NL 235: End of the Age

image: “Little Bay Sunset Apocalypse” by Russ / CC wikimedia

Mark 13:1-8, 24-37

Initial Thoughts

  • Our last bit of Mark for quite some time. Gospel readings will be mostly Luke and John for the next year.

  • Ends on a high note before Christ the King Sunday and Advent.

  • Apocalyptic Timeline from PBS 

Bible Study

  • Apocalyptic literature

    • A genre of ancient Jewish writing that must be understood in its context.

      • Pessimistic view of history

      • Anticipation of the end of the world in some great imminent crisis (often in light of current crisis)

      • Dualistic understanding of human existence.

      • Visions of cosmic upheaval - that the material world has a parallel spiritual world, which has great impact upon the material. (Lamar Williamson, Interpretation: Mark, p. 235)

    • “Much of what is stated here is apocalyptic boilerplate. Jewish apocalyptic literature had been working with such themes, imagery, and topoi for several centuries leading up to the time of Jesus and Mark in the first century. Conservative biblical literalists, who look for the specific fulfillment of Jesus' prophecies in our modern age, completely misunderstand this genre of literature.” Micah Kiel, Working Preacher.

    • “In a nutshell, apocalyptic literature stems from a worldview that believes that everything happening on earth represents and correlates with a larger, heavenly struggle between good and evil. It therefore reads into earthly events cosmic significance and anticipates future events on earth in light of the coming battle between the forces of God and the devil. Hence, it often tries to make sense of current events and experiences by casting them in a larger, cosmic framework and in this way give comfort to people who are currently suffering or being oppressed.” David Lose, Working Preacher

    • Jesus’ teaching is set in context of the destruction of the Temple, which probably already happened when Gospel of Mark is written.

      • Apocalyptic thought arises largely out of current disaster, in this case the destruction of the Temple sent the author of Gospel to explain why such a thing occurred. 

  • Verse by Verse

    • “Look what large stones and what large buildings” - the disciples are amazed at the physical beauty and are ignorant of the underlying corruption that Jesus has been exposing since his arrival in Jerusalem.

    • “All will be thrown down” - Full condemnation of the social-religious structure which exploits the poor for its own gain. Also the primary evidence used against him at his trial and crucifixion.

    • Mount of Olives - the apocalyptic site of the arrival of the Messiah - after Jerusalem is laid to waste - the Messiah will arrive on the Mount of Olives

      • Zechariah 14:2-4: 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses looted and the women raped; half the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.3 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle.4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; 

      • Just as Jesus sat in judgement of the scribes last week (Mark 12:41), not Jesus sits in judgement of the whole social-cultural-religious structures which oppress the least of these

    • “Give us a sign” - the disciples echo the Pharisees (8:11-12), they have missed the point - the condemnation of those who exploit the poor. Jesus, like earlier (Mark 8:15) warns the disciples not to be led astray

    • v. 6-8 - Jesus is urging his disciples not to give into the violent revolts in defense of the temple. Wars, famines, earthquakes - these are all coming, but don’t give into them. Don’t take part in the revolt. Stay faithful: non-violent, caring for the least of these, embodying love. (Ched Myers, Binding the Strong Man)

  • Meaning for original readers

    • The events Jesus described are at the very least recent memory, and there are many explanations as to why this is happening. Many thought these were signs of the end, but Jesus is in fact saying otherwise.

      • 50 CE - great famine in Palestine

      • 61-62 CE Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions which destroyed Lodicia and Pompei

      • 67 CE Rome’s armies were faltering, impending Parthian invasion (A dispute between Rome’s Pompey and the Parthian King Phraates III because Pompey refused to acknowledge Phraates as “King of Kings”)

    • Contrary to popular expectations in Jewish and Christian apocalyptic circles, war and catastrophe, persecution, and the fall of Jerusalem and desecration of the Temple were not sure signs of the end of the world. Though these things had just occurred, ‘the end is not yet.’ The end of history is rather to be associated with ‘the coming of the Son of Man in glory...The intention of the text is therefore to call the followers of Jesus to hope for the coming of the Son of Man.” (Williamson, Emphasis added)

  • Meaning today

    • Apocalyptic literature is still very popular. People love “end of the world” stories. This chapter of Mark helps us keep in balance between those that say “the end of the world is near,” which Jesus proclaims is not in our hands, and those that claim there is God is not involved in the world.

    • “If Mark 13 offers a correctives to the apocalyptic enthusiasm on the one hand, it addresses a challenge to jaded skepticism on the other. To planners who face the future with only such guides as actuarial tables and economic indicators, this chapter announces God’s intervention in history to judge and to save.” (Williamson, emphasis added)

  • V. 24-”After the suffering of that time” - see Mark 13:1-23

  • Little Apocalypse- what it is referring to?

    • Resurrection?

      • possible- Jesus could simply be referring to his resurrection (cf. 14:62)

      • Curtain of the temple is torn in two

      • Luke and Matthew mention earthquakes and fear

    • Historical- 70 CE - response to the destruction of the Temple

      • Around the time when Mark was written

      • Answers the question of when these things will happen 

      • Answers the “this generation” quandary

      • Earthquakes were and are still not that uncommon with major earthquakes occurring roughly every 90 years

    • Apocalypse - events which are reinterpreted and reapplied in each context - How do we do this faithfully?

      • Hyperbolic accusations undermine true prophetic witness - do not equate minor injustices to grand injustices (see Godwin’s Law)

      • NOT ABOUT PREDICTING THE END!

        • Been interpreted to be predicting wars, cosmic and geological events throughout human history (see https://countdown.org/ - warning you might need mental bleach afterwards)

        • Even Jesus does not know when the end will come

        • Not about watching and waiting passively, but actively bearing good fruit and bringing about the Kingdom

        • Remember the purpose of Apocalyptic literature is to INSPIRE HOPE not to sow fear

        • Things look (and perhaps are) bad, they may get worse - it does not mean God has abandoned us, forsaken us or “lost”

    • V. 26: Daniel - Jesus is referring directly from Daniel and who isn’t familiar with Daniel’s apocalyptic writings?.....most of us.

      • “Coming in clouds” is directly lifted from Daniel 7:13

      • Christopher Hutson (Feasting on the Word) “The basic message of apocalyptic visions is this: The rebellion against the reign of God is strong, as the wicked oppress the righteous. Things will get worse before they get better. But hang on just a little longer, because just when you are sure you cannot endure, God will intervene to turn the world right side up.”

      • 176 BCE the Seleucid Empire banned all foreign religions including aspects of Judaism. Daniel responds to this by drawing an analogy between the oppression of the Babylonian Exile and the Seleucid oppression

      • Mark is doing the same thing by using Daniel to compare Roman occupation to the Seleucid occupation

    • The elect?

      • Used 3 times in the Mark 13 (these are the only times Mark uses these words)

      • Used in other NT writings to signify the chosenness of Jesus and others (romans 16:13, 2 John 1:1, 13)

  • Stay Awake (γρηγορειτε)

    • Appears three times: 34, 35, 37

    • Context: in the very next chapter the disciples will not be able to stay awake

    • This has a very different meaning three years later - what does it mean to be “Woke”?

    • Stay faithful in all things

    • God’s coming should be a reason for celebration not fear and woe- Heaven on Earth is coming!

    • Fig Tree- bear good fruit at all times, the busyness of the season is no excuse!

  • Apocalyptic Paradox

    • V.24-29 - here are the signs that the end is near

    • V.32 - but really no one knows when anything will happen- including Jesus

    • V.33 - Heed the words of Lil John and “Watch Out”

    • So am I supposed to know when the end is happening or am I supposed to prepare because no one knows?

    • Perhaps Mark is acknowledging both an imminent and future eschatology- one that is both here and also not yet- a culminating Kingdom which we must awaken to.

      • “First, read Mark 13:1-2, 8, 14-22, 24-30. The text flows smoothly, warning Christians to prepare for an imminent apocalypse. Now, read Mark 13:3-7, 9-13, 21-23, 32-37. Again, the text flows smoothly, but it offers counsel of another sort: believers need to dig in, stay faithful, and prepare for the long haul. The theory is that Mark had these two tracts in his possession and, rather than choose between them, decided to weave them together into the composite text we now possess...we need to live as though the end is at hand and we need to dig-in for the long haul because the eschatological timetable is known only to God.” - Mark Allen Powell, Workingpreacher.org

  • For the Gospel of Mark- the End Is Actually Nigh - David Lose (In the Meantime)

    • V. 35 - when will the Master come? Evening, Midnight, at Cockcrow or at Dawn?

    • “When it was evening”- Mark 14:17-Last Supper

    • “He found them sleeping” - Mark 14:40 - in the middle of the night

    • “At that moment the cock crowed” Mark 14:72 - the denial of Peter

    • “At daybreak” - Mark 15:1 - Jesus is handed over to Pilate

      • “Darkness came over the whole land” - Mark 15:33 - Crucifixion

      • “The curtain of the temple was torn in two” - Mark 15:38 - death of Jesus

    • “whenever Jesus may come again – whether in the imminent or distant future – all of our anticipation and preparation of Jesus’ second advent should be shaped by his first advent in the form of a vulnerable infant and as a man hanging on a tree. More than that, I think Mark is inviting us to look for Jesus – even here, even now – in similar places of vulnerability, openness, and need.” - David Lose

    • Just as Mark rejects the false dichotomy of imminent or future eschatology- perhaps it is time for us to reject the false dichotomy between Advent and Christmas and invite a participatory Advent: “our task this week is to invite people to look for Jesus in the need of those around them and to be awake to God’s presence in response to their own need.” David Lose

Thoughts and Questions

  • “we need to live as though the end is at hand and we need to dig-in for the long haul because the eschatological timetable is known only to God.” - Mark Allen Powell, Workingpreacher.org

  • Just as Mark rejects the false dichotomy of imminent or future eschatology- perhaps it is time for us to reject the false dichotomy between Advent and Christmas and invite a participatory Advent: “our task this week is to invite people to look for Jesus in the need of those around them and to be awake to God’s presence in response to their own need.” David Lose

  • Wake up? If anything people need to rest, not to stay awake during this busy season. Begs the question- what do we need to wake up to? God, simplicity, love, grace, forgiveness, gratitude

  • Jesus is coming! Everybody look busy...No- stay busy focused on love and grace.

  • Active waiting- like actively waiting for guest to arrive

  • Williamson points to three ways that we should respond to Jesus call to “watch”

    1. Stress the urgency of “Watch.” We are to keep watch for this is literally coming soon. This stresses the urgency of an immediate hope. This interpretation was particularly helpful in times of great tragedy or overwhelming institutional oppression. Jesus seems to be calling out corrupt institutions as ‘about to fall.’ 

      1. When this is co-opted however, by a traditional ruling class, it can lead to a a troubling triumphalism and voyeurism in the coming “they’ll get theirs” attitude of those who love the Left Behind theology.

    2. Rationalize future hope in terms of present pragmatism. The need to keep watch instills a desire to do what’s right for what is to come.

      1. Like the watchers on the wall of “Game of Thrones.” Their sense of duty and mission comes from a sense of prolonged responsibility for generations to come.

    3. Demythologize the language to understand the coming as the realization of the rule of God in one’s own experience. The interpretation of the “Watch” is inward - to be watchful is to be mindful of God’s presence in one’s own life. Sometimes Christ’s presence is after a time of trial, or in tragedy, or in the daily mundaneness of life. The coming of the Son of Man is when all are watchful for not the own cares, but for the needs of others.

Year 2Eric FistlerMarkComment