 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||
|
 |
The Olivet Discourse Outline
An Outline to an Introductory Sermon on Mark 13:1-37
A. Introductory Statements about Mark 13
1. This passage is called the “Olivet Discourse”
2. This is the longest discourse of Jesus in Mark
3. Mark 13 Corresponds to Matthew 24 and Luke 21
4. The discourse is extremely difficult passage to exposit.
5. Every approach has it problems
6. Much grace is needed as we work through this passage
7. Patience required for what may be a new approach for many
B. Reading of Mark 13
C. The Flow of the Chapter
1. verse 1: The disciples marvel at the temple
2. verse 2: Jesus’ predicts the destruction of the temple
3. verses 3-4: The disciple’s follow up questions
4. verses 5-37: Jesus’ prophetic and pastoral response
a. verses 5-23: Events leading up to destruction of temple
b. verses 24-27: The coming of the Son of Man
c. verses 28-31: The lesson of the fig tree
d. verses 32-37 The watchful servant
D. The General Options
1. Two approaches I think are not possibly correct:
a. Consistent “Preterist” – It has all already taken place
b. Futurist – It is all still future
2. Somewhere between these is most likely. The “here, not yet here” of the kingdom creates the interpretive dilemma, and also allows various possibilities for solution.
E. Important and necessary background
1. The general Jewish understanding of the “ages” – words and phrases like “this age,” “the age to come,” the end of the age,” the day of the Lord” etc.
2. The kingdom of God – Inaugurated in person and ministry of Messiah Jesus, still to be consummated -- here but not yet here.
a. John’s ministry -- preparing the way – Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1
b. Jesus’ baptism – Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42
c. Jesus’ kingdom pronouncement – not an “offer” but a pronouncement!
d. Jesus’ transfiguration – The glory of God upon Jesus, Jesus the unique “son,” Jesus the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15
3. Jesus’ statements and actions regarding the temple
a. Jesus forgives sins apart form the temple – Mark 2:5-11
b. Jesus abolishes the dietary laws – Mark 7:1-23
c. Jesus weeping over Jerusalem – Luke 19:41-44
d. Jesus cleansing of temple and cursing of fig tree – Mark 11:12-21
4. General statements signifying the redefinition of Israel
F. The organization and time referents of the text
1. The disciple’s questions – specific follow up to Jesus’ prophetic word about the temple
2. “This generation” can really only mean the generation alive in Jesus’ day. See Luke 11:50-51, Luke 17:25, Luke 11:30-32, Mark 8:12, Matthew 11:16.
3. The vagueness of “those days” and “these things”
4. The shift in verse 24 – “following that distress”
G. What to do with verses 24-27?
a. The use of “apocalyptic language” – see for example Isaiah 13:9-14, Ezekiel 32:7-8, Amos 8:9, Isaiah 34:1-4, Joel 2:10 and 3:15.
b. The background of the Son of Man “coming in the clouds.” This is “enthronement” language -- see Daniel 7:13. However Jesus is not brought to the throne in this passage, and the “coming of Jesus in or on the clouds is associated with resurrection and judgment in passages in the epistles – see 1Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11 for example.
c. The “gathering” or “regathering” of God’s people from the four winds. This is also a common OT theme and central to the Jewish hope. See Deuteronomy 30:3-4 and Isaiah 11:12, 27:13, 56:8; and Jeremiah 23:3, 29:12, and 31:8 for example.
H. The pastoral purpose of the discourse – to prepare, equip, forewarn, and encourage the saints, particularly saints undergoing persecution. |
 |
|
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
