Beyond Prophesy to the Person

"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?" (Mark 13: 3-4)

In this passage, four of the disciples approach Jesus, and ask him about the tearing down of the Temple.

Throughout the Gospels, one usually reads about Peter, James, and John only.

What is Andrew doing in this passage, when they seek to learn about the end times?

"Andrew" means "man" in Greek, and men whether they are saved or unsaved are interested in knowing the future.

Man wants to know the dates and the times.

The angels who attended Jesus' physical ascension chided Jesus' followers:

"6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1: 6-8)

He is interested in our witness, in becoming more like Him, as He transforms us:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)

and then

"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3: 1-3)

We have the Word, and the Word boldly declares what will happen and when:

"1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5: 1-2)

Let us rather know more of Him, our Lord Jesus, who already declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46: 10).