As a Man Taking a Far Journey - Mark 13:34

Mark wrote how Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take you heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirty-four of his book, Mark shared how Jesus said, “the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey”, where we read:

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

The verse reads, “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, ...” Mark began with the words, “For the Son of man” or “because, since and on account that God's Son who is Jesus” “is as a man” which means “is like unto a male human being” “taking a far journey” or “going away from his own people, going abroad or traveling to a foreign place”. Mark shared how Jesus said He was like a person who is traveling to a foreign place.

The verse continues, “... who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.” Mark added the words, “who left his house” which means “the man departed from his own home, abode and habitation”, “and gave authority” or “and granted, bestowed, supplied and furnished power of choice, liberty to do as they please, permission and physical and mental power” “to his servants” which means “to the man's servile people, bondmen and attendants”, “and to every man” or “and to each, the whole, all and everyone of the people” “his work” which means “the servant's business, employment and that which they are occupied”, “and commanded” or “and ordered, enjoined and gave charge” “the porter to watch” which means “the doorkeeper and the male or female janitor to give strict attention to, be cautious and active”. Mark shared how Jesus continued His story about a man who took a “journey”, and He gave description of the way the man “authorized” his “servants”, commanded all his “workers” and ordered his “doorkeepers and janitors” to be alert and aware.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus used this story to relay to His disciples what His future would be like when He left the earth. He will commission those who “serve” Him to be about their business and to be alert while they work. Jesus knew the times which were coming, and He would leave His disciples in charge of His church. God desires people to know these things in advance so they will align themselves with His Son Jesus. Afterward, they will be about His business and are to be “watching and praying” for His return to the earth. Those who are wise will think through these things and yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus says, “watch you therefore: for you know not when the master of the house comes”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".