<html><head></head><body><div><div><div><div><br></div>Mark 13;28-31<div><br></div><div><b>28. &nbsp;“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.</b></div><div><b>29. &nbsp;So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.</b></div><div><b>30. &nbsp;Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place.</b></div><div><b>33. &nbsp;Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>This is another passage which is easily misunderstood. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Jesus once more refers to the original warning concerning the <i>“desolating sacrilege” </i>and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. &nbsp;The <i>“he is near” &nbsp;</i>(verse 29) refers to a Roman general who leads the final siege and destruction.</div><div><br></div><div>With that understanding, then, verse 30 becomes clear. &nbsp;Jesus is saying that&nbsp;many of those who hear his warning will yet be alive when it comes to pass. &nbsp;Indeed, Jerusalem falls in 70AD.</div><div><br></div><div>Jesus is not teaching us that &nbsp;among those who hear him are&nbsp;‘immortals’ who will&nbsp;go on living in the flesh for centuries and will still be alive when Jesus returns for Judgement.</div><div><br></div><div>However,<i>“this generation” </i>should be&nbsp;understood as ‘sinful mankind’.</div><div><br></div><div>The rapid transformation of a fig tree from the&nbsp;dormancy of winter to spring and the appearance of leaves telling us the summer is near, is our Lord teaching us that both the fall of Jerusalem and the final Judgement will arrive very quickly. &nbsp;Remember, that the passage of time is conditioned upon perspective. &nbsp;For children, a season like spring or summer seems to them to go on and on. &nbsp;For old folks, the passage of time is continually ‘accelerating. &nbsp;The years are going by so quickly we are amazed and startled. &nbsp;This has to do with those who are approaching death, eternity. &nbsp;In physics, time ceases to exist at all as you attain the speed of light. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Could that be in part&nbsp;why scripture calls us “children of Light”?</div><div><br></div><div>Prayer: &nbsp;Merciful Father, we see the tender branch of your fig, and the leaves of spring, grant us wisdom to rejoice in the loving&nbsp;light, and warmth of the eternal summer of Your kingdom. &nbsp;In Jesus we pray, Amen.</div><div><br></div><div>Love,</div><div>Dad/Baba/Eric</div><div>Grandpa Pickle Pastor</div><div>“A chapter a day, every day, progressively, be transformed, ‘soak’ in the living Word. &nbsp;God’s Word is our habitation, and we are His.”</div><div><br><br><div><a href="https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&amp;c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&amp;af_sub1=Acquisition&amp;af_sub2=Global_YMktg&amp;af_sub3=&amp;af_sub4=100000604&amp;af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><br></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>


Mark 13;28-31
28.  “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.29.  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.30.  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place.33.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
This is another passage which is easily misunderstood.  
Jesus once more refers to the original warning concerning the “desolating sacrilege” and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.  The “he is near”  (verse 29) refers to a Roman general who leads the final siege and destruction.
With that understanding, then, verse 30 becomes clear.  Jesus is saying that many of those who hear his warning will yet be alive when it comes to pass.  Indeed, Jerusalem falls in 70AD.
Jesus is not teaching us that  among those who hear him are ‘immortals’ who will go on living in the flesh for centuries and will still be alive when Jesus returns for Judgement.
However,“this generation” should be understood as ‘sinful mankind’.
The rapid transformation of a fig tree from the dormancy of winter to spring and the appearance of leaves telling us the summer is near, is our Lord teaching us that both the fall of Jerusalem and the final Judgement will arrive very quickly.  Remember, that the passage of time is conditioned upon perspective.  For children, a season like spring or summer seems to them to go on and on.  For old folks, the passage of time is continually ‘accelerating.  The years are going by so quickly we are amazed and startled.  This has to do with those who are approaching death, eternity.  In physics, time ceases to exist at all as you attain the speed of light.  
Could that be in part why scripture calls us “children of Light”?
Prayer:  Merciful Father, we see the tender branch of your fig, and the leaves of spring, grant us wisdom to rejoice in the loving light, and warmth of the eternal summer of Your kingdom.  In Jesus we pray, Amen.
Love,Dad/Baba/EricGrandpa Pickle Pastor“A chapter a day, every day, progressively, be transformed, ‘soak’ in the living Word.  God’s Word is our habitation, and we are His.”

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