Mark

13:28-31

Entering the promised land, 11:1-16:20

3. Prophecies concerning the kingdom of Israel, 13:1-37

iv] Jesus answers the disciples' question

In this fourth section of Mark's "little apocalypse", Jesus finally answers the disciples' questions concerning the destruction of the temple.

The structure of this unit consists of two stitched teaching units, a parabolic illustration, v28-29, and a saying, v30-31, stitched by the catchword "these things."

As already noted in the previous teaching units, chapter 13 of Mark's gospel contains a prophetic word from Jesus which answers a question from his disciples. Jesus had commented that the temple would one day be destroyed, v1-2. The disciples naturally want to know i] when this will happen and ii] how "these things" (ie. the events leading up to and surrounding the destruction of the temple/Jerusalem) will be accomplished, v3-4. So, Jesus goes on to detail the preliminary events, "the birthpangs" (events which are not signs of the end), v5-13, he then explains "these things", v14-23, then the judgment upon Israel, the coming of the Son of Man and the gathering of the lost, v24-27, and finally he gives a summary answer to the disciples' question, the "when?" = within "this generation"; and "how?" = the easily recognized "these things", v28-31.

It is important to understand that v14-31 is primarily concerned with the immediate events leading up to and surrounding the destruction of the temple. The passage is usually interpreted as a word about the destruction of Jerusalem, v14-23, and then a word about the end of the world, v24-27, with v28-31 as anybody's guess! Yet, the passage itself clearly states that "these things" will occur within Jesus' own generation, cf. France. "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

As prophecy, within the framework of the Biblical theology of the kingdom of God, chapter 13 contains layers of fulfilment. Biblical prophets have a particular perspective; they always address their own generation when speaking of a divine "coming", but that immediate "coming" is but a model for the reality. So, a word of prophecy, whether from the lips of Jesus, or any of the Old Testament prophets, is not just a word to their own generation. Jesus' prophetic words are multi-layered, ie., the destruction of the temple serves as a paradigm for the final judgment. In speaking about the coming day of the Lord in judgment upon the restored kingdom of Israel, Jesus has a parallel message for the members of the present spiritual kingdom. We too will face the time of trial, "all men will hate you because of me." "The abomination that causes desolation" took place when Jerusalem came under siege by pagan forces and the apple of God's eye was affronted, yet an even greater abomination awaits those who are alive at the revelation of the anti-Christ and his attack upon the body of Christ, the church. The cosmic signs depicting the destruction of the temple/Jerusalem in v24-25, will become a visible reality in the day of Christ's return. In that day all the powers of this age will be brought to heel before the enthroned Son of Man, v26-27.

So, chapter 13 is not just a word for the disciples who were alive in the first century, it is a word for us as well. We therefore, as with the disciples of old, must be prepared for the coming day; we too must hold fast to faith, cf. 13:32-37.

The lesson of the fig tree, v28-29. In the second part of the disciples' two-part question they wanted to know the "how" of the temple's destruction, they wanted to be able to read the signs. Jesus now answers their question. When we see a fig tree come into leaf we know that spring is upon us. In the same way, when we see "these things" (the significant events associated with the destruction of the temple/Jerusalem outlined by Jesus in v14-23, (eg. "the abomination that causes desolation" = the surrounding of Jerusalem by pagan armies???, v14) then we know (can read the signs) that "it" (the destruction of the temple/Jerusalem depicted in v24-25) is upon us. According to tradition the early believers read the "abomination" in the Jewish revolt against Rome and left Jerusalem for Pella across the Jordan before the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70AD. Some argue that "these things" only refer to v24-27, the end of the world, rather than the events associated with the destruction of the temple, v14-27. Yet, as already noted, prophecy is layered, it is now / not yet, eg. "the abomination that causes desolation", v14, now the siege of Jerusalem, not yet Armageddon.

maqete (manqanw) aor. imp. "learn" - What we learn from the fig tree, which is deciduous and so flushes with leaves in spring, is that the destruction of the temple (now) and the great tribulation (then) comes with discernible signs.

thn parabolhn (h) "this lesson" - the parable. Used here of "an illustrative example", France. "Let the fig tree serve you as a simile teaching you a lesson", Cassirer.

thV sukhV (h) "the fig tree" - The illustration requires a deciduous tree, and given chapter 11 and the cursing of the fig tree as a symbol of judgment on the temple, the fig tree serves as a suitable prop.

o{tan + subj. "as soon as [.... come out]" - when. Forming an indefinite temporal clause.

oJti "that" - that. Introducing a dependent statement of perception, expressing what we know.

ou{twV kai "even so" - and thus, and in this way [you]. "So [ye] in like manner", AV.

o{tan + subj. "when [you see]" - whenever [you see]. Forming an indefinite temporal clause.

tauta "these things" - As already noted, "these things" refer to the significant events associated with the destruction of the temple. When we observe "these things" then we know that "it" (the destruction of the temple) is upon us. "When you see these events", Barclay.

ginomena (ginomai) pres. part. "happening" - becoming. The participle is functioning as an object complement, making a statement about the object "these things". Object complements are usually nouns, pronouns or adjectives, sometimes infinitives, but only rarely participles. "When you see these things coming about", Cassirer.

ginwskete (ginomai) pres. ind./imp. "know" - In v28 this verb is obviously indicative, but here it is usually treated as imperative; "you too must realize ...", Barclay.

oJti "that" - Introducing a dependent statement of perception expressing what we must realize/know.

estin "it is [near]" - Of course, the subject can be he/she/it, so some opt for "it" = the end (destruction of the temple, Jerusalem, world ...), the coming, the kingdom, the signs (Cranfield) ... or "he" = Jesus, the Son of Man. Given that the adverb egguV, "near" is used, "it" is obviously intended. Given that the destruction of the temple is the focus of the disciples' question, the "when" and the "how" of it, then "it" is obviously the destruction of the temple, so France.

epi quraiV/ "at the door" - A figure of speech denoting immediate nearness, TH.

Jesus has answered the "how" of the disciples question concerning the destruction of the temple, cf. v4, now he answers their "when". He declares that his own generation will witness the fulfilment of "all these things", ie. the events associated with the destruction of the temple/Jerusalem. These two verses have been a problem for those who read v24-27 as futuristic. Numerous solutions are proposed, eg. Shifting v30-31 to after v23, reading "this generation" as Jews, disciples in general, ... cf. Cranfield's list of possibilities. Yet, as already noted, the destruction of the temple serves as a paradigm for another more serious "abomination" at the end of the age, cf. Edwards. See above on layered prophecy.

amhn legw uJmin "I tell you the truth" - truly I say to you. This header indicates the independence of the saying and its importance.

oJti "-" - that. Introducing a dependent statement of stating, expressing what Jesus wants to tell us.

hJ genea (a) "this generation" - Obviously "the contemporaries of Jesus", Lane, but there are other suggestions, eg. those who do not accept Jesus during the time his disciples remain true to him, cf. 8:12, 9:19.

ou mh + subj. "[will] certainly not [pass away]" - A subjunctive of emphatic negation. Note that Schweizer, and to some degree Dodd, pressed the view that Jesus (or Mark) believed that the realization of the kingdom would occur within his own lifetime/generation, but that he was mistaken. This view has little support. "Will not come to an end", BAGD.

mecriV ou| + subj. "until" - until of which = until which time. Here forming an indefinite temporal clause. "until that time in which", TH / Moule IB.

tauta panta "all these things" - As already noted, the phrase is taken up from the words of the disciples in v4 and refers to the events associated with the destruction of the temple, and not "the whole drama of the end time", Anderson, etc.

oJ ouranoV kai hJ gh "Heaven and earth" - "Heaven" refers here to the canopy over the earth rather than the domain of God, thus "the whole created universe", TH.

pareleusontai (parercomai) fut. "will pass away" - The impermanence of the created order is a dominant idea in scripture, as opposed to the permanence/eternity of God.

de "but" - but, and. Here obviously adversative.

oiJ ... logoi mou "my words" - the words of me. The Law is "inviolate till heaven and earth pass away ... but Jesus' words ... will never pass away", Cranfield.

ou mh + fut. "[will] never [pass away]" - certainly not. Again an emphatic negation. Usually formed with a subjunctive verb, but sometimes, where the future action is being underlined, a future indicative is used, as here.

Mark Introduction

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