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The Olivet Discourse III
A Sermon on Mark 13:1-23
Intro
Jesus’ teaching in Mark 13 provides a bridge connection his public ministry in the temple to his arrest and passion, Bridge between Jesus’ public ministry and his passion.
He has been teaching in the temple precincts, and now he is heading back again to Bethany to spend the evening there.
Jesus knows that he is going away soon. He also knows that there will be very difficult days ahead for his followers. They have a mission – to bear witness to him and to make disciples – and they will be tested and tried. They are going to learn what it means when Jesus says, “if he one would follow must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
This passage is a kind of farewell address to beloved disciples. It is deeply pastoral. Jesus cares both about his disciples well being, which includes the necessity that they remain faithful. Jesus love and care for his followers is the context in which we should read these words.
There is a pattern of exhortation or imperative – Watch, Don’t worry, etc. -- followed but the reason for the imperative, because false messiahs will come, because the Holy Spirit will be there with you. The purpose is not to disclose esoteric secrets about the future but to encourage faithfulness and obedience. Jesus wants to prepare his disciples for events that will precede the coming of the son of man
(Mark 13:1) As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"
It is Tuesday before Good Friday. Jesus and the disciples have had a long day of ministry and are leaving the temple area. One of the disciples is taken by the magnificence of the temple. What enormous stones! What awesome buildings!
Josephus tells us that the stones of the temple: were about 25 cubits in length, 8 in height, and 12 in width.
(Mark 13:2) "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
Look around the temple – all around – these massive stones and magnificent buildings – all these will be thrown down. The temple will be completely and violently dismantled!
In the Greek language here the wording is even more descriptive.
“There shall by no means be left stone on stone which will not be thrown down”
(Mark 13:3) As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, (Mark 13:4)
Now Jesus and disciples have left the temple and Jerusalem, crossed over the Kidron valley, and are walking around the side of the Mount of Olives. They sit down, maybe to rest, and look back over Kidron Valley at temple mount. The site of the temple from the Mount of Olives was one of the truly breath taking sites of the ancient world. Perhaps in this same area, days before as they came into the city for the first time, Jesus broke down and wept over the city.
On the way over the disciples had been talking. Did you hear what Jesus said about the temple? And so, now that they’re all seated, Peter, James, John, and Andrew – the first four he called -- come over to him and ask him about what he had said back in the temple.
"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"
Jesus you said that there would not be left stone upon stone. The disciples very naturally want to know more. Wouldn’t you? “Jesus, when will these things happen?” “What will be the sign these things are about to be fulfilled.” The phrase “these things” is very important, for later on Jesus will say, “this generation will certainly not pass away until all ‘these things’ have happened.”
So here is the flow:
Jesus makes a statement.
The disciples ask him a question.
Jesus commences to answer the question.
(Mark 13:5) Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you.
Jesus wants to discourage a false sense that these things will happen immediately. Lots of confusing and troubling and difficult tings will happen in the mean time, before the temple stone are thrown down.
Here is the first exhortation. Watch out, or be careful, or take heed that no one deceives you.
Why watch out? Why take heed? Because, verse 6,
(Mark 13:6) Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many.
There is a grave danger of deception by false prophets who will misread the events. People are always extra ready to be lad astray in times of trouble or uncertainty. They need answers, they need a way to make sense of things, they need someone to blame – we see this all the time.
Men will emerge in the crisis leading up to the temple’s destruction who will falsely claim the name and authority of messiah, and deceive many.
In fact, as I tried to show in the letter, between Jesus death and the destruction of the temple in 70 ad there were a whole string of messianic pretenders who rose up and gained a flowing for a while. Most of them ended up crucified.
(Mark 13:7) When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed.
Here is the second imperative. When you hear of wars, of rumors of wars, when the whole world seems to be coming unglued, do not be alarmed. Well, why not be alarmed?
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. (Mark 13:8) Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
It is easy to misinterpret the significance of wars and natural disasters. Every time the disciples hear of some new war or earthquake or famines or problem in Rome, not to jump to conclusions.
Rather than these things being a sign of the end, they are but the beginning of a period of suffering. They are like the beginning of birth pangs. They point to an end, and are like a promise of an end, but they aren’t the end. These are like Braxton Hicks contractions. Some first time mothers-to-be get all worked over this. Pregnancy classes warn against this.
These events are not out of God’s plan. He is in control. Do not be led astray or too disturbed by what you hear.
The Roman historian Tacitus wrote about events around the year AD 70. Read page 122-123.
(Mark 13:9) "You must be on your guard.
This translation really misses the mark. Literally the words say “you see ye yourselves” or “you must take heed to yourselves”
It’s not just distant things you must worry about. These birth pangs will come to you personally.
These birth pangs will include suffering and calamity for even you.
You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
Jesus is saying that because of your association with my name, with me, you will experience rejection and betrayal by your own people, your own friends, even your own family. You will deliver up to appear before local councils and synagogues. They will abuse you and blame you for all sorts of things. They will flog you. Be ready.
Not only that, the Jewish courts will hand you over to the gentiles and accuse you of being trouble makers, of inciting riot, of being traitors to Rome..
You are not to think that this is outside of what it means to be my followers. Indeed, this provides you opportunity to be witnesses to me.
(Mark 13:10) And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
This verse at first seems to break up the flow. Verse 11 seems to follow naturally upon verse 10. Some have supposed that this was an editorial comment of Mark inserted to explain why the disciples would be appearing before men as witnesses to them.
Just as likely Jesus is doing the same. He wants his followers to understand two things.
First, their mission to proclaim the gospel must go on.
Second, obedience to their mission will bring suffering to them.
Indeed, by Ad 70 the Christian mission will have reached into much if not most of the known world, leading Paul, even earlier to say things like:
(Romans 1:8) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
(Colossians 1:6) All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.
(Colossians 1:23) if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Jesus isn’t saying that these tribulations will not happen until the gospel is preached to the nations.
He’s saying that these things will happen because the gospel is preached to the nations, and not to back off from that mission endeavor.
(Mark 13:11) Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Here is another imperative – do not worry!
Why not worry? And why not worry? Because you are not alone, not abandoned by God. The Holy Spirit will be there to help you.
Whenever it happens that you are delivered before some body for trial, be confident that the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say. Trust God to provide just what you need to say – not simply so you can escape punishment and be spared, but so that you can be faithful witnesses.
But you cannot assume that the Holy Spirit will bring acquittal.
(Mark 13:12) "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
My dear friends. Things will get really ugly. Things will get so bad people will do desperate things. Your families will be torn apart. Even your dearest loved ones will turn against you and betray you. They will testify against you. Even your children will have you put to death.
(Mark 13:13) All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
People will hate you. They will blame you. They will make hideous faces and at you. They will betray you. But remember it’s not you. It is really because they hate me. This will happen to you on account of my name. Dearest friend, you are going to have to take upon yourselves hatred and violence directed against me. In so doing you will share in my sufferings.
You must remain faithful if you hope to be vindicated. You must stand, and stand firm, no matter what. You will be vindicated before the bar of God. You will receive your reward. You will be saved. If you stand firm.
Now between verse 13 and 14 there seems to be a shift. Verses 14-23 seem to be a single unit of thought dominated by the command to flee. So Jesus addresses the urgency of flight, the circumstances which hinder flight, the reason for flight, and the final deterrent to flight.
Why all this attention to flight?
Because there will a sacrilege so appalling that it will invite the most horrible and unparalleled judgment.
(Mark 13:14) "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Verse 14a is very difficult and cryptic. Jesus’ words, the phrases he uses, draws from the book of Daniel -- Daniel 9:27 and 11:31 and 12:11. If we go back and read those Daniel passages, and if we try as best as we can to place these Daniel prophecies in the context of history, it seems likely that they pointed primarily to the sacrilege of the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes in about 167 BC. Among other things Antiochus, in his attempt to exterminate the Jewish religion, suspended the temple ritual, outlawed circumcision and Sabbath and food laws, erected an alter to Zeus in the temple, sacrificed pigs and other animals considered unclean in the temple, etc.
Jesus, using the language of Daniel, is drawing upon familiar themes, which his listeners would understand.
The basic idea is this. There will be an appalling sacrilege having to do with the temple. This will be an abomination so detestable that it causes the temple to utterly and finally abandoned by God. This will mean that the end for the temple is near and that flight is imperative. The only way to avoid the judgment of God coming because of this sacrilege is to flee, to get away. As hard as it is to turn away from your home and your city and the temple itself, well, you must, you must flee.
To whom exact event does this passage refer. Well, we don’t exactly know. But notice this: There must be time after the sacrilege for the people to flee. After this sacrilege followers of Jesus must wait no longer. They must flee from Jerusalem. They must not be tempted to stay and defend the city. They must turn their backs and run and let God bring His judgment.
So who committed the sacrilege? Was it the Romans as they encircled the city? Was it the Jews themselves? A case can be made for either. We are not sure. But remember, after the sacrilege there must e time still to flee.
According to the annals of Josephus, in late fall of 66 to the spring of 67 the Zealots occupied the temple area. There they allowed persons who had committed crimes to roam freely through the temple – even through the Holy of Holies. We know that Menahem the Zealot leader was murdered in the temple by Eleazar the head of the temple guard.
Ananus the retired high priest lamented over this:
“It would have been far better for me to have died before I had seen the house of God laden with such abominations and its unapproachable and hallowed places crowded with the feet of murderers.”
But whatever exactly was the abomination, the people were to see it, note it, and flee. In fact, the Christians did flee in mass.
History records that the Jews, believing they would be safer in the walled city, stayed in Jerusalem while the Christians fled to the mountains. Jewish historian Eusebius (A.D. 260-340) records the following events:
"But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation, vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella. And when those that believed in Christ had come thither from Jerusalem, then, as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men, the judgment of God at length overtook those who had committed such outrages against Christ and his apostles, and totally destroyed that generation of impious men."
Jesus continues with his words of warning
(Mark 13:15) Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. (Mark 13:16) Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. (Mark 13:17) How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! (Mark 13:18) Pray that this will not take place in winter,
More imperatives: When you begin to flee but think of something you don’t want to leave behind, don’t go back.
Notice how Jesus’ tenderness effects him even I this dark chapter! He takes time to think of those in a weakened or needy state. How he hopes that the events won’t take place when it is cold and wet.
(Mark 13:19) because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now--and never to be equaled again. (Mark 13:20) If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.
There will be unprecedented suffering in these days, unlike anything the world has seen or will see again.
Because the Lord does not want His judgment upon Israel to cut off even the elect, He will limit or shorten this time of distress, as terrible as it all is. He limits the suffering for the sake of the elect.
Now we wonder, how can Jesus be right? What about the holocaust? What about Hiroshima?
You know, I am in no position to rank suffering. What I do know from reading Josephus and other accounts of the siege and final destruction and rape of Jerusalem, is that it was unspeakably terrible.
Read from Jews, God, and History, page 109ff.
And finally, in verse 20, Jesus goes back to where he started, to his warning about false Christs.
(Mark 13:21) At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ !' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. (Mark 13:22) For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible.
That period of unprecedented distress and tribulation, people will be looking for anything that will promise relief. People will be reeling, starving, sick, dying, out of their minds, and saviors will pop up like mirages in the desert. Some will even perform signs. But don’t buy it. Run. Flee. And again, in verse 23…
(Mark 13:23) So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
Now it seems to me that there is a transition here in verse 23 -- a summation. It is as if Jesus, in response to the disciple’s original question is saying, “OK, there you have it. I’ve told you everything ahead of time. So now you can be on your guard. Now you can be ready.
But then he goes on. To me it is as of he wants to go ahead and give the whole big picture tell the whole story. But I’m going to get to that next week. |
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