Are You Ready for Jesus’ Return?

Introduction

One day Mr. Williams – the town’s favorite grandpa – told the children in the 5th-grade class at school that he would take them for ice cream on Thursday. You should have heard the cheers and seen the smiles! There were three rules. 1. He didn’t know when he could get off work, so he couldn’t say exactly when he’d arrive. 2. He would only take children who were in the classroom doing homework when he arrived. 3. Anyone who the teacher said had been good would get an extra topping on their ice cream. All day Thursday there was so much excitement the room seemed to buzz. But paying attention and working hard isn’t easy. Some of the children got distracted. One of the boys tried to get the others to mess around with him. When class was over, the children all eagerly stayed at their desks working on their homework – determined to be there when he arrived. But after a few minutes, one of the new kids in town said he didn’t believe any of it. He declared that Mr. Williams had just made it all up to try to make them be good in school. One of the older girls reminded everyone about the other times Mr. Williams had done nice things for them. But the new kid wouldn’t be convinced. He kept talking and trying to convince the other kids that it was all a hoax. He finally convinced a few of the children that it wasn’t worth sitting in school for nothing. They went out to the playground and played loudly. As time passed, more of the children in the classroom started looking out the windows and watching the children play. One by one some of the others went outside too – a few thinking they would just sneak in at the last minute. Suddenly, Mr. Williams entered the classroom with a big smile on his face. “Who’s ready to get some ice cream?” “Me!” a dozen children answered. “Well, who was good in school?” he asked the teacher. Some of the children hung their heads, while others looked up eagerly. Just then some of the children from the playground tried to sneak into the back of the room. “No sir,” Mr. Williams said. “I told you I’d only take children who were in the room doing their homework. Since you prefer playing, you can go play.” Despite their disappointment for those who chose to miss out, the remaining children eagerly packed up their books and left with Mr. Williams. “I knew he was coming!” “Me too! And I’m so glad I was good even when Joe poked me – it was worth it!” In Mark 13:28-37, Jesus tells us that He’s coming soon and how to be ready. Will you be ready when He comes?

Observation

Pray

Before you study His Word, ask the Lord to help you understand, believe, and live it.

Read Focus Verses

Read Mark 13:28-37 and pay attention to the urgency in these verses.

A Fig Tree

What does Jesus use as an illustration in verses 28-29 of today's passage?

Signs of Summer

Jesus says the fig tree gives a clear sign that summer is coming. What is that sign?

Context

Just like new growth on the fig tree is a sure sign that summer is coming, the things Jesus described in Mark 13:4-27 are a sure sign of His second coming. Read those signs so that you'll have context to understand today's passage.

These Things

What are some of the signs of Jesus' second coming from those verses?

How Certain?

How certain are these signs and the second coming of Christ according to verse 31?

Timing

Can anyone know the timing according to verse 32?

Response

So, if we can't know when it will be, what should our response be according to verse 33?

Illustration

What illustration does Jesus give in verse 34-36?

How to Watch

How does that illustration describe the way we should watch for Jesus' return?

A Final Exhortation

What does Jesus say in verse 37?

Who?

Who is supposed to be watching for Him?

Keyword - Watch

The word watch is repeated many times in these verses. Anytime a word is repeated frequently in a passage, it should catch out attention. Marking it will help us see the repetition.

Coming

Mark the word watch in Mark 13:28-37.

Keyword - Jesus

Jesus isn't just the one speaking, He's the one coming again, too. Marking references to Him will help Him stand out as the main Character.

Jesus

Mark the Names of and references to Jesus in Mark 13:28-37.

Interpretation

Fig Tree Picture

In this picture, you can see what Jesus was talking about with a fig tree's new growth. Near the bottom of the picture you can see the brown branch. Then growing out of that you can see new spring growth that is green and still soft and flexible with leaves and fruit growing.

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Signs of Summer

What are some of the signs that you look for in your part of the world to indicate that summer will arrive soon?

What Would You Think?

What would you think if someone told you those signs of summer that you've watched every year actually meant that winter was coming?

Seeing the Signs

Even more than you're certain that those signs mean summer is coming in your part of the world, you can be that certain that the signs Jesus told about earlier in Mark 13 mean the time of His second coming is getting close. Those signs will be fulfilled in the Tribulation, but some of them start to happen before that. Do you see any of those signs in the world around you?

The Same Thing

2 Peter 3:3-4 reveals that as Jesus' return gets closer, more and more people are going to ignore the signs of His coming.

Don't Worry

A few verses later in 2 Peter 3:9-14 we see that just because those people are ignoring the signs Jesus gives doesn't mean He isn't coming any more than winter would come because someone said so.

What Kind of People

What kind of people will ignore or deny the signs of Jesus' second coming?

Impact

Can they stop Jesus from coming back by ignoring the signs He told us would signal His return?

Response

How does 2 Peter 3 say that you should live if you see signs that Christ's coming could be very soon?

This Generation

This post helps explain what Jesus means by His statement in Mark 13:28 that this generation won't pass till all the things He's talked about are done. It explains that these things will happen quickly and the generation alive when the tribulation starts will see it through to the second coming.

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Back to Mark

Going back to today's passage, notice again what Jesus says in Mark 13:31.

The Word of God

Consider how similar Isaiah 40:8 is.

Assurance

What assurance does this verse give us about God's Word and the certainty of His promises and plans?

Who Is Jesus?

If Jesus' words won't pass away and are absolutely certain, then who is Jesus?

What Does Jesus Mean

Many people struggle to understand how Jesus could be God and yet not know the time of His return. This video helps explain that while He was on earth Jesus laid aside the use of some of His divine attributes including some of His knowledge so that He could be our representative and save us.

Back to Mark

Look again at what Jesus says our response to this should be in Mark 13:33-37.

What to Do

Jesus uses the illustration of someone who is left to manage a house while the owner is away. They would be expected to keep things clean and working well and keep the yard and gardens looking good. In Acts 1:8-9 Jesus tells us what work Christians should be doing while He's away because we know He's coming soon.

Sharing the Gospel

What should Christians be doing while Jesus is away because they know He's coming soon?

How to Share the Gospel

If we're supposed to be sharing the gospel till Jesus comes back, we should know how. There are so many helpful ways to think about sharing the gospel. Here is one.

Back to Mark

Head back to Mark 13:33-37 and think about that repeated keyword - watch.

Watching

If your favorite person in the whole world was going to come to your house sometime tomorrow - you didn't know when - how would you prepare and watch for their coming?

Preparing for Jesus

Just like you would prepare for your friend's visit, watching for Jesus doesn't mean looking at the sky all day. It means being aware that Jesus is coming in the rapture at any moment and getting ready. What are some ways you would prepare if you knew that Jesus was coming tomorrow?

Since You Don't Know

Since you don't know when Jesus is coming - it might be today, tomorrow, or in twenty or more years - what would it look like to be actively watching and prepared for Him to come?

Once More

Now that you've studied it, read Mark 13:28-37 once more and think about what it means for you.

About Jesus

What do these verses teach us about Jesus?

About Us

What do these verses teach us about how we should live?

Application

Are You Ready?

For people who aren't Christians, Jesus' coming will bring a time of judgment. But for true Christians it will be a time of reward. Are you ready for Jesus to come or do you need to turn from your sin and believe in Him for salvation? Will you do that today if you haven't?

Are You Watching?

When you were thinking about how you'd prepare if you knew that Jesus was coming tomorrow, did you think of anything in your life that needs to change so you'll be ready for Him? What can you start doing today so you're ready when He appears?

Are You Telling?

Jesus says that till He comes He wants His people busy telling others about His love and salvation in the gospel. How are you going to make sure you do that this week?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this Bible study has helped you understand how to live like Jesus is coming soon because He is.

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