MARK 13
CAC This chapter indicates to us the importance of a spiritual outlook. The disciples were occupied with stones and buildings, but the Lord’s outlook had been on what was there spiritually for God. One might feel sure that the stones and buildings were of very small interest to the Lord, but the heart of the widow was of immense interest to Him; there was a character of things there which it would be impossible to throw down. Affectionate movements of heart in reference to the interests of God must be of profound interest to the Lord. The gifts cast into the treasury were ostensibly for the support of the house, and of the service connected with it. The treasury represents divine interests such as could be ministered to.
Ques It was as the Lord went out of the temple that the disciples called attention to the buildings. Is there any importance in that?
CAC Yes, it was an order of things which the Lord was leaving. We are in the presence of an order of things which the Lord is, as it were, leaving at the present moment: He speaks of Laodicea being spued out of His mouth. There is a great system of things which strikingly corresponds with the temple as it stood in that day. While it had the responsibility of the house and was judged as not having the character of the house, yet it was really a human imitation. This particular temple was built by Herod, and we know that Herod never had it patterned by the Spirit or had the hand of God upon him; so it was an [p. 150] imitation of what had been originally set up as having the divine character. It was there ostensibly as God’s house, and the Lord takes things on the ground of their profession. We find at the present time that we have a great and imposing structure. The outward profession of christianity at the present time is very imposing in the eyes of men, and sometimes in the eyes of disciples, but it is a material imitation of what was originally set up in spiritual power. When you test things by the divine standard, the imitation always fails, and therefore the Lord must go out; there could only be a place for the Father and Son in spiritual affections. Great stones have no value; the tendency is to put them in the place of the widow’s two mites.
The time in which the Lord was here is very similar to the time we are in. He was here in the last days of a profession which was originally of God, but it had come to such a state that there was nothing for God there; the temple itself was only a human imitation and exaggeration of the divine thought. Today we have an imitation and exaggeration outwardly. The Lord leads His disciples to a point from which they can have a spiritual outlook on everything. He goes and sits down on the mount of Olives opposite the temple and looks, but He has it in view from a heavenly and spiritual point of view. That is the place He would lead us to so that we might not be under the influence of great stones and buildings, but under the influence of what is heavenly and spiritual. I think the widow had a spiritual view of the house. It was not to her a mere structure of stones and buildings, but she connected it in her affections with the God whose house it was, so her outlook of the house and the treasury was a spiritual one, and she could be in absolute devotion to Him. There is great interest in the Lord going to the mount of Olives and sitting down there with His disciples; it is the only spot from which you can get a spiritual outlook.
Revelation 2 and 3 answer to the Lord looking round and walking about in the temple. In Revelation 1 He is walking in the midst of the candlesticks, but when we come to chapter 4 He is saying, “Come up here”. He is calling us up to a heavenly standpoint so as to look down from a heavenly point of view on all the things that are about to take place on earth. It is very much like this chapter; you are brought to a heavenly and spiritual outlook.
[p. 151] Rem The Lord is going out here.
CAC Yes, that is the first thing to see. It is a system of things He is leaving because it is not of God or for God, and He leaves it finally. This is His final exit from the temple. The Lord does not change the present character of the profession. It is our privilege to be in intelligent sympathy with Him, and our attitude towards the various things in the assembly should be determined by His. Whatever attitude He takes up is safe for us to take up.
Ques Is that the thought of sitting on the mount of Olives?
CAC Yes. What strikes one is that the Lord sits down restfully in a spot which speaks of what is spiritual and heavenly, that spot which was home to Him. When everyone went to his own home He went to the mount of Olives; it was home to Him. We can understand how the spiritual and heavenly were home to the Lord. As to this world He had not where to lay His head, but His home was in that region of the spiritual and heavenly. He sits down there and takes up a deliberate position, just as He had sat down over against the treasury. It seems to intimate an abiding place which He takes.
Ques Why is it “opposite the temple”?
CAC What is in view is that we might have a divine estimate of all that appears to be for God in this world but that is pretentious. We shall not be in concert with the Lord if we have not the same standpoint and spiritual vision.
Ques Why are the four disciples connected here?
CAC I do not know, unless it is that this is a kind of enquiry not reserved for those who are conspicuous. An inconspicuous man like Andrew can have part in it.
Ques Why was He in the temple in the day and going out to the mount of Olives at night?
CAC I suppose His public testimony was one thing; it was a testimony rendered in the midst of all the departure and corruption, but His own personal resort was the mount of Olives. I think the night would intimate the time of retirement in contrast to the twelve hours of the day.
One would desire to take a spiritual view of everything we have to say to, and to value things according to the spiritual affections which are active in them.
Ques Why do things take a private character on the mount of Olives?
CAC That is very interesting. They “asked him privately”.
We miss a great deal by not asking the Lord privately. If we want to know things we are apt to ask the brethren. This is a private enquiry, not exactly of assembly character. If we were more familiar with the Lord and more confiding, we should ask questions and get them answered.
Ques Does four suggest remnant character?
CAC It suggests individual exercise. Andrew was not a conspicuous man in the apostolic band. The other three were pillars, but Andrew was not, and one feels happy that one can come in as Andrew if not as Peter, James and John.
They seem to have accepted that not one stone should be left on another, and now they ask the Lord privately to tell them more about it. It is a good thing to ask the Lord about things. If we did, when there was a scripture we did not understand, I am sure the Lord would have the greatest pleasure in answering private enquiries. The Lord does not abridge His answers if there is a spirit of genuine enquiry.
This chapter shows typically that His house is not to be dislodged until He comes back. This is full of cheer. However many deceivers and disturbers there may be, His house is not to be dislodged, and the gospel is going on, too. The house will stand, and the gospel testimony will not be obstructed or stopped by any conditions here. It is very beautiful to see that in the midst of all these conditions we get the assurance that the evangelical work is going out to all nations. It will not stop when the church goes; it is going right on until the Lord comes back. And the house is going on, too; the occupants will be changed, but the house will go right on until the Lord comes back. This chapter shows us that the saints of the assembly will not be found in the tribulation. All this chapter is most comforting; it shows how under the worst conditions the gospel is going on and the house will be preserved, and the servants discharge their proper responsibility right on to the end. We get a heavenly and spiritual outlook, and when we hear of wars and rumours of wars we shall not be disturbed.
It is a time of false prophets and false Christs, and signs and wonders and deceivers; we get a good deal of that now. Many profess to have signs and wonders; it is on the line of antichrist. I think Babylon is more the glory of the world, the profession clothed with the glory of the world. You can see that plainly, but when you come to signs and wonders it is a question of [p. 153] spiritual wickedness which imitates what is of God, more on the line of antichrist, which definitely takes the place of Christ, and appears to have supernatural credentials. It is like people who tell you they have communication with the unseen world and work miracles: there is much of it about. That is what will culminate in antichrist; all the apparatus is being got ready for the grand display, and people are being habituated to things which will constitute the great power of evil in the coming day. The moral instruction of this chapter is of the last importance. The Lord says, “They shall deliver you up to sanhedrims and to synagogues: ye shall be beaten and brought before rulers and kings for my sake”. If the features of Christ are seen, the natural man does not love them. It is a great thing to be persecuted because one is meek and a mourner; because one hungers and thirsts after righteousness; because one is merciful and pure in heart. It is a great divine favour to be persecuted because one has those characteristics. One does not look for compensation here; we are to look for it in the place where He got His compensation. There is a present heavenly reward — we do not know much about it — if we came out more in the features of Christ, we might know it.
The thing is not to be deceived, to recognise the moral character of people who bring you something which appears to be fresh. Paul presents that as a safeguard of truth in 2 Timothy when all kinds of questions as to evil were coming in. He says, “knowing of whom thou hast learned”. ‘You know what kind of man I am’. “Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience”. That is the kind of man that will not deceive you. In 2 Corinthians the apostle develops very largely his sufferings, and the intense and unceasing discipline he went through; he brings all that out as credentials of ministry.
Rem We do not get much of this kind of thing now.
CAC No doubt, but the principle is helpful and encouraging if we find ourselves in the smallest measure on that line; it is a great comfort then to fall back on the Spirit. It is a wonderful thing to be so identified with the Lord’s name that we are suitably representing Him. That is the idea, that there should be people so representing Christ that they can be vessels for the Holy Spirit to speak through; it is not their speaking but the Holy Spirit. Antichrist comes in his own name and pretends to be Christ; he has horns like a lamb, but [p. 154] listen to his voice! He speaks like a dragon. One would like to be exercised as to the vessels the Holy Spirit can speak through, and as to the suitable moral formation.
This applies particularly to when they were brought up publicly, but the principle of it is very important, for when you get some actual suffering you can apply the principle. I believe this character of things is always going on and will do so: if not in this island it goes on in China, Turkey and other places all the time.
Ques Would you say a little more about the Holy Spirit speaking through suited vessels?
CAC If we see the Holy Spirit acting in this way it encourages one to look for this kind of action, and that brings us into exercise. Am I the sort of person the Holy Spirit can select as a vessel to speak through? It raises the question of my whole moral condition. I do not know any other way of appearing in public but as identified with the name of Christ and as a vessel of the power of the Spirit. When a person challenges you, how easy it is to answer with human argument. I know what it is to do that and have felt sorry after. If one had been more dependent, there might have been an opportunity for the Spirit of God to give a direct thrust through heart and conscience which would never have been forgotten. Look how the Holy Spirit spoke through Stephen. All at once without premeditation he can go in an orderly and perfect way through the whole history of the ways of God with His people. He does not drop a stitch; every link in the chain is perfect. There is an example of a man speaking in the power of the Spirit of God. That is the sort of speaking that never makes any mistake; it is on the line of His name and the speaking and power of the Holy Spirit.
It is a question of enduring. If we get on to the line of Christ and the Spirit, then we are content to endure; we may have to wait for salvation but it will surely come. “He that endures to the end shall be saved”. At the end there is complete deliverance from all these opposing adversaries.
Ques Is preaching to go on through suffering?
CAC It says here that the gospel is to be preached to all the nations. That does not mean only in all the meeting-rooms. I think, personally, that it is a great pity there is not more desire to carry the gospel outside, and look for open doors outside. It is very nice to preach in rooms, but it does not [p. 155] fulfil the commission of the Lord to all nations. Paul’s exercise was to get among people who had not heard Christ’s name. I think the spirit of an evangelist would lead us out in our measure to speak a word or give a book. The gospel is to go out to all creation; we have to look at men, not as fallen sinners, but as part of God’s creation, and bring them the good news because of the infinite worth and value attaching to them as God’s creation. Even when a man blasphemes, he is part of God’s creation, and the gospel goes to him in all the wonderful character of his being part of God’s creation. Ultimately the creature itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption and brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Wherever there is a created man, woman or child, we think of them in that way. I have known people who have gone to China or India, and who have never knocked at every door in their own street at home. We may not be able to go abroad, but we may go to the doors in our street.
Ques Does the present church period come in in this chapter?
CAC I should think the general principle would apply. It is the Lord giving private instruction in view of the suitable behaviour of His servants right on to the end. The spirit and conduct of the servants are very much before the Lord, and that which is suitable in the Lord’s servants in the time of His absence would have an important bearing on us at the present time, though we might not actually be in the circumstances of the service.
Ques Does not the last verse of the chapter show to whom it is addressed? “What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch”.
CAC Yes. It brings in a principle of wide application, and would intimate that the service of the house is to be carried on until He comes back.
We see here certain principles. There are great stones and great buildings all coming down, and the Lord sets us where we can have a spiritual outlook on all that great system of profession which is coming down. It is a question here of Christ and His name, the Holy Spirit speaking, and the gospel continuing in spite of religious opposition and persecution. These are all features which mark the present day.
[p. 156] Ques Would you say the abomination of desolation is in view?
CAC Yes, it is to be spiritually discerned; we see it coming in in men being lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
Rem One can see so plainly the movement towards apostasy and idolatry, God not having His place in man’s heart.
CAC Yes, the right conduct for us would be to flee to the mountains. I suppose the prophetic word is highly important as giving light amidst the obscurity; it gives indications as to how to behave, and light in the midst of darkness. The day-dawn and day-star bring in the light of the coming day, but we need to understand what is going on in obscurity. The prophetic word gives light in regard to conditions of obscurity. It is blessed to have the light of the coming day, the day-dawn and the morning-star, the light of the future brought into the present, but there is a system of obscurity, and the prophetic word illuminates it. Peter says, Ye do well to take heed to it; it is all connected with Christ. We must not undervalue the importance of it. At the present time we owe much to the fact that saints have taken heed to the prophetic word; it has had a wonderful effect in disentangling us. I think the abomination of desolation, “that which desolates”, is the man who is offensive to God being in prominence in the sphere of holy things. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus, and that intimates that we are not to get occupied with details and minute prophetic facts, but to get the whole scope of things; the spirit of it all is the testimony of Jesus. He is the Man according to God’s pleasure; the abomination of desolation is just the opposite kind of man. We can see all the indications of the coming apostasy.
Rem How easily it comes into our own hearts!
CAC Yes, we have to watch lest any element of that kind gets into the house. The command of the porter was to watch; that is the necessity of the door-keeper. There are certain elements which are an abomination and a desolation they desolate what is spiritual and proper to the house of God. We have to watch that such elements do not get in. While a man slept an enemy sowed tares.
Ques What was your thought about fleeing to [p. 157] the mountains?
CAC It is rather suggestive that you do not attempt to deal with anything that is apostate. Flight is the only thing.
Ques Do you think we might look at Judaea as ordered religion without power, the truth held rightly but no heavenly power? The Lord is stirring our hearts now that we may find blessing in connection with what is elevated and heavenly.
CAC Yes. Truth without power leads rapidly in the direction of a form of piety, but denying its power.
Ques Is this in the christian profession?
CAC Yes. We see that the man of sin will come out in his true colours presently, and in the midst of the week there will be some definite manifestation of his character. The elements of that kind of thing are all working today, and are to be spiritually discerned. If we consider the prophetic word we shall see the bearing of it. It is very simple to get prophetic facts, but the moral principle that underlies the facts is the spirit of prophecy.
Rem We get the great tribulation spoken of here. I suppose we do not get the church.
CAC We know as a matter of fact that the church will not be here when this final stage of things is reached, but the great thing is to see the drift of things.
Ques Is the hope of the church not simply the rapture, but the coming of the Lord?
CAC Quite so. If we thought more of the coming of the Lord, it would have a great effect on us. When we come to prophetic scriptures — and this is one of them — it is very important that we should take it in its universal setting, and that we should see that the teaching is part of the mind of the Spirit. No prophetic scripture is of private interpretation; we cannot limit it to the circumstances it deals with, because moral principles are brought in. If the Holy Spirit speaks, He takes in a very wide view, and the greatest moral principles come in in the prophetic word. The danger is getting occupied with prophetic details and leaving out moral principles.
Rem Watching seems to be enjoined in connection with it all.
CAC The Lord gives all this instruction privately, and it seems to lead up to the faithful discharge of every authorised responsibility in the house, and the house should be pervaded by the spirit of watchfulness. The bondmen are seen in unity; that is to characterise levitical service. Levi means united, and,
[p. 158] while service is of course individual, it is to be taken up under authority. There is a unity about all true service, and each servant should remember he belongs to a unity. It is “to each his work”, but they are all to work together.
“Pray that it may not be in winter time”; what a touching consideration on the Lord’s part for the external difficulties. He cuts short the tribulation; that is very suggestive. It clearly indicates the ability of the Lord to set limits to times of great pressure. He even cuts short the days so that the prophetic time may not actually run its full length. While the public ways of God are running their course there is tender consideration blended with them which will not suffer you to be tried more than you are able to bear.
Ques How do you take verse 23, “do ye take heed”?
CAC It is always important right on until the Lord comes. This precious instruction of the Lord is to be taken heed to, and the house will be here when He comes back. It is the same house. The staff of servants will be changed suddenly in one moment, but it is the same house.
Ques Does responsibility rest with us now?
CAC Yes, we cannot get rid of the fact that we are set here in responsibility to hold things until the Lord comes, and we break bread until He comes. His coming does not mean the rapture, it is holding things here until the Christ comes back to the earth.
Ques What would you say as to His giving His bondman the authority?
CAC I suppose there is such a thing as divinely given power that none can refute. The house seems to be a sphere where the authority of the Master invests the servants; it supposes that the bondmen are set to carry out His pleasure.
Ques What is your thought as to the doorkeeper?
CAC I think he is to be ready to open the door when the Master comes; and also to mount guard and see that no one comes in who will be a desolator. I think it refers to responsible service. There was a special responsibility about the door; all sources of weakness and defection have got in through unwatchfulness at the door. I think we are apt to be too lax; there should be some more definite and positive evidence attaching to people who are received. Things were more marked in church history — “of the rest durst no man join them”, Acts 5: 13.
[p. 159] Ques Does receiving one another allude to the breaking of bread?
CAC “Receive ye one another” (Romans 15: 7) means in your affections and as governed by holiness. You see what is of Christ there and you receive that unquestioningly. The principle applies because it is a question of what you can receive to the glory of God. You receive such a person because that person carries the features of Christ. If people are received to break bread, the reception should be on that ground.