Mark 13:28-29

“Now from the fig tree learn her parable. When her branch is now become tender and puts forth its leaves you know that the summer is near. Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, even at the doors.”

The fig tree had taught them one thing earlier (Mark 11:20), now it has another lesson to teach. When it turns from a seemingly dead tree to a tree with flourishing leaves it indicates that summer is approaching. So should the things He has described, when they occur, indicate to them that the time is drawing near for Him to come, that He is ‘near, even at the doors'. It was at the door that Jesus stood for the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:20). But for most there He waited in vain. And He has been at that door for all who would respond ever since.

Luke 21:29 adds ‘all the trees'. This demonstrates quite clearly that the fig tree is not here to be seen directly as Israel, for all the trees will be bearing leaves. The fig tree was prominent because it was the most common non-evergreen tree in Palestine.

‘These things happening.' Compare Mark 13:4. The main reference is to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, but includes the other aspects which Jesus has mentioned. It necessarily excludes what is directly connected with His coming for they are to point to that.

‘Near, even at the doors.' Once ‘these things' were fulfilled nothing would remain to prevent His coming, thus expectancy must increase. It will be as though He were at the very doors. The purpose of these signs was to remind them that He would come. But it is important to note that He did not mean that they were necessarily to see it as soon, only as imminent, with nothing further needed before He comes, for He stated quite firmly that He did not in fact know the time of His coming, which was known to the Father alone (Mark 13:32). The statement that He did not know when His coming would occur was so startling that it was clearly intended to indicate that the actual time of His coming was not necessarily included within ‘these things' which must happen within a generation. Nothing could be more clear than ‘I do not know'. The idea of being ‘at the door' occurs in Revelation 3:20 where it indicates a continuing process of unknown length resulting in continuous response from His true people.