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.
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!