meanwhile – back home

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

WE CAN TRUST WHAT JESUS HAS SAID

November 2015 (18)Mark 13:14-20

14 “But when you see the desolating detestable thing set up where it ought not to be (let the reader think about this), then those in Judea must escape to the mountains; 15 someone on the housetop must not even go down or enter the house to take anything out; 16 someone in the field must not even turn back to get a coat. 17 Tragedy will visit those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen during the storm season. 19 Because in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been experienced from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will happen again. 20 And if the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be rescued; but for the sake of the chosen ones,[1] whom he chose, he has shortened those days.

meanwhile – back home

The eschatological discourse in this chapter stretches across the entire span between Jesus’ ascension and His return, giving us a wide‑angle view of what the world will experience throughout this long age. Yet Jesus never loses sight of the moment that prompted the conversation in the first place. The disciples had just heard Him say that Herod’s magnificent temple complex—the pride of Jerusalem, the symbol of Israel’s faith and identity—would be torn down completely. Naturally, they wanted to know when such an unthinkable event would happen, and whether they themselves would live to see it.

Some of them would. History records that the Roman siege began in AD 66 and reached its devastating climax in AD 70, when the temple was burned, dismantled, and left in ruins. The suffering was horrific, so severe that the Jewish people were nearly wiped out. And all of it unfolded within a single generation, exactly as Jesus had said. This portion of His prophecy does not need to be repeated; it has already been fulfilled. It stands as a historical marker, a visible reminder that His words are not vague spiritual metaphors but concrete truth spoken into real time and real events.

For us, this fulfilled prophecy becomes a foundation for trust. When we see how precisely Jesus’ words came to pass, we are reminded that nothing He says is careless or uncertain. The God who foresaw the fall of the temple is the same God who holds the future of the world—and our own lives—in His hands. His promises are not fragile. His warnings are not empty. His faithfulness is not theoretical. It is woven into history itself.

Lord, thank You for being faithful to Your words.

[1] εκλεκτός (13:20, 22, 27)

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the enduring one

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

WHAT DOES A TRUE CHRISTIAN LOOK LIKE?

November 2015 (17)Mark 13:9-13

9 “But see to yourselves; because they will apprehend you for appearance at Sanhedrins;[1] and you will be flogged in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, so that you can testify to them. 10 And this excellent message must be proclaimed to all nations first. 11 When they arrest you and betray you, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, because it is not you who will speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 13 and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the enduring one will be rescued at the end.

the enduring one

Jesus is strikingly clear about what life in this in‑between age will feel like, and it’s not the picture we often paint for ourselves. He doesn’t describe His followers as “the victorious ones,” “the powerful ones,” or even “the gifted ones.” Those things are real—victory, power, and spiritual gifts are all gracious works of the Spirit, and they still matter. But in this passage, Jesus highlights a different work of the Spirit, one that doesn’t sparkle the same way but is absolutely essential.

He tells His disciples that this age will be marked by pressure from the outside and heartbreak from the inside. Persecution will come from the world; betrayal will come from people who once claimed to stand with us. And all the while, the gospel must keep moving outward—to every nation, every people, every corner of the earth. That means the church, our families, our ministries, and even our own hearts will be under constant strain. None of this is a sign that God has abandoned us. In fact, Jesus says the opposite. These hardships confirm that His words are true and that we are living in the very age He described.

I look around and see believers who are exhausted, discouraged, and tempted to walk away. They interpret their suffering as evidence that God is distant or uninterested. But Jesus frames it differently. The pressure is not proof of His absence; it is proof that His story is unfolding exactly as He said it would.

And so the defining mark of a Christian in this age is not triumph or influence or dazzling giftedness. The mark is endurance—quiet, stubborn, Spirit‑sustained endurance. The kind that keeps showing up. The kind that refuses to let go of Jesus even when everything else shakes. The kind that trusts that faithfulness matters more than visible success.

Lord, give us victory, give us power, give us spiritual gifts—but above all, give us endurance. Keep us steady and faithful until the day You return.

[1] συνέδριον (13:9; 14:55; 15:1)

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false alarms

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

DON’T LET DISASTERS DECEIVE YOU

111614Mark 13:5-8

5 Then Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come claiming to be me saying, ‘It’s me, I am!’ and they will cause many to go astray. 7 When you first hear of wars and threats of wars, do not panic; this must take place, but the end is yet to come. 8 Because nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be disasters[1] in various places; there will be famines. These events are just the beginning of the birth pangs.

false alarms

The first stirrings of labor can fool even the most attentive parents. A couple rushes to the hospital certain the moment has arrived, only to learn that the child is still settling in, not yet ready to appear. The signs feel dramatic, urgent, unmistakable—and yet they are only the beginning. Jesus said the early signs of the last age work the same way. Every time a new movement pulls people away from Christ, someone declares the end has come. Every time a war tears through a nation, voices rise insisting that history has reached its final page. Every time an earthquake or hurricane devastates a region, predictions flare up again. But Jesus warned His disciples not to mistake these recurring pains for the final moment. They are real, they are sobering, and they matter—but they are not the finish line. They are reminders that we live in the last age, not proof that the age is ending today.

Jesus’ words steady us. He doesn’t want us panicked or naïve. He wants us awake. These signs are like contractions—evidence that something is moving, that God’s story is advancing, that the world is not drifting aimlessly. But they are also reminders that the Father’s timing is patient, purposeful, and often slower than our instincts. The end will come, but not because we misread a headline or react to a crisis. It will come when God says the moment is ripe.

So we watch without fear. We discern without jumping to conclusions. We stay faithful without grasping for predictions. And we trust that the One who began the story will bring it to its true completion.

Lord, help us recognize the signs without being deceived by them. Keep our hearts steady, awake, and anchored in You.

[1] σειζμοι can refer to many types of natural disasters as well as earthquakes.

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demolished

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

WATCHING THE GREAT THINGS GO

November 2015 (15)Mark 13:1-4

1 As he exited the temple area, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what enormous stones and what enormous buildings!” 2 Then Jesus responded by asking him, “Do you see these big buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; everything will be demolished.” 3 Later, when he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple area, Peter, James, John, and Andrew requested privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these events that you predicted happen, and what will be the sign showing that all these predicted events are about to be occur?”

demolished

I still remember the strange hollowness of that first flight over New York after the towers fell. My eyes kept searching for what my mind insisted should be there. Those buildings had shaped my imagination of the city for so long that their absence felt impossible, as if the world had shifted under my feet. It was a quiet shock to realize that something so massive, so iconic, could be taken down in a single day by hatred and violence. Greatness—at least the kind we build—turns out to be far more fragile than we assume.

The disciples felt something similar when Jesus spoke about the future. Herod’s temple complex wasn’t just a building; it was a world within a world, a symbol of permanence, beauty, and divine favor. Anyone who saw it was overwhelmed by its scale and splendor. To imagine Jerusalem without it was almost unthinkable. Yet Jesus calmly told them that even this marvel would fall. He wasn’t trying to frighten them. He was gently loosening their grip on the things they assumed would always stand.

Jesus had already redefined greatness for them. He had placed a child in their midst and said, in effect, “This is what true greatness looks like—humble, trusting, low to the ground.” Now He was reminding them that everything impressive eventually crumbles. Towers fall. Temples collapse. Achievements fade. But the greatness born of service, love, and surrender to God’s kingdom cannot be demolished.

So He invites us to watch with open eyes as the things we admire eventually give way, not to make us cynical, but to free us. When we see what doesn’t last, we learn to cling to what does.

Lord, loosen our attachment to the great things that cannot endure. Strengthen our hold on Your kingdom, which will.

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new accounting system

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

WHICH IS FULLER, YOUR HEART OR YOUR POCKET?

November 2015 (14)Mark 12:41-44

41 He sat down in sight of the temple treasury room, and he watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 A poor widow came and put in two lepta, which are worth a quadrans.[1] 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “I guarantee you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

new accounting system

Jesus watched the wealthy pour large sums into the temple treasury, and then He watched a widow slip in two tiny coins—so small they barely made a sound. If He had judged her gift by its comparative value, it would have been insignificant. But Jesus wasn’t using the world’s accounting system. He was using heaven’s.

He measured her gift not by what it added to the treasury, but by what it revealed about her heart. Others gave out of surplus; she gave out of trust. Others contributed what they would never miss; she offered what she could not afford to lose. Her gift looked small on the ledger, but enormous in the eyes of God.

Jesus was showing us that He sees what no one else sees. He sees the sacrifice behind the amount. He sees the love behind the gesture. He sees the trust behind the offering. The widow wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She simply believed that God was worthy of her devotion and capable of caring for her needs. That kind of faith is the currency of the kingdom.

And that’s the new accounting system Jesus invites us into. He isn’t looking for loose change—those scraps of time, attention, or generosity that cost us nothing. He is looking for hearts that give because they love Him, and trust Him, and want to reflect His generosity in the world.

LORD, empty our pockets of loose change—everything that distracts, everything that doesn’t satisfy—and fill our hearts with love for You and trust in Your provision. Teach us how good we can become at giving.

[1] the Roman λεπτον was worth about six minutes of an average daily wage, the κοδραντης about 12 minutes. This is what most consider loose change.

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proceed with caution

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

BEWARE OF DR. DOUBT!

November 2015 (13)Mark 12:38-40

38 In the context of his teaching, he said, “Be cautious of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be saluted in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! 40 They eat widows’ houses greedily and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will be condemned more than the others.”

proceed with caution

The scribes carried an aura of spiritual superiority. People assumed that because they handled Scripture professionally, they must have been closer to God than the ordinary worshipper. Jesus never discouraged the study of Scripture—He loved it, quoted it, fulfilled it. But He did warn His followers not to confuse biblical expertise with genuine devotion. A sharp mind is not the same as a surrendered heart.

Jesus went further than simply cautioning us about misplaced trust. He reminded us that theological knowledge, while valuable, can become dangerous when it becomes an idol. It is possible to master the text and miss the Savior. It is possible to speak eloquently about God and yet remain untouched by His grace. And it is possible for a community to elevate scholars in a way that blinds them to the absence of spiritual authenticity.

We are encouraged to study, to learn, to grow in understanding. But we are also called to discernment. Not every voice that sounds authoritative is trustworthy. Not every teacher who quotes Scripture is walking with Jesus. The scribes remind us that a person can be brilliant in theology and barren in faith.

So we listen for something deeper than expertise. We look for lives marked by humility, repentance, compassion, and obedience. We look for teachers whose words carry the weight of someone who has actually been with God.

LORD, give us the insight to listen to those whose lives reflect genuine authenticity and faith in You.

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yes, and

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

IS JESUS MORE THAN THE MESSIAH?

November 2015 (12)Mark 12:35-37

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said in response, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”‘[1] 37 David himself calls him Lord; how then can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with gladness.

yes, and

Jesus never pushed back against the title “Son of David.” Bartimaeus cried it out on the roadside, and Jesus received it with compassion. The title was true—rooted in covenant, prophecy, and Israel’s long hope for a Messiah. But when Jesus raised the question in the temple, He wasn’t rejecting the title. He was inviting His listeners to stretch beyond it. The title was accurate, but it wasn’t complete.

The crowds saw lineage. Jesus wanted them to see eternity.
The title pointed backward to David. Jesus pointed upward to the Father.

The Messiah was not merely David’s descendant; He was David’s Lord. The Scriptures hinted at a mystery older than Bethlehem—a pre‑incarnate fellowship between the eternal Logos and the Father, a relationship of divine sonship that existed before time. Jesus was saying, in effect, “Yes, I am the promised King—but I am more than your categories, more than your expectations, more than your titles can contain.”

And that question still presses on us today. Will we let our understanding of Jesus expand? Will we allow Scripture to correct our small, comfortable versions of Him? Will we dare to believe that the Messiah we worship is the eternal Son who shared glory with the Father before the world began?

LORD, give us the wisdom to see You for all You are.

[1] Psalm 110:1.

[2] 10:48-49.

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get there

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

ARE YOU THERE YET?

November 2015 (11)Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the scribes came near and heard them debating with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment takes priority over all of them?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[1] 31 The second is this, ‘You will love your neighbour as yourself.’[2] There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; 33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbour as oneself,’– this takes priority over all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

get there

The scribe in this scene is one of the rare bright spots among the religious leaders. He isn’t combative. He isn’t trying to trap Jesus. He asks honest questions, listens carefully, and recognizes truth when he hears it. He even affirms Jesus’ answer as faithful to Scripture. In so many ways, he is close—closer than most of his peers ever came.

And yet Jesus tells him he is not far from the kingdom. Close, but not inside. Near, but not surrendered. He has understanding, but not allegiance. He agrees with Jesus, but he has not yet entrusted himself to Jesus.

That distinction still matters. Many people admire Jesus. Many agree with His teachings. Many respect His wisdom, His compassion, His moral clarity. They stand near the kingdom, nodding along, appreciating the beauty of it. But admiration is not conversion. Agreement is not discipleship. Proximity is not surrender.

At some point, a person must step across the threshold. They must move from “Jesus is right” to “Jesus is Lord.” They must stop merely appreciating Him and begin following Him. That moment may be only inches away—one decision, one prayer, one surrender—but it is the difference between being near the kingdom and belonging to it.

Friend, if you find yourself close—if you know Jesus is true, if you sense His call, if you feel the tug of His kingdom—don’t linger at the edge. The step you take today will echo into eternity. You have to live for someone, and deep down you already know that living for yourself will never be enough.

LORD, help my friends who are close to Your kingdom to step fully into it.

[1] Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Joshua 22:5.

[2] Leviticus 19:18.

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when they rise

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SHUT UP A SADDUCEE?

November 2015 (10)Mark 12:18-27

18 Sadducees, who say that resurrection is not possible, came to him and questioned him, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving behind a wife but no child, the man should marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? Because the seven had married her.” 24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you have gone astray,[1] that you recognize neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 Because when they rise from the dead, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?[2] 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you have gone extremely astray.”

when they rise

The clash between Jesus and the Sadducees wasn’t just an argument—it was a collision of two completely different starting points. They approached the question of resurrection with the settled conviction that such a thing was impossible. To them, the very idea produced absurdities, which they tried to highlight with their contrived scenario. But Jesus didn’t share their assumptions. He didn’t treat resurrection as a philosophical puzzle. He treated it as a promised reality.

And in His response, He revealed the convictions that shaped His entire understanding of life, death, and God’s purposes.

First, Jesus spoke of resurrection as something certain, not speculative. He didn’t say if they rise—He said when they rise. For Him, resurrection wasn’t a theory to defend but an event guaranteed by the power and faithfulness of God. Scripture had already promised it, and Jesus trusted that promise completely.

Second, Jesus made it clear that resurrection is not a return to our present condition. God is not reviving our frailty or restoring us to the limitations we know now. He is bringing us into the life He intended for us from the beginning—incorruptible, whole, and eternal. Resurrection is transformation, not repetition.

Third, Jesus grounded resurrection in the character of God Himself. When God spoke to Moses and identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He wasn’t speaking nostalgically. He was speaking as the God of the living. His covenant faithfulness does not expire at the grave. He sees His people not as they were in death, but as they will be in their perfected, resurrected life. He sees them alive. He sees you alive.

This is the confidence Jesus invites us to carry into our days—the assurance that resurrection is not wishful thinking but the unfolding of God’s eternal plan.

LORD, teach us to live with the steady confidence of that great event which will change us forever.

[1] πλαναω (12:24, 27; 13:5f).

[2] Exodus 3:6,15,16.

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still testing

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

HE HAS PASSED THE TEST; STOP TESTING HIM!

November 2015 (9)Mark 12:13-17

13 Then they sent to him some from the Pharisees and some from the Herodians, hoping to catch him in a mistake in what he said. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are genuine, and give special preference to no one; because you do not regard men with partiality, but teach the way of God on the basis of truth. Is it proper to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But because he knew that they were just putting on an outward show, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius so I can see it.” 16 And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose title?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar the things that are the Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly astounded at him.

still testing

 

Jesus exposed something deeply inconsistent in the hearts of His questioners. They spoke respectfully about Him. They claimed to recognize His sincerity and authority. But their posture told a different story. If they truly believed He was genuine, why keep testing Him? Why keep probing, trapping, and demanding more proof? Their words and their attitude didn’t match—and Jesus held that contradiction up to the light.

If we want to know whether Jesus is who He says He is, we don’t need to corner Him with endless tests. God has already given us a clear, trustworthy witness in Scripture. The Gospels reveal His character, His compassion, His power, His identity. The prophets point toward Him. The apostles testify about Him. At some point, continued testing stops being honest inquiry and becomes a quiet insult—an unwillingness to trust what God has already revealed.

There is no question Jesus can answer. He silenced His critics with ease. There is no miracle beyond His reach. The New Testament is full of them. But when someone has professed faith for years and still demands fresh proof every time life becomes uncertain, something deeper is off. Testing replaces trusting. Suspicion replaces surrender. And the heart grows restless instead of rooted.

Faith matures when we stop asking Jesus to prove Himself again and again, and instead rest in the truth He has already shown us.

LORD, give us the courage and wisdom to stop testing and keep trusting.

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