What we call the Olivet Prophecy begins with four of Jesus’ disciples, coming to him in private to ask about his foretelling of the destruction of the Temple (Matthew 23:38; Mark 13:3). They wanted to know when such a shocking thing would occur, and in what context could he possibly come as Messiah to save the nation, if both the nation and its Temple were already destroyed? Jesus began his reply to his disciples with: “Take heed lest any man deceive you!” (Mark 13:5). Notice that he didn’t begin by saying ‘Well, first the Gospel must be spread throughout the world!’ (cp. Mark 13:10) or “Are you kidding? I haven’t a clue as to the actual day these things will occur. I just know they’re going to happen’ (cp. Mark 13:32). No! Jesus began by warning his closest disciples of the possibility of deception, not the deception of new believers as some would have us believe. Remember, Jesus was speaking with four of the Twelve, and he is warning them of possible deception, and if he warned the Twelve, his warning wasn’t a mere statement for new or weak, ignorant believers.
Why would this be Jesus’ biggest concern for his disciples? He added that many would come saying he (i.e., Jesus) is the Christ, but they would deceive many! (Mark 13:6). I don’t believe for one moment that Jesus was afraid any of his disciples would come to believe another man was the Christ, nor do I believe that Christians today on the whole would reject Jesus and accept another man as the Christ. No, the real and dangerous deception comes from those who tell us that Jesus is the Christ, but they assume the authority of Christ for themselves. In other words, they offer lip service to Jesus (Isaiah 29:13), but they become our master (cp. Matthew 23:8; 2Peter 2:1), and all the while they teach Jesus is the Christ. They want to rule over the Lord’s people, just as all deceivers do.
For good or for evil, a modern example might be the political/religious organization known as: The Moral Majority, which later became The Moral Majority Coalition. The organization, touting millions of voters, was used to elect presidents of the United States, and in doing so its leaders became (for good or for evil) movers-and-shakers in our modern times. Under the guise of Jesus’ name, such Christian organizations and their leaders were seen by Christians (deceived? or enlightened?) as modern saviors/messiahs to lead the Church through difficult times. So, just as Jesus warned the Twelve in his Olivet Prophecy, his words ring true today for the whole Christian community. We, not merely the weak and the new Christian, but we, the strong and mighty-in-the-faith believers, still need to beware of becoming deceived. Many would come claiming Jesus is the Christ, but those same people (for good? or for evil?) assume the power and authority of Christ over the opinions and the activities of many believers, and all the while claiming to be the modern hope for relevant Christianity.
Similar things would have occurred in the first century AD. Who, among the Christian community today, is able to forget how Peter and Barnabas were deceived by the men from James (Galatians 2:11-13). Don’t believe for one moment that Peter or Barnabas could have been deceived by a lowly messenger come from James in Jerusalem, who, by the way, denied they were sent by him or any other leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:23-24). No, these men were well known, important men in the believing Jewish community. Moreover, it is such men as these, coming in Christ’s name, whom Jesus warned his disciples: “Take heed lest any man deceive you: for many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ, and shall deceive many” (Mark 13:5-6)!
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