Mark 13: Eschatology of Hope

Mark 13: Eschatology of Hope

11   Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

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.

31   Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

37   What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'

In the time and space of curse and destruction, God performs His work of salvation. Paradoxically, the time of chaos and curse becomes a moment to experience the hand of God's power. It is not human reasoning and logic that prevail, but the hope revealed by God, as He once filled the mouths of His prophets with His word. Can only those who are aware of the harbinger of doom grasp the hand of the Almighty God? No. In chapter 13, the editor of the Gospel of Mark encapsulated the hope of Christianity in two statements of Jesus. One is that heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (31). If the passing away of heaven and earth signifies doom and destruction, what is the word that never passes away? It is salvation, the shortening of the days of tribulation. The other is, what I say to you, I say to everyone (37). The word that Jesus speaks to everyone cannot be a curse and destruction. Christianity, which divides Jesus' incarnation and His second coming into salvation and destruction, must face the end. Such Christianity does not know the omnipotence of God, who can make children of Abraham out of stones. Such Christianity reduces the power of Jesus' cross and resurrection to the realm of those chosen by Him. Such Christianity exposes the contradiction of expanding boundaries infinitely at creation but narrowing the realm at salvation. Such Christianity overlooks scenes in the Bible where God controls and converses with Satan, focusing only on the battle and victory against the evil entity, Satan. Mark 13 points to ultimate salvation from the destruction of individuals, families, societies, nations, the earth, the universe, and all their interrelationships. The editor of the Gospel of Mark unfolds an eschatology of hope.