“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!””
Mark 13:31, 33-37 NKJV
My great aunt passed away over the summer. For months, she’d suffered with cancer, and when the treatments ended and the end was near, her five nieces provided around the clock care, each one vigilant to take note of signs indicating her time had come. And when her time was up, they were all present because they each knew the signs.
In today’s reading, Yeshua teaches about eternity, discusses the signs of the times, and warns of the tribulations to come. Near the end of the passage, He uses the analogy of a man traveling to a far away country who entrusts his home into the hands of his servants and places the doorkeeper in charge. And the doorkeepers primary duty was to watch for the masters return. His description of watching for the master’s return reminds me of the many times I’ve stood watch beside a loved one nearing the end of life and transitioning to eternity.
The word “watch” is used four times in this passage:
Take heed: watch (and pray): agrypnéō -be attentive and ready, remain in a wakeful frame of mind as opposed to listlessness (v. 33)
He commanded the doorkeeper to watch: grēgoreúō – be roused from sleep (v. 34)
Watch therefore – you don’t know when he will return: grēgoreúō – give strict attention to, be cautious, active
Watch!: grēgoreúō – keep awake! literally or figuratively watch; be vigilant, wake up, (be) watch(-ful)
The same English words used four times and in four ways, each time growing in emphasis and urgency. He is calling us to WAKE UP spiritually and live as if He is returning today, ever vigilant of the signs of His return, ever mindful of the frailty and brevity of life, and ever hopeful that this earth is not my home.
Father – thank You for Your Word and for hope. Awaken my heart to You. Silence the noise of this world so I may hear the still small whisper from You. Make me ever vigilant of the signs before me. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Mark 13
November 5, 2022