Don't Believe the Christ is Here or There - Mark 13:21

Mark wrote how Jesus speaking about the end of the age said, “in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-one of his book, Mark shared how Jesus says, “if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not” where we read:

And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

The verse reads, “And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ;” Mark began with the words, “and then if any man” or “and at that time whether any person whether male or female” “shall say to you” which means “will utter, declare and proclaim to Jesus' disciples”, “lo” or “look, behold, see and consider”, “here is Christ” which means “in this place is the anointed One and Messiah”. Mark shared how Jesus gave His disciples warning when any person claimed to know the location of the Messiah.

The verse continues, “or, lo, he is there; believe him not:” Mark added the words, “or, lo” which means “or, look, see and behold”, “he is there” or “the Christ, anointed One and Messiah is in that place”; “believe him not” or “do not trust, rely upon or have confidence in the person who makes the claim about the Messiah”. Mark shared how Jesus said someone may claim the Messiah is in another location, but His disciples were not to trust and rely upon them.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus warned His disciples against believing people who said the Messiah was in this or that place. When this occurred, His disciples were not to “believe” them. Jesus knows who He is, and because there will be people who will claim to be the Messiah, others will attempt to identify them as such. God wants to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they do, they will be able to identify Him as the true Christ and Messiah of His Father God.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus says, “for false Christs and false prophets shall rise”, 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".