This Generation Will By No Means Pass Away Till All These Things Take Place, What Does THIS GENERATION mean?

"Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. (Mark 13:30)

A look at the use of the phrase "this generation" indicates that the phrase doesn't always only mean a historical generation (of a particular time); but, it means "these kind of people" or "this Adamic generation". Thus, Jesus was not telling the crowd that His return would be within 60-90 years from then, or that there would be some who would continue to live on and never see death till He returned. From a study of the use of the phrase, it seems more reasonable to interpret "this generation" or the phrase "there are some standing here" as meaning "this sinful generation". It points to the fact that the end-time appearance of Jesus will be upon "this generation" while they are still alive. It is important to ask why Jesus should appear alive upon "this generation"? What is the point of His manifestation upon a generation that is going to perish anyway?

Paul writes about this eschatological experience of the Church (though some interpret it as the first of two phases of the Second Coming): "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."(1Thess 4:17)

Then, John prophesies about the anti-Christ: "Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone."(Rev 19:20)

With regard to those who pierced Him, it is said: "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.(Rev 1:7)

Evidently, "they who pierced Him", if taken in the sense of a literal chronological generation, will seem improbable. However, if taken in the sense as "the rulers of this age" who crucified the Lord of Glory (2Cor.2:8), in the sense of "the world", the sinful Adamic race; then, the sense becomes very clear.

---

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."(Mark 8:38-9:1)

But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." (Mark 8:12)

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)

"But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, "and saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.' "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." (Matt.11:16-19)

"from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.(Luke 11:51)

Love God With All Your Strength (Mark 12:30)

"Love the LORD your God with all your ...strength." (Mk.12:30)

There is a reason why Solomon tells young people to remember God when they are still young (Ecc12:1); it's because youth is the time when one has great opportunities to love God truly with all one's strength. It's the time when one can choose to use his strength for the Master. To know God at an old age is fine; however, then strength is weak, the keepers tremble, and the grasshopper is a burden (Eccl.12:3-5). But, in the robust vigor of youth, one can truly speak of loving God with all one's strength. In his youth, David could talk of God as the one who trained his hands for war so that his arms could bend a bow of bronze and his feet could run against a troop and leap over a wall (Psa.144:1; 18:29,34). But, in his old age, he could not speak of being able in the same manner. David had the blessing of serving the Lord with all his strength in his youth.

There is no sadder sight than a young person giving up all hope saying, "I can't, I have no strength!" Some find repose in the teaching of a weak human nature. But, the Bible commands the young to be strong (2Tim.2:1), and positively says: "I have written to you, young men, because YOU ARE STRONG, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one" (1Jn.2:14).

The Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28

"You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD." (Lev. 26:2)
"The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:28)


The Sabbath Law was very important in the Old Testament. We see, at least, four reasons behind its institution:

1. A CREATION BASIS
"For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." (Exo. 20:11).

In the New Testament, whenever Jesus wanted to point at a Law that was valid, He referred to Genesis, the beginning. For instance, He argued that the original marital institution didn't permit divorce by referring to the Genesis account.

"They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God "made them male and female.' "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Mar 10:4-9)

Of course, the Sabbath law was not emphasized in the New Testament and its literal observance is not stipulated; but, that doesn't mean that the original Law was cancelled, as we will soon see.

2. A COVENANT SIGN
"Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant." (Ex.31:16)

The Sabbath was a sign of the Covenant between God and Israel. God commanded "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you." (Exodus 31:13).

3. A CONSECRATED DAY
The Bible declares that God set this day apart as a holy day of rest.
"You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people." (Ex. 31:14)
"Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." (Lev.23:3)

4. A COMMANDMENT OF GOD
"Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God." (Lev.19:3)

God historically has commanded mankind to observe the Sabbath day of rest. The Sabbath certainly only applies to space-time, to the temporal historical framework of this life. It is a shadow of the eternal rest of God.

The Bible talks of many Sabbaths: Day of Atonement, Sabbath Feasts, Jubilee, etc.

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, all the commandments of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) are reiterated except the Law of the Sabbath. Jesus Himself was accused by the Jews that He broke the Sabbath. But He didn't break it. Instead He fulfilled its meaning in Himself as we shall see.

1. THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN, & NOT MAN FOR SABBATH (MARK 2:27)
Thus, Jesus healed people on Sabbath Day (Luke 13:10ff; John 5) because man was more important than the Law of Sabbath, and the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. If a man would do his best to save his donkey that had fallen into a pit on Sabbath day then to save a man on the same day is multiple times more valid.

2. THE SON OF MAN (JESUS) IS LORD (MASTER, RULER) OF THE SABBATH (MARK 2:28; MAT 12:8; JOHN 7:22,23)
In other words, in Jesus the Sabbath finds its fulfillment.
Jesus is the Author and the Source of our Rest. In Him mankind finds true rest. He inaugurated the Year of Rest (Jubilee, Sabbath) for all. Therefore, He could call and say, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." In Him we are complete. That's why He is called the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Author and Finisher of our Faith, the Faithful and True Amen.

"sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." (Col 2:16,17)

Hebrews 4 talks about the True Rest of God in Jesus. God's works were already completed from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3), the Lamb was slain for the foundation of the world. We have entered the rest of God in Christ; THEREFORE, a SPECIAL SABBATH DAY IS NOT REQUIRED OF US.

IN JESUS, we experience:
1. A FINISHED WORK. In Him all righteousness is fulfilled.
2. A FRUITFUL LIFE. As we abide in Him, we bear fruit (There are works of the flesh, but not works of the Spirit -- only fruit of the Spirit).
3. FULFILLMENT OF JOY. Fruitfulness brings fulfillment and joy.