“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,”
My Notes
What Does Mark 13:24 Mean?
"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." Jesus describes cosmic upheaval following the great tribulation. The language draws from Isaiah 13:10, Joel 2:31, and other prophetic texts describing the Day of the LORD. Sun and moon darkening represents the collapse of the natural order — the reliable, predictable rhythms of creation being disrupted.
Whether this language is literal (actual astronomical events) or apocalyptic (symbolic of the overthrow of existing powers, since sun and moon often represent rulers and authorities) has been debated throughout church history. Either way, the message is clear: the current order of things is temporary. The structures that seem permanent — both natural and political — will be shaken when God acts decisively.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What in your life feels permanent that Jesus might be reminding you is temporary?
- 2.Does the idea of cosmic upheaval terrify you or comfort you — and what does your answer reveal?
- 3.How do you build security on something unshakeable when everything visible is shakeable?
- 4.What would change about your priorities today if you truly believed the current order of things is temporary?
Devotional
The sun goes dark. The moon stops shining. Everything you've always been able to count on — sunrise, sunset, the predictable rhythm of days and seasons — stops working. Jesus describes a moment when the most reliable things in creation become unreliable.
This should comfort you, not terrify you. Because the things that seem permanent aren't. The systems that seem unshakeable will shake. The powers that seem eternal have an expiration date. And when everything collapses — that's when Jesus shows up (the next verse describes the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power).
If you've built your security on things that feel permanent — your health, your relationships, your financial stability, the political order, the sun coming up tomorrow — Jesus is gently telling you: those are all temporary. Not worthless. But temporary. And when they fail, he won't.
There's a strange peace in acknowledging that everything will be shaken. It frees you from the exhausting work of pretending otherwise. You don't have to manufacture stability in an unstable world. You just have to know the one who remains when everything else goes dark. The sun and moon will fail. The Son of Man won't.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture