How will it end?
by Rachael Stelzer
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At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it (Mark 13:21).
Read Mark 13:14–27
From time to time, I visit the religion classes at the school where I am a chaplain. The students love to ask me big questions and favourite topics include what heaven will be like and when the world will end.
At the time Mark wrote his gospel, the followers of Jesus were facing persecution and death for believing in him. I imagine that the end of the world – and Jesus’ return – were events they greatly yearned for, and Mark’s reporting of Jesus’ words here would have been of great importance to them.
For us in the Western world of 2023, with so much conflict in the world around us, natural disasters so prevalent, and so many voices around us promising peace, healing, comfort and self-actualisation, we, too, could use some words of wisdom around what is to come.
Jesus certainly did not sugar-coat his description of the End Times. It comes across as brutal and violent, chaotic and confusing. Jesus even warns that false messiahs will be presented, natural disasters will occur, and some may even attempt to ensnare some of God’s chosen.
But then Jesus reminds his people that ‘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’.
What a beautiful comfort. At the end of the turmoil will come our Saviour to restore his people. With all the signs, warnings and confusion, where do we look? To Jesus, who has already won the ultimate battle to redeem all of creation and will come again to take us home. In this beautiful hope, we live.
Dear Jesus, thank you for the comfort of knowing we do not need to despair – we just need to look to you and listen to your words of eternal life. Guard and guide our hearts as we trust in you. Amen.
Rachael Stelzer is the Primary Lay Chaplain at Coomera Anglican College near Brisbane. She is a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale and teaches primary kids in the Growing Kids group. Rachael loves crafts, reading, and sharing meals, coffee and life with her family and friends.
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