Jesus Forewarns His Disciples Mark 10:32-34

Text: “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were sore afraid.  And He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto Him.”

Mark 10:32.

Good morning, forewarned Christian! Because you and the author obey the Lord God’s command to ‘Study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God.’ – we become well forewarned of events that God has preordained should happen in this world, and to us, ‘His people’ before that great and terrible day of the return of Christ to put all things right forever.  We are forewarned by our study of God’s inspired Word in our KJV Bibles.

“And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things bed?  And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them…”  (Read Matthew chapter 24)

In God’s Word, our KJV Bibles, the Lord Jesus openly and clearly forewarns us, His latter-day disciples of what we should look out for, as pointers to the events of the end times of this old sinful world.  Yet, I wonder how many, even otherwise sound Christians, take much heed today in this increasingly apostate, or sleeping, 21^st Century church worldwide?

Verse 5. “Take heed that no man deceive you.”  (Matthew 24:4) Today, we have an upsurge in deceptive religious beliefs, beliefs that are clearly and often totally contrary to what the Bible teaches.

Roman Catholicism: Rome has just recently removed the Second Commandment from Roman Catholic ‘bibles’, and split the Tenth Commandment into two Commandments in order that there should still be the deceitful notion of a Ten Commandment concept.

This enables Popery to teach their deceived millions of adherents that it is legitimate to set up an idol of, say, ‘Mary the queen of heaven’, or ‘Mary, the star of the sea’, or a plethora of other ‘Mary’s and dead ‘saints’ – and bow down to them and worship them as part of their so-called Christian faith!  The Scriptures teaches, ‘…By their fruits ye shall know them.’

Wars, Rumours of Wars: (Matthew 24:6) Russia is currently at war with Ukraine; NATO is supplying Ukraine with weapons to fight Russia; China is once more threatening Taiwan; and America is threatening China as a result. Iran is building nuclear capacity and Israel is destroying Iranian nuclear research facilities; there is war in Syria, and Turkey and Russia are in some way involved in the conflict.  Britain and America are selling arms to other nations, while ‘deploring’ their use in foreign lands in the Middle East and other locations.

Can we not see with our eyes and hear with our ears Christ’s warning of these end time events?  “All these are the beginning of sorrows…” (Matthew 24:8)

In our Bible verses in this Marching In Mark series, the Lord Jesus is forewarning His disciples of the most important event the world has ever experienced happening – the cruel Crucifixion of Himself, and His glorious Resurrection from the dead to justify ‘His people’ in the Holy sight of God our Father in Heaven.  Christ said it, it was done!  Hallelujah!

“…Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles (Romans); and they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”  (Mark 10:33-34)

Hallelujah! ‘Up from the grave He arose, in a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose the Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign…He arose…He arose…Hallelujah, Christ arose!’ (Written by Robert Lowry, 1826-1899) Glory to the Lamb!  

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“The last thing that demands our attention in this pas­sage, is our Lord’s clear foreknowledge of His own sufferings and death. Calmly and deliberately, He tells His disci­ples of His coming passion at Jerusalem. One after another He describes all the leading circumstances which would attend His death. Nothing is reserved. Nothing is kept back.

“Let us mark this well. There was nothing involuntary and unforeseen in our Lord’s death. It was the result of His own free, determinate, and deliberate choice. From the beginning of His earthly ministry, He saw the cross before Him, and went to it a willing sufferer. He knew that His death was the needful payment that must be made to reconcile God and man. That payment He had covenanted and engaged to make at the price of His own Blood. And so, when the appointed time came, like a faithful surety, He kept His word, and died for our sins on Calvary.

“Let us ever bless God that the Gospel sets before us such a Saviour, so faithful to the terms of the covenant, —so ready to suffer, —so willing to be reckoned sin, and a curse in our stead. Let us not doubt that He who fulfilled His engagement to suffer, will also fulfil His engagement to save all who come to Him. Let us not only accept Him gladly as our Redeemer and Advocate, but gladly give ourselves, and all we have, to His service. Surely if Jesus cheerfully died for us, it is a small thing to require Christians to live for Him.”  (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Mark.)

Our Omniscient (all-knowing) Lord God is not a three-dimensional creature such as we – His omniscience spans past, present, and future events, and He knows the end from the beginning. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. (Isaiah 46:9-10)

Thought: As Christ’s people, we are clearly forewarned of all things – let’s take heed!