"Let the Reader Understand"--Oh, the Implications of This Phrase
This past Sunday, our church read through a passage in Mark 13 and saw the interesting and often confusing concept of the “abomination of desolation,” which I'd been working on most of the week for the sermon. During my preparation, I had another phrase rise to the surface that's found in a parenthetical comment in verse 14: “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand)....” Thankfully, in Matthew’s parallel passage on the same situation in chapter 24, it says in verse 15, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)....”
While we can focus on the fascinating part of the “abomination of desolation,” will we focus on that statement by the gospel editors: if we are to understand what God is up to, then we must be a reader--a reader of the Scriptures. If we fail to read the Scriptures, we will not understand. And if we do not understand, then the punchline of Mark 13 will drill down further. The more you read, the more you'll understand. The more you understand, the more you'll be on guard and stay awake. The less fear you'll have.
But if you fail to read and heed, then you'll be in need of the information and foundation of what's to come so you can stay strong in the Lord. Christianity is a religion of the ear, not the eye. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7).
I love to read. You'll find me read Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) or Wendell Berry or a commentary or some article. I want to keep my mind active and understand not only ideas but the motivations of the people that hold those ideas. The conversations that ensue help me to realize that the “thing" of the idea is fueled by the “thing beneath the thing” of why they hold that. And usually it's because of some experience or event that happened to them when they were younger that was quite positive or negative--extreme on the scale. So, I read in an effort to love my neighbor and, drilling down further, worship my Lord Jesus.
While I love Spurgeon, Berry, and the others, I must be a reader of Scripture. If I say I love my Lord, I must love that He speaks. And He speaks in His Word.
The writers of Scripture were inspired by the Spirit to “let the reader understand.” This takes humility, intentionality, and teachability. Will we submit to the Christ? Or will we drift and succumb to the Antichrist (I went into that more deeply during the sermon, but look at 1 John 4:1-6 while you're at it).
I want to understand--and I imagine you do as well. Then let's be readers and heeders of His Word. Let's know the Word of the Lord and the Lord of the Word.