21那時若有人對你們說：『看哪，基督在這裏』，或說：『基督在那裏』，你們不要信！ 22因為假基督、假先知將要起來，顯神蹟奇事，倘若能行，就把選民迷惑了。 23你們要謹慎。看哪，凡事我都預先告訴你們了。」
人子的降臨
（太24‧29－31；路21‧25－28）
24「在那些日子，那災難以後，
日頭要變黑了，
月亮也不放光，
25眾星要從天上墜落，
天勢都要震動。
26那時，他們要看見人子有大能力、大榮耀，駕雲降臨。 27他要差遣天使，把他的選民，從四方，從地極直到天邊，都招聚了來。」
從無花果樹學個比方
（太24‧32－35；路21‧29－33）
28「你們可以從無花果樹學個比方：當樹枝發嫩長葉的時候，你們就知道夏天近了。 29這樣，你們幾時看見這些事成就，也該知道人子近了，正在門口了。 30我實在告訴你們，這世代還沒有過去，這些事都要成就。 31天地要廢去，我的話卻不能廢去。」
那日那時沒有人知道
（太24‧36－44）
32「但那日子，那時辰，沒有人知道，連天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟有父知道。 33你們要謹慎，警醒祈禱，因為你們不曉得那日期幾時來到。 34這事正如一個人離開本家，寄居外邦，把權柄交給僕人，分派各人當做的工，又吩咐看門的警醒。 35所以，你們要警醒；因為你們不知道家主甚麼時候來，或晚上，或半夜，或雞叫，或早晨； 36恐怕他忽然來到，看見你們睡着了。 37我對你們所說的話，也是對眾人說：要警醒！」
各位平安，今天我們讀的是馬可福音13章下半段的關於末世的預兆。
上一篇，我們聊到關於假先知和假基督的事情。這裡耶穌再次強調，從第21節開始，如果有人告訴你們基督在這裡或在那裡，你們不要信他們。即使這些人能夠展示出神跡和奇事，但要注意，不是所有的神跡都是出自神的。最大的神跡是耶穌基督在十架上所完成的工作，這是最大的神跡。我們要懂得明辨是非，不是所有出現神跡的人都是出自於神的，有些時候連選民都會被迷惑。
神是行奇事的神，今天神也在行神跡。但同時，讓我們不要追求神跡，而是追求神。聖經已經給了我們神的話語，神的作為也讓我們知曉。當我們掌握神的話語、將其牢記在心中、深深地默想和理解神對我們的話語時，才能夠分辨出哪些神跡是真的來自神，哪些不是。我們需要有明辨是非的能力，分辨真理與虛假。耶穌說過，他的話是永遠長存的，就算天地都要廢掉，他的話也不會變。他的話就是真理，他的話就是我們生命的光。願我們都能夠堅定地去追求他的話語，理解他的話語，並且思想他的話語。
當時耶穌講這些話的時候，很多人以為耶穌要在不久的未來就實現這一切。許多歷史上的神學家或解經家都嘗試想要解釋經文，說這些預言是針對當代某一事件的。但我們不應被這種誤解所困擾，因為上帝所說的事情不能夠被強加在某一個單一歷史事件上。耶穌自己都說過，他再來的時間是由上帝天父決定的，不是由他自己來決定的。所以我們不應去猜測哪一個歷史事件符合預言的哪一部分，或者是什麼時間。他來的時間不是我們該過問的，也不是我們可以追求去理解的。我們唯一需要知道並且確定的是，他一定會再來，而他再來的時候就是審判世界的時候。跑去算命的人喜歡聽一些針對個人性的預言和說法，大多數喜歡聽的都是好事情。這股風氣甚至影響到了一些教會，連某些的牧師都喜歡開始發一些這種針對個人人生的預言。因此，當你聽到預言的時候，要小心不要聽信一些奇怪的個人針對特定事件的言論，這是很危險的。我們唯一需要謹記在心的預言就是耶穌會再來，這是一定會發生卻尚未實現的預言，只要謹記這一點就足夠了。
最後，耶穌用一個比喻來告訴我們，我們應該如何在這世上生活，以及面對未來的世界。我們應該如何對待自己、對待周圍的人、以及對待我們的信仰。
耶穌在這裡的比喻是一個人要離開本家寄居外邦，把權柄交給僕人，嘱咐每個人都要做好自己的本分，保持警醒。今天，我們的身分就是僕人，主人已經把任務交給我們，已經把話語交給我們。我們應該怎樣去做呢？我們應該專心守護著福音的話語，保持警醒，隨時分享這個信息給每一個人，並且守護好這個家，不讓盜賊進入。什麼是盜賊？耶穌在約翰福音說過比喻，盜賊便是那些不從門進去羊圈裡，想要偷取人的靈魂、把人帶回世俗的人。身為看門的人，被要求警醒的僕人，我們應該無時無刻地預備著，因為主人可能隨時回來，不是我們所能知道的時間，但是我們的態度應該是每一天都當做是最後一天，準備著主人的回來。所以我們在地上的生活就是一種預備，是預備未來一定要來的，天上的生活。
我很多時候會缺乏一種緊迫感，我會覺得好像永遠都有明天，好像總是有下一次機會。當我年紀漸長，有些人一去不回，永遠離開世界，我才開始對於死亡和終結有了一種切身的認識。我們看見耶穌早就在警告我們，他隨時會來，他來的時候就再也沒有機會了。耶穌不斷地告訴我們，隨時隨地地要保持一個警醒的態度，用心做一個好僕人，把這個福音分享出去，把握每一個機會。因為你並不知道你和周圍的人還有多少次見面的機會，每一個與你擦身而過的人，是不是都是你可以分享這個福音的機會呢？
而且耶穌早就告訴我們，地上現實的這一切都將會過去。如果我們都已經明知道這一切地上的事情，我們今天所經歷的生活都即將過去的話，我們怎麼能夠還是只掛心於地上的所有事情呢？我們怎麼能夠只是把心思放在地上的財產上呢？我們應當思考如何將地上的財富轉化為天上的財富，這才是我們當下應該思考的事情。
馬可福音13章是新約裡面非常精彩的啟示文學，裡面有許多關鍵的思想讓我們能夠用來指導生活。讓我們去深入理解並好好閱讀這一段。明天我們就將開始講耶穌的最後一頓晚餐，逾越節的晚餐。
Mark Chapter 12:22-37
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
“But in those days, following that distress,
“ ‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”
Peace to you all. Today, we are reading the latter part of Mark 13, which discusses the signs of the end of days.
Previously, we discussed the matter of false prophets and false Christs. Here, Jesus reiterates, starting from verse 21, that if anyone tells you that Christ is here or there, you should not believe them. Even if these individuals perform miracles and wonders, it's important to note that not all miracles are from God. The greatest miracle is the work completed by Jesus Christ on the cross. We must discern truth from falsehood, understanding that not everyone who performs miracles is from God. Sometimes, even the elect may be deceived.
God is a God of miracles, and today, God still performs miracles. However, let us not seek after miracles but rather seek after God. The Bible has given us God's word, and God's actions have revealed His will to us. When we grasp God's word, memorize it, meditate on it deeply, and understand it, only then can we discern which miracles are truly from God and which are not. We need the ability to discern truth from falsehood. Jesus said that His words would endure forever, even if heaven and earth pass away. His words are truth; they are the light of our lives. May we all steadfastly pursue His words, understand them, and meditate on them.
At the time Jesus spoke these words, many thought that these events would happen in the near future. Many theologians and biblical scholars have tried to interpret these scriptures, suggesting that these prophecies were about contemporary events. However, we should not be troubled by this misunderstanding because the things that God says cannot be forced onto a single historical event. Jesus himself said that the timing of His return is determined by God the Father, not by Himself. Therefore, we should not speculate on which historical event corresponds to which part of the prophecy, or at what time. The timing of His coming is not for us to inquire about or to seek to understand. The only thing we need to know and be certain of is that He will come again, and when He does, it will be the judgment of the world. There's a trend among those who seek fortune-telling to listen to strange personal prophecies and statements, mostly favoring positive outcomes. This trend has even affected some churches, with certain pastors beginning to make such personal prophecies. Therefore, when you hear prophecies, be careful not to believe in strange personal statements about specific events; this is very dangerous. The only prophecy we need to remember in our hearts is that Jesus will come again, a prophecy that is sure to happen but has not yet been fulfilled. Just remembering this is enough.
Finally, Jesus used a parable to tell us how we should live in this world and face the future. We should consider how to treat ourselves, those around us, and our faith.
In this parable, Jesus illustrates a scenario where a man leaves his household to journey to a distant country, entrusting his authority to his servants and instructing each one to fulfill their duties and remain vigilant. Today, our role is that of servants; the master has entrusted us with tasks and given us His word. So how should we act? We should diligently guard the words of the Gospel, remain alert, share this message with everyone, and safeguard this household, not allowing thieves to enter. Who are the thieves? As Jesus said in the Gospel of John, thieves are those who do not enter through the gate into the sheepfold but instead try to steal souls and lead people back to worldly desires. As gatekeepers, as watchmen, we should be prepared at all times because the master may return at any moment. We may not know the exact time, but our attitude should be to treat every day as if it were the last, preparing for the master's return. Therefore, our life on earth is a preparation, preparing for the inevitable, the life in heaven.
Many times, I lack a sense of urgency, feeling like there will always be tomorrow, always another chance. As I grow older and see some people depart from this world forever, I begin to have a personal understanding of death and the end. We see that Jesus has been warning us all along, that He could come at any time, and when He does, there will be no more chances. Jesus constantly tells us to remain alert at all times, to earnestly be good servants, to share the Gospel, and to seize every opportunity. Because you never know how many chances you and those around you have to meet again, whether every person you pass by could be an opportunity to share the Gospel.
Furthermore, Jesus has already told us that all the realities of the earth will pass away. If we already know that all the things of this earth, all the experiences of our lives today, are about to pass away, how can we still be concerned only with earthly matters? How can we only focus on earthly possessions? We should consider how to transform earthly wealth into heavenly wealth; this is what we should be thinking about now.
Mark 13 is a fascinating revelation in the New Testament, containing many key thoughts that can guide our lives. Let us delve into and understand this passage well. Tomorrow, we will begin discussing Jesus' last supper, the Passover meal.
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