The Disciples as Tourists

Tourists. As Mark 13 opens, the disciples are like tourists, gawking at the more striking features of “the big city” that they were visiting for the high and holy festival of Passover. If there had been cameras in those days, you can almost picture the disciples mugging for the camera in front of the magnificent opulence of the Temple. Little bands of tourists wearing bright orange hats would be milling through the plazas and colonnades of the Temple as tour guides with bullhorns shouted forth impressive statistics. “Some of these foundation stones weigh 5 tons and were brought into the city through the massive efforts of thousands of masons and slaves.” Appreciative “Ooohs” and “Ahhhs” would follow each stunning stat.

It was, all in all, a heady atmosphere. You couldn’t help but look up to see the towering heights. When I’ve been in places like Chicago and New York City, I know full well that standing on a sidewalk and staring up at the towering heights of the Sears Tower or the Empire State Building is the surest way possible to have me be easily identified as a tourist. But I can’t help it! I don’t want to look like some hick from the outback who is bowled over by skyscrapers, but they are just so impressive. They simply dwarf you! And so I steal as many heavenward glances as I can.

The disciples were like that. They don’t want to look like simple fishermen from Galilee and the like, but let’s face it: you just don’t see stonework like this back on the farm. Their enthusiasm is so great that they cannot resist pulling Jesus into the action. Their master seems oddly unmoved by the ramparts and architectural heights of Jerusalem. He is the only one NOT craning his neck and mugging for the camera. So the disciples try to bring him around. “Teacher! Lookee here — isn’t this one massive hunk of limestone!? Isn’t the craftsmanship on these carvings impressive? Can you imagine what it must have taken to raise up such a high edifice!?”

But Jesus meets their breathless enthusiasm with a shrug of his shoulders. “Yes, I see them. But you know what? Even the biggest of these stones will soon fall and be thrown down. One day e’re long, there won’t be a single building to look at here.”

Scott Hoezee, comments and observations on Mark 13:1-8.

Mark 1

The Importance of Devotions

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Mark 1:35

Aiya, I got no time to do devotions la.
Wah, must wake up early to read the Bible arh, don't want la.
Sian leh, I so much things to do, still must do devotions, cannot la.
If I pray in the morning, I sure fall asleep one.
Morning I just wake up, how to do devotions?

We hear of many reasons and excuse why people don't do devotions. Many people give the reason of busyness as an excuse to not do devotions. But does busyness give us the right to not do devotions?

Of course not. We read in Mark 1:35 that Jesus woke up early to pray and seek God. He did His devotions in the morning. Jesus understood the importance of devotions. He understood the power of seeking God.

Jesus knew that there are many things waiting for Him to do, and because there were lots to be done, He had to spend time with God first. Time spent with God is to equip us with the necessary tools and abilities for the day ahead.

The reason for doing devotions in the morning could be summed up in the analogy given below. When we go to a concert, the musicians tune their instruments before the concert. No one tunes their instruments after the concert. Each day is like a concert. Doing devotions is like us tuning our instruments to prepare for the concert. That is why it is generally better to do our devotions in the morning.

As we think over Mark 1:35, let's think about the importance of devotions. Let's think about the power of seeking God. If Jesus who is God, needed to seek God and do His devotions, what about us, mere weak and frail men?