Scripture: Mark 13:7
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.
Thought for the Day: These are some of the apocalyptic words from Mark’s Gospel, though too often they are read through 21st century understandings of what apocalyptic literature was attempting to communicate – an understanding that does not take seriously the original purpose of those words. Apocalyptic literature was a specific tool used to communicate an idea or belief – like sarcasm, political cartoons, exaggeration or hyperbole. If you do not understand the tool (genre) there is a good chance you will misunderstand the message. When Mark references the end, most people assume he is speaking of some catastrophic event like the destruction of the world. But the word used here and in other places is telos – a word that can be translated as end, but also as eternity or fullness. It is the same word used in John 13 where we read:
Having loved his own who were in the world,
Jesus loved them to the end.
The conclusion of that statement can be translated as Jesus loved them to the end, or it can read:
Jesus loved them into the eternal.
or
Jesus loved them toward the fullness of time.
Apocalyptic literature was less about describing the end times and more about providing images or illustrations of hope. It wasn’t so much about how things were going to happen, but saying to the reader – no matter what happens, God will find a way of bringing it into the fullness of God’s eternity. The writer started with something familiar – wars and rumors of wars – but then points the readers toward the ultimate truth that the love of God revealed in Jesus will be there through it all – a love that will lead us toward the fullness of time.
Prayer: No matter our situation or circumstance, continue to lead us, O God of Everlasting Love. Provide us glimpses of where we are going even when the path forward does not seem possible. Amen.
