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The Gospel of Mark
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BIBLE STUDY MARK 13:1-37 REVIEW: In chapter 12, Mark continues to illustrate the growing opposition to Jesus’ ministry by the Jerusalem religious authorities. Just as he had a block of five controversy stories during the early part of Jesus’ ministry (Mk. 2:1-3:6), so he also has another block of five controversy stories during the early part of Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem (Mk. 11:27-12:37). After the first controversy story in which the chief priests, scribes, and elders challenged Jesus to tell them the source of his authority (Mk. 11:27-33), chapter 12 began with the second story in the series – Jesus’ parable about the wicked vineyard tenants. In this parable, Jesus characterizes Israel’s leaders as being entirely self-motivated, covetous, and even willing to kill in order to claim the “inheritance”. As Pastor Josh explained, the tenants’ statement of “Come, let us kill him” is the same one that Joseph’s brothers used in Gen. 37:20 before they decided to sell him into slavery. Needless to say, the Jerusalem authorities realized that Jesus had told this parable against them, but they did not arrest him because they were afraid of Jesus’ popularity with the crowd. The third controversy story (Mk. 12:13-17) involved the question about paying taxes. The Pharisees and Herodians who came to Jesus very likely had opposing opinions about this, and most probably wanted to drag Jesus into their dispute. Jesus, however, realizes this to be a trap. First, he asks them to show him a denarius – a coin with the Roman emperor’s image and title on it. The fact that they had one showed that they were participants in the kingdom of Caesar (which would also include their paying taxes). But Jesus moves beyond that by challenging them to “give to God the things that are God’s”. Our participation in God’s kingdom is at least equally important (and ultimately far more important) as our participation in worldly kingdoms. The fourth controversy story (Mk. 12:18-27) was with Sadducees who did not believe in the Resurrection. The Sadducees use a highly exaggerated illustration about one woman being married to seven brothers to show that the idea of resurrection could cause major complications. Jesus, however, shows that the resurrection is not just a continuation of our present existence, but rather is a new and transformed existence in which we will be like angels in heaven. Then Jesus also uses an illustration from the Torah, in which God says, “I am (not “was”) the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Jesus’ point is that somehow – due to God’s power – those patriarchs must be alive and are enjoying angelic existence with God in heaven. The fifth and final controversy story (Mk. 12:28-34) was about a scribe asking Jesus to identify the “first Commandment”. In response, Jesus quotes two verses from the Torah – about hearing and loving the Lord your God (Duet. 6:4-5), and loving your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18b). As Pastor Josh stated, both must be held together, just as Jesus holds them together. It is impossible to love God to the exclusion of people. The scribe and Jesus end up being totally on the same page. Indeed, the scribe even draws a further implication that “this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” – another subtle (or not so subtle) commentary against the temple cult in Jerusalem. After a brief section in which Jesus shows that the Messiah was more than just David’s son (descendant) but also David’s Lord, Jesus then warns his listeners about the scribes – religious leaders who focus upon themselves while taking advantage of the socially vulnerable (widows). It is also a warning to us to beware of behaving like them! Finally, the chapter concludes with Jesus’ commentary on a widow who put in two small copper coins into the temple treasury – in which he says that her offering was worth more than all the others who “contributed out of their abundance”. Perhaps this illustrates her total reliance upon God and her total love for him. It has also been suggested that her offering was perhaps an example of how the scribes (and the temple cult in general) exploited the socially vulnerable (especially widows) by “pressuring” them to give up everything to support them, even though they could not afford to. Perhaps both understandings have much to say to us as Christians today! INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 13: This chapter is commonly called “The Little Apocalypse” (as opposed to the “Great Apocalypse” – the book of Revelation). An “Apocalypse” (literally “an unveiling”) is a type of literature that purports to reveal the mysteries of the future and of the heavenly realm. Jewish apocalypses include the book of Daniel in the Old Testament, as well as the apocryphal books of 1 Enoch, 4 Ezra, and 2 Baruch. According to apocalyptic understanding, this present world is utterly irredeemable. Things will not get better, but will rather become worse and worse until The Day of the Lord – when God will finally intervene, judge, and destroy this present world with all of its wickedness and then usher in a new world, a new age, and a new glory. According to John Donahue and Daniel Harrington in their commentary on The Gospel of Mark, apocalyptic is sometimes called the “literature of the dispossessed.” It usually arises among oppressed or alienated people who have little chance of fighting back against the powerful, or of ever gaining political, military, and economic power. Rather, God himself will have to decisively intervene and set things right. This was certainly the situation that was being faced by Mark’s original readers and by early Christians in general. The “Little Apocalypse” addresses Christians who have suffered and can expect to suffer even more for their faith. It helps them to understand that God is still in control, calls upon them to remain faithful, and assures them that ultimately God will surely vindicate them. CHAPTER 13:1-2 “The Destruction of the Temple”“As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” The temple was one of the great wonders of the ancient world. It was begun in 20-19 B.C. by Herod the Great, and in the time of Jesus was not yet completely finished. Everything about it was designed to impress. Many of the “large stones”, for example, measured 37 ½ feet long, 18 feet wide, and twelve feet thick. Jesus, however, says that all the stones will be thrown down. His statement was later literally fulfilled when the Roman armies destroyed the temple during the Jewish revolt in 70 A.D. Jesus’ enemies also heard about this statement, and used it (in a “garbled” form) against him at his trial before the council (Mk. 14:58). But perhaps the main point of Jesus’ statement is not “prophecy”, but rather is yet another “slam” at the temple cult. Immediately before this, Jesus’ attention had been focused upon the poor widow putting in her small offering into the temple treasury. To him, that impressed him more than all of the magnificent stones and buildings of the temple! What most impresses us? Do we, like the unnamed disciple, focus upon the grand and ornate things in religion such as cathedrals? Or do we, like Jesus, focus upon the humble and seemingly insignificant things – like the faith and devotion of the poor widow? That, Jesus seems to be saying, is what most impresses GOD and will endure far longer than the magnificent things that the world tends to notice. CHAPTER 13:3-8 “Introduction to the Little Apocalypse”“When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” Peter, James, John, and Andrew were the first four whom Jesus called to be part of the Twelve. Peter, James, and John formed Jesus’ “inner circle” – and this is the only place in Mark’s gospel where Andrew (Peter’s brother) is also included. Their question is twofold: When would the destruction of the temple take place, and what would be the sign preceding it? In his teaching, Jesus does not directly answer their question. Instead, he warns them about the danger of becoming obsessed about signs concerning the last days. He especially warns against the danger of false messiahs who will lead many astray (possibly by misrepresenting and misinterpreting “signs”). Jesus, especially in Mark’s gospel, seems to be concerned with “cooling down” end-time excitement among his followers. He acknowledges that there will be “signs” such as wars, earthquakes, and famines – but also mentions twice that these things do not necessarily mean that the end is at hand (“the end is still to come” – “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”). The important message for Jesus’ disciples and for us is that God is in control of that will happen. Therefore, we do not need to be “alarmed” when terrible things happen, nor do we need to be concerned about trying to understand exactly when the end of this age will come. All that we need to do is to trust in God and remain faithful. As Martin Luther once put it; “If I knew that the world was going to end tomorrow, I would go out and plant a tree.” CHAPTER 13:9-13 “Disciples Will Be Persecuted”“As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who will speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” One of the “signs” of the end-times will be persecution of Jesus’ followers, for the world will oppose and hate their message. (The sentence that “the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations” reinforces the understanding that the end is not necessarily immediately at hand.) These persecutions will come in many different ways. They will come from religious authorities, from the government, and (perhaps most hurtful of all) even from our closest relatives. Be that as it may, Christians should not be surprised but rather be ready when this happens. Again, we are reminded that even in the midst of persecutions, we are to trust God (who will give us the Holy Spirit) and to remain faithful. CHAPTER 13:14-23 “The Suffering of Judea”“But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved, but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Look! There he is!’ – do not believe it. False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be alert; I have already told you everything.” The phrase “desolating sacrilege” has its origin in the book of Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 11:31, 12:11), and is a standard feature of Jewish apocalyptic literature. Historically, this refers to when the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes set up a pagan altar to Zeus upon the altar of burnt offerings in the temple in 167 B.C. Mark also would have been aware that the Roman emperor Caligula tried (unsuccessfully) to have a statute of himself set up in the Jerusalem temple in 40 A.D. In apocalyptic thinking, this kind of sacrilege will be repeated in the last days – in which someone representing evil incarnate (the “antichrist”) will seek to usurp the worship that belongs to God alone. Jesus’ advice is for people to flee from this. Literally, it may mean getting away from the city before war overtakes it. But it also may simply mean getting away from that evil, in the same way that Lot and his family were told to get away from Sodom before the Lord destroyed it (Gen. 19:12-26). In our world today, this may mean getting away from hopelessly evil situations that we might face in life – even at the cost of great suffering. Be that as it may, Jesus again assures us that God is in control. He will “shorten” the time of suffering for the sake of the elect. Finally, once again Jesus warns his listeners against following false messiahs and their “signs”. CHAPTER 13:24-27 “The Second Coming of the Son of Man” “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.” This passage is full of Old Testament imagery that Jews would be familiar with. The wording used for the cosmic portents is based upon Isa. 13:10 and its description of the day of the LORD – “For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.” Other similar O.T. passages about these portents include Isa. 34:4; Joel 2:10 (also cited in Peter’s Pentecost sermon in Acts 2: 19-20); Joel 2:35; 3:15; Amos 8:9; and Hag. 2:6, 21. In the Old Testament, these cosmic portents signified the Day of the Lord in which this old world would be judged and done away with. Jesus, however, sees these portents as signaling the coming of the Son of Man. The phrase “coming in clouds” with great power and glory” is based upon Dan. 7:13-14: “I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.” It is obvious that Mark sees Jesus as being the fulfillment of this prophecy. Finally, it was a regular part of apocalyptic imagery that the Jews were to be gathered back to Palestine from the four corners of the earth. Old Testament passages about this include Isa. 27:13, 35:8-10; Micah 7:12; and Zech. 10:6-11 – and there were also a number passages about this hope from non-canonical literature as well. In this passage, the “elect” are those who belong to Jesus and have been faithful to the end. CHAPTER 13:28-37 “Be On the Watch” “From the fig tree learn its lesson; as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” In this passage, Jesus is balancing two basic points: 1. The End-time is near. Certainly, most of the apocalyptic “signs” have been fulfilled. 2. No one knows exactly when the end will be. Jesus makes it clear that NO ONE – neither the angels in heaven nor even the Son knows. Therefore, we should beware of “false messiahs” who claim to have special knowledge of when these things will happen. Also, as noted before, we should not be concerned about trying to understand the timing – but simply trust that everything will be fulfilled in God’s good time. The phrase “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” are based on Is. 51:6 (“the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment”) and Is. 40:8 (“the word of our God will stand forever”). The admonitions to “keep alert” and “keep awake” sum up the entire chapter. The four disciples had asked Jesus when these things would happen – and he answers them that “no one knows”. But he also tells them that they WILL happen – and that we must always be ready for those times – times of war, famine, persecutions, sufferings, false messiahs, etc. If we are ready for these times in our lives, and in our faith, we will then also be ready for THE TIME when the Son of Man comes again to gather his elect. May this be so for us! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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