Daily Lesson for Sabbath 31st of August 2024

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: Mark 12:41-44, Mark 13:1-32, Daniel 9:24-27, Daniel 7:25, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Memory Text:

“ ‘Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven’ ” (Mark 13:26-27, NKJV).

This week’s lesson starts with a very brief story at the end of Mark 12:1-44, where Jesus makes a profound statement about a small act by a widow. The main portion of this week’s lesson, however, deals with Mark 13:1-37, a striking prophecy about the fate of the Jerusalem temple and more. This chapter, along with its parallels in Matthew 24:1-51 and Luke 21:1-38, tell about the fall of Jerusalem and beyond, even to the end of the world.

What Mark 13:1-37 makes quite clear is that the prophecy goes from the time of the prophet, Jesus, to the time of the end, His second coming. This pattern follows what is known as “the historicist interpretation of end-time prophecy,” as opposed to the attempt to put these prophecies in the past or way off into the future.

Like many teachings of Jesus in Mark, the Lord’s instruction is in response to a question or a misunderstanding by His disciples. These questions or misunderstandings give Jesus the opportunity to teach truths vital to Christian life and experience. Jesus not only predicts the future but also instructs His disciples both then and now in how to prepare for the coming trials.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 7.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24c-10-the-last-days/

The Mission program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is an opportunity for us to understand the needs of others and share in supporting them. Please click on the image below to watch the Mission Spotlight presentation for this week:/p>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-august-31/

Daily Lesson for Friday 30th of August 2024

Read Ellen G. White, “A Doomed People,” Pages 580–588; “The Temple Cleansed Again,” Pages 589–600; “Controversy,” Pages 601–609, in The Desire of Ages.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

“Christ’s act in cursing the tree which His own power had created stands as a warning to all churches and to all Christians. No one can live the law of God without ministering to others. But there are many who do not live out Christ’s merciful, unselfish life. Some who think themselves excellent Christians do not understand what constitutes service for God. They plan and study to please themselves. They act only in reference to self. Time is of value to them only as they can gather for themselves. In all the affairs of life this is their object. Not for others but for themselves do they minister. God created them to live in a world where unselfish service must be performed. He designed them to help their fellow men in every possible way. But self is so large that they cannot see anything else. They are not in touch with humanity. Those who thus live for self are like the fig tree, which made every pretension but was fruitless. They observe the forms of worship, but without repentance or faith. In profession they honor the law of God, but obedience is lacking. They say, but do not. In the sentence pronounced on the fig tree Christ demonstrates how hateful in His eyes is this vain pretense. He declares that the open sinner is less guilty than is he who professes to serve God, but who bears no fruit to His glory.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 584.

Discussion Questions

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24c-09-further-thought-jerusalem-controversies/

Join the Hit the Mark panel as they discuss Sabbath School Lesson 9 – Jerusalem Controversies.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/jerusalem-controversies-hit-the-mark-sabbath-school/

Daily Lesson for Thursday 29th of August 2024

Up to this point in the Gospel of Mark, most of the religious leaders, with few exceptions, are antagonistic to Jesus. This is particularly true in Jerusalem, where Jesus has confronted the leadership over temple worship—that which stands at the heart of Judaism. Thus, for a scribe to listen to the disputes and appreciate Jesus’ responses displays both honesty and courage in face of the prevailing animosity toward Jesus. It would be easier to just stand back and watch, even if one were in sympathy with Jesus. But this man does not do that.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

The scribe cuts to the heart of religion with his question as to which commandment is the most important. Jesus responds with simplicity and clarity, quoting the Shema, the confession of faith in Judaism from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. The greatest commandment, says Jesus, is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—that is, with the totality of who you are. Jesus gives the scribe a bonus by listing the second most important commandment, citing the Old Testament again, this time from Leviticus 19:18, to love your neighbor as yourself.

Sometimes people wonder how it is possible to command love. The cultural context of the command in Deuteronomy helps explain. The language comes from ancient treaties between parties, and the term for “love” refers to being faithful to the requirements of the treaty, faithfully fulfilling them. Thus, while it does not rule out the concept of deep affection between parties, it is much more focused on actions that demonstrate such loyalty.

The scribe was honest and saw the clarity and simplicity of Jesus’ response and said so. One can imagine scowls from other religious leaders since the honest scribe has affirmed Jesus’ reply as valid, something no one else was willing to do. Jesus also affirmed the scribe for his honest answer, saying he was not far from the kingdom of God. Not far does not mean inside. What the scribe still needed was to recognize who Jesus was and follow Him, a further step in the journey of faith.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24c-09-the-greatest-commandment/