TGBC Thursday 4 Feb 2021. Mark 13:1-13. Destruction

Not you and absolutely not me, but some scholars have questioned this conversation, whether Jesus actually said these things about the year 30 AD, which seem to prophesy and/or look back on the Romans' destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, and which therefore date Mark's gospel as "no earlier than", or whether Mark or the Early Church are recalling in retrospect. At any event, the passage does help explain the otherwise inexplicable Suffering Messiah whom Mark proclaims.

Jesus is exiting the temple, where he had tense confrontations with temple authorities. He is either still chafing from that or he is anticipating his own brutal treatment, which is only a day or so ahead of him. 

T+

Mark 13

Temple Destruction and Other Signs

(Matthew 24:1–8; Luke 21:5–9)

1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!”

2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?”

5 Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Witnessing to All Nations

(Matthew 24:9–14; Luke 21:10–19)

9 So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

An eighteenth century depiction of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.  This print is a perspective view, or “vue d’optique,” a special type of popular print published in Europe during the eighteenth century. These prints were a form of entertainment meant to be viewed through a device called an “optical machine” or an “optique.” This machine used a lens to enhance for viewers the magnification and perception of three-dimensional depth of the prints. A mirror was often used so that the perspective prints could be viewed when laid flat, and this meant the image was viewed in reverse. The text is in German and French.