READ: Mark 13:33-37: Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is … Watch therefore, … lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
In the speech, there are frequent warnings: “be careful” and “be vigilant.” They must discover and understand the signs of the time; they must guard against deception and false rumors. They must accept that they will suffer and even endure severe oppression.
They should draw hope from all these signs, persevere in faith, and also warn others. Especially because the time of destruction and the second coming cannot be predicted, and even the angels in heaven and Christ Himself do not know that time, they must always be ready to avoid being surprised.
In verse 33, Jesus urges them: Pay attention: watch and pray. Watching requires knowledge, faith, effort, trust, perseverance, dedication, love, and community (see also Luke 12:35-40, 21:34-36; 1 Cor. 15:58, 16:13; Eph. 5:1-21, 6:10v; 1 Thess, 5:1-11; Rev. 16:15).
Unnecessarily focusing your attention on various earthly matters poses the great danger of not being vigilant enough. A believer can never be vigilant enough. Therefore, let them pray that God helps them in this. But then also work: “watch and pray.”
Jesus uses an image of a doorkeeper who receives orders from his master to stay awake to receive him when he comes home. That can be very unexpected: late at night or in the middle of the night or with the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. The master absolutely does not want the doorkeeper to be asleep when he comes home. That is a command from the master that the doorkeeper must adhere to.
It is clear: this master is Christ, the Son of Man, who is coming, but will still return unexpectedly because the time of His return is not known in advance. Therefore, Jesus says with the greatest emphasis: “So be vigilant!” This applies not only to the disciples but to all believers.
How do you interpret “watching”
Singing: Hymn 50:7 (1984), 64:7 (2014)