13.1-23 OIA

Observations

• Who: Jesus, one of the disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew
• When: Wednesday of Jesus’ last week.
• Where: Leaving the temple; on Mount of Olives, opposite the temple
• What: Jesus’ prophecy of the temple’s destruction; private teaching for the 4 about the days ahead.
• Connections: Opposite the treasury/opposite the temple; Jesus’ temple judgment parables and comments in Mark 11 and 12; key themes of Mark’s narrative: Jesus’ suffering, Jesus’ confrontation with established power centers (religious and cultural), the inclusiveness of Jesus’ gospel – all peoples, even those in Tyre and Sidon, the last/lost/least.
• Contrasts: Magnificent buildings/total destruction; truth/deception; peace/conflict; chaos/God’s sovereign control; true Christ/false christs
• Responses to Jesus: query about Jesus’ Temple destruction prophecy 

Interpretation

• It is very important to take this section in its context and listen to Mark’s presentation of Jesus’ longest, and final, discourse in this gospel. This would be a great time to go the Resources section of the blog and review Interpretation and Let The Author Speak.
• In its context this section is much more a pastoral sermon from Jesus to the original four disciples in their 1st century ad life than it is a text on eschatology in the year 2010. The recurring refrain in this entire chapter is Watch, be alert, be on guard. This emphasizes Jesus’ immediate pastoral focus.
• This is also something of a farewell address for Jesus. He summarizes some of the macro-themes of his teaching and lifestyle:
• The priority of proclaiming the good news of the gospel to all peoples
• Conflict with religious and cultural powers
• Conflict with spiritual powers
• The importance of having eyes to see, to understand what God is accomplishing
• Faith: complete confidence that God is in control
• The way of the cross: the kingdom comes through suffering
• If you come after me you too will participate in the conflict
• There is structure in this section. Here is a possible outline of this chapter:
• 1-4: Watch: Magnificent buildings will be destroyed
• 5-8: Take heed, don’t be deceived
• 9-12: Take heed, don’t fall away because of persecution
• 14-22: Watch out: Suffering and abomination
• 23-27: Watch: messengers to all peoples
• 28-31: Watch with eyes to see: Jesus’ authority revisited
• 32-37: Take heed, be faithful
• Much, if not all, of Jesus words came true for the four disciples in their lifetimes (although James life ended very early – Acts 12). The temple was completely destroyed in 70ad. The disciples did face temptation to be deceived, to fall away because of persecution, to see evil’s apparent triumph, and to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth to all peoples. In their life times the gospel spread throughout the known world, beginning with Peter’s sermon immediately following Jesus resurrection and continuing with apostolic missionary visits to N Africa, India, Rome, Spain and beyond.

Application

• Have eyes to see!
• If you come after Jesus you will engage in the same conflict, and triumph, you have seen in Jesus’ teaching and life and death and resurrection.