Mark 13:28-32

Certainty and Uncertainty (13:28-32).

Jesus now points to what is certain and what is uncertain. Certain is the fulfilling of all that He has described in Mark 13:2 during that generation, uncertain is the time of all that is directly connected with His coming. They must therefore ever be on the alert, confident of the fulfilment of His final purposes, and of the words that He has spoken.

Analysis.

a “Now from the fig tree learn her parable. When her branch is now become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that the summer is near.

b “Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, even at the doors” (Mark 13:28).

b “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mark 13:30).

a “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32).

Note that in ‘a' summer is seen to be near, but in the parallel no one but the Father knows the day or the hour when summer will come (compare 2 Peter 3:8). In ‘b' they will see ‘these things' (the signs of summer) happening, for in the parallel they will happen within a generation, and are as certain as creation.