesiastes once wrote, there is a time for everything. Jesus now teaches that there is a time to run for safety.

 A believer is not to suppose that God will take care of him and provide for his needs if he does not make use of means and the common sense which God has given him as well as other people. Beyond doubt he may expect the special help of his Father in heaven in every time of need. But he must expect it in the diligent use of lawful means. To profess to love God while we idly sit still and do nothing, is nothing better than fanaticism and brings religion into contempt.

Ryle, p205

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

 

Gospel of Mark

Olivet Discourse 5: Mark 13:14-27: The Second Coming of Christ

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Olivet Discourse 5:

14“When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.

20“If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

24“But in those days, following that distress,

“ ‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
25the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

26“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

Mark 13:14-27

1st October 2025: Horsham

Alternative Readings of this Prophecy
We’ve seen that there are various interpretations of these verses. Many people see in these verses, particularly vv 17-23, a direct prophecy of the brutal fall of Jerusalem which took place in 70AD (see Olivet Discourse 4).  In this post, I’m reflecting on the alternative reading of this prophecy of the Second Coming of Christ.

The Second Coming of Christ
Scripture tells us that Christ was crucified. He died. He was buried. He rose from the dead and during his resurrection was seen regularly over a period of 40 days. At the end of this period, he was taken up into heaven. At the moment of his resurrection, Christ declared that he would return.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:10-11

It is this predicted event, the ‘coming back’ of Jesus (v11), which is referred to as the Second Coming of Christ.

The phrase ‘abomination that causes desolation’ leads us directly to the prophecies of Daniel, which are closely referenced in the words of  Revelation, which in turn speak of the return of Christ.

The connection between this prophecy and the anticipated future return of Christ is not new. From the very beginning, followers of the risen Christ believed that this prophecy heralded his imminent return. This is strongly implied in Matthew’s version of this discourse, which includes the phrase 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened (Matthew 24:34), yet this has greater application when taken to refer to the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. The verses which follow affirm that no-one will know the time or the hour of his return (Mark 13:32-34), and Jesus confesses  that nobody – even the Son, knows the hour of His return (Mark 13:32; Matthew 24:36).

So, do we now have a problem. If this prophecy is to be regarded as referring to the return of Christ, how do we respond to those who believe that it relates to the destruction of the Temple?

Single Fulfilment
There are those who contend that any prophecy can have only a single fulfilment. And so there are those for whom this prophecy must apply either to the fall of Jerusalem, of to the second coming, but cannot apply to both..

Dual Fulfilment
It seems to many commentators that the broad context of this section of Scripture is the destruction of the Temple. In the first verses of Mark 13, we have seen that Jesus appears to be  prophesying the fall of Jerusalem. We have seen that this came to pass in 70AD, when the Roman  Titus brutally crushed the Jewish uprising. This reading can suffice throughout the Olivet Discourse, and there are those who believe that this is the only valid interpretation. However, the latter part of the narrative under review here, can be taken to make the case that the current verses also speak of the Second Coming of Christ.

Multiple Fulfilment
For completion, some writers assert that there can legitimately be multiple fulfilments of prophecy, and this is an obvious case for consideration.

In addition to the widely discussed Fall of Jerusalem and the Second Coming of Christ, the original prophecy of Daniel relating to the ‘Abomination which causes desolation’, which is referenced in these verses by Jesus, some writers point to an earlier ‘fulfilment’.   In 167BCE, Antiochus Epiphanes IV entered Jerusalem and set up a statue of the Greek god Zeus in the Temple, and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

And then, of course, there are those who regard the presence of the  Al Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and Dome of the Spirit on the ancient Temple Mount in Jerusalem as the most clear and powerful fulfilment of Daniel’s and Christ’s prophecy. The identification of these Islamic places of worship as ‘the Abomination’ is even explored by some Islamic writers. (Note: Construction of the Islamic sites started in around 638CE under the Umayyad Caliphate)

End Piece
In researching this section, I’ve been disappointed that some major evangelicals will state firmly that this prophecy relates only to the fall of Jerusalem, whilst others insist that it relates in its exclusively to the second coming of Christ (eg John Macarthur). Whilst the preceding sentence greatly oversimplifies the position of both Christian theological thinkers and writers, my point is simply that I am always counsel caution when anyone claims to have identified the truth about Jesus, and suggests that those who disagree with them are in the wrong.

For myself, I am comfortable to find that I am in good company when I say that it seems to me that this particular prophecy can have more than one fulfilment. It seems to me that this prophecy fits well with Antiochus Epiphanes IV desecration of the Temple in 167BCE, and the fall of Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70CE, when the Temple was thoroughly desecrated and ultimately destroyed. It is as possible that Christ was predicting  the future Second Coming at a date as yet unknown.

This is a prophecy which transcends a single moment in history.

Ah, the mysteries of faith!

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Contemplative

Tragedies, Statistics and Real People

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Tragedies, Statistics and Real People

There is an apocryphal story which was sometimes told in Stalin’s Russia.

‘In Russia,’ the story goes, ‘it was often said that if there is an accident and three people are killed it is a tragedy. Yet if tens of thousands of people are deported or executed, that’s a statistic.’

Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo. The list, right now, seems endless. Our news feeds are full of horrific news, often presented as statistics. How easily we can become de-sensitised by statistics. We easily overlook the fact that behind every death, every injury is a real person. Therein lies the real tragedy.

Behind every individual number is a personal story. A maelstrom of physical and emotional trauma f or the victim, their family and their community.

As Christ wept over Jerusalem, so must we pray and stand up for nations and cities in their time of need. Christ looked upon the needy crowd and had compassion on them, and in our day so must we. Yet Christ dealt with individuals. He touched, blessed, encouraged and healed real people. And so must we.

Christ didn’t deal with statistics. He loved people for who they were. And so must we.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Contemplative

Adversity: A Reflection

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A Reflection about Adversity. 

When times are really bad, you will discover who your real friend is.
It will be someone  in whom you have invested time and energy.
Someone to whom you have given space and time.
You have confided in them – your hopes, your fears, your burdens:
You have made time to listen to them.
They have put up with you
They have challenged you 
Sometimes they have chided you.
Occasionally, you will have felt let down by them and you may even have turned your back on them
But later, when you felt the time was right, they have welcomed you back.
Their friendship has been strong. 
Their love has been profound.
They have encouraged you.
You have walked together through good times and bad.
That is the friend who will be there for you.
The One who will stand with you.

When you need them most, may you have such a friend as this.
May His name be Jesus.

August 2025, Horsham

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK