Mark!! Lesson*#14* Crisis,* the*olivet*discourse* (Mark*13:*1<37)* Crisis,!the!Olivet!Discourse!

Transcription

1 Mark Lesson*#14* Crisis,* the*olivet*discourse* (Mark*13:*1<37)* Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 1

2 Review Lesson#13offeredanExcursusontheRomanEmpireat the:meofmark sgospel.initwelearnedthatthe RomanEmpireofA.D.64G70experiencedtremendous turbulence: TheGreatFireofRomeburnedalargepor:onofthecityon18JulyA.D. 64,andtheEmperorNeroblamedthedestruc:ononRome schris:ans; * Consequently,Nero(A.D.54G68)launchedthefirststateGsponsored * persecu:onagainstthechurch,a.d.64g68.bothpeterandpaulwere martyredduringthis:me,alongwith agreatmul:tude ofothers; Nerocommi_edsuicideon9JuneA.D.68; Civilwarbrokeout,andfourEmperorsfollowedinquicksuccession,three ofwhomwereassassinatedorcommi_edsuicide;and InA.D.66theGreatJewishRevoltbeganinPales:ne,resul:nginthe destruc:onofthetempleon29/30julya.d.70,thedeathof1.2million Jewsbytheendoftherevolt,andtheDiasporathatlastednearly2,000 years. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 2

3 Review,cont. Thisextraordinarilytumultuous:meformedthehistorical andculturalcontextfromwhichthegospel*according*to* Markemerged,shapingourauthor snarra:ve,rhetorical andstylis:cstrategies,aswellastheportrayalofhis charactersandhissequencingofeventsinthestory. Understandingthisgreatly*informs*ourreadingofMark s versionoftheolivetdiscoursein13:1g37,thesubjectof ournextlesson. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 3

4 Preview IntheOlivetDiscourse(13:1G37)Jesusspeaksofa:me ofgreattribula:on;thedestruc:onofthetemple;the comingofthesonofman(theparousiva, parousia, = inclassicalgreek, thephysicalarrivalofapersonwhois notcurrentlypresent, e.g.,jesus 2 * nd Coming );and the end:mes. * Tradi:onallyreadaseschatologicalprophecy,theOlivet DiscoursedrawsheavilyupontheBookofDanielforits imagery(the SonofMan comingontheclouds;the desola:ngabomina:on standingwhereheshould not),anditappliesthatimagerytotheeventsthatare unfoldingintheromanempireatthe:meofthe Gospel scomposi:on. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 4

5 Mark builds Jesus Olivet Discourse (13: 1-37) on a simple 4-part structure: 1. Question asked (1-4) 2. Question answered, Part 1 (5-23) 3. Question answered, Part 2 (24-31) 4. What to do in the meantime (32-37). * * Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 5

6 * Mark builds Jesus Olivet Discourse (13: 1-37) on a simple 4-part structure: 1. Question asked (1-4) 2. Question answered, Part 1 (5-23) 3. Question answered, Part 2 (24-31) 4. What to do in the meantime (32-37). Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 6

7 * Holy*cow* Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 7

8 Tounderstandthe magnitudeofjesus commentin13:2 and hisdisciples reac:onto it weneedasolid understandingofthe TempleinJerusalem. * TriumphalEntry 8

9 KingSolomonbeganbuildingthe1 st TempleinJerusaleminthe4 th yearofhis reign,966b.c.(1kings6:1).he completeditinsevenyears,andhe dedicateditin959b.c.(1kings6:38). Solomon stemplewasn tlarge,only30 meters/90feetlongby10meters/30feet wideand10meters/30feethigh.butit wasthemostbeau:fulbuildingonearth, afrabergeegg,aglisteninggem. Solomon stemplestoodinjerusalemfor 380years,un:l14August586B.C.,when thebabylonianssacked,lootedand destroyeditandjerusalem(2kings25: 8G9). Therearenoextantimagesofthe1 st Temple,onlywri_endescrip:onsofit. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 9

10 NebuchadnezzarKingofBabylona_acked Jerusalemforthefirst:mein605B.C., againin597andathirdandfinal:mein 588B.C.,resul:ngina2Gyearsiegeofthe city.jerusalemfelltothebabylonianson 14August586B.C.,andthesurvivorswere takencap:vetobabylon. Theretheystayedun:l539B.C.whenCyrus thegreat,kingofpersiaconqueredbabylon andallowedallthecap:vepeople(notjust thejews)togohometorebuildtheirci:es, templesandinfrastructures,therebuilding financedbypersia. ThefirstwaveofJewsreturnedin538B.C. andtheybeganrebuildingthetemple, comple:ngiton12march516b.c.(ezra6: 15). Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 10

11 This2 nd Templewasabig disappointment,however,foritfell farshortofsolomon s1 st Temple. Indeed,wereadinEzra: Many*of*the*priests,*Levites,*and*heads*of* ancestral*houses,*who*were*old*enough*to* have*seen*the*former*house,*cried*out*in* sorrow*as*they*watched*the*foundajon*of* the*present*house*being*laid.**many*others,* however,*limed*up*their*voices*in*shouts*of* joy.**no*one*could*disjnguish*the*sound*of* the*joyful*shoujng*from*the*sound*of*those* who*were*weeping*.*.*.. * (3:12G13) The old:mers whohadseen Solomon stemplewept Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 11

12 This2 nd Templestoodfor497years,from B.C.,whenHerodtheGreat beganamassiverenova:onproject designedtobring1,000,000peopleto Jerusalemthree:meseachyearon Passover,PentecostandTabernacles s:mula:ngtheeconomyandgenera:ng significanttaxrevenueforrome. HerodexpandedtoTempleplanormto 37acresinsize,enoughtoaccommodate nearly400,000people;hebuilta complexnetworkofwatercisterns throughoutjerusalemtochannelspring water,storerainwaterandmovethe storedwatertoaccommodatethelarge crowds;andhebuiltaccompanying infrastructuretosupporthisproject. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 12

13 Importantly,duringHerod s construc:onprojectsthe2 nd Templecon:nuedfunc:oning uninterrupted.heroddidnot* buildanew3 rd Temple;rather,he greatlyrenovatedtheexis:ng2 nd Temple. Thisrenovated2 nd Templeisthe onejesusknew,anditistheone headdressesintheolivet Discourse. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 13

14 "TemplePlanorm PalmSunday road Temple Jesusandhis disciplesare walkingupthe Mt.ofOlives. X MountofOlives TriumphalEntry 14

15 280meters/306yards (SouthernWall) 470meters/513yards (EasternWall) 150,00m2/37acres (PlanormArea) 30meters/ 9stories TheTempleinJesus day,ashewouldhaveseenitfromthemt.ofolives. (1.50*scale*model*of*1 st <century*jerusalem,*israel*museum.) Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas* TriumphalEntry 15

16 * GoldTrim 24meters/8stories TempleModel (1.50*scale*model*of*1 st <century*jerusalem,*israel*museum.) Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 16

17 * Excava:onsattheWestern Wallfrom1993G1997 exposedtheherodian streetthatparalleledthe wall.this*is*the*pavement* that*jesus*would*have* walked*upon*** Thestonesatthefarend fellfromthetemplewhen itwasdestroyedina.d.70. Theyremainwherethey fellnearly2,000yearsago. Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas* Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 17

18 * Detailofthefallen stones,manys:ll charredfromthe intensefire. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 18

19 * Mark builds Jesus Olivet Discourse (13: 1-37) on a simple 4-part structure: 1. Question asked (1-4) 2. Question answered, Part 1 (5-23) 3. Question answered, Part 2 (24-31) 4. What to do in the meantime (32-37). Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 19

20 * When will all this happen? Here are the signs: 1. In general (5-8) 2. In particular to you (9-11) 3. In particular to others (12-13) 4. And then things will get WORSE (14-23) Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 20

21 The desola:ngabomina:on isreferredtoindaniel9:27,11:31,12:11;in1 Maccabees1:54,6:7;andinthesynop:cGospelsinthe OlivetDiscourse. InDaniel and1maccabeesitreferstoanimageofan:ochusivepiphanessetupinthe Templein167B.C.,duringtheMaccabeanrevolt.

22 * Mark builds Jesus Olivet Discourse (13: 1-37) on a simple 4-part structure: 1. Question asked (1-4) 2. Question answered, Part 1 (5-23) 3. Question answered, Part 2 (24-31) 4. What to do in the meantime (32-37). Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 22

23 * After the Tribulation The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken (24-25). Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory (26). Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 23

24 * Mark builds Jesus Olivet Discourse (13: 1-37) on a simple 4-part structure: 1. Question asked (1-4) 2. Question answered, Part 1 (5-23) 3. Question answered, Part 2 (24-31) 4. What to do in the meantime (32-37). Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 24

25 WilliamBlake.The*Parable*of*the*Wise*and*Foolish*Virgins*(Watercolor,brushand graywash,penandblackinkovergraphite),c.1803g1805. NewYork,MetropolitanMuseumofArt.

26 Jesussaid, Amen,*I*say*to*you,* this*generajon*will*not*pass* away*unjl*all*these*things*have* taken*place (13:30). InlightofJesus ownwords, contemporaryeventsinthe RomanEmpireandthelived experienceofchris:ansduring thecomposi:onofthegospels, virtuallyeveryone*inthe1 st genera:onofthechurch believedthatjesuswouldreturn in*their*lifejme. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 26

27 Bythelate80sandearly90s,we witnesstheremnantsof1 st genera:on,anditisduringthese finaldaysthatthebook*of* RevelaJonemerges,the masterpieceinalonglineof Apocalyp:c, endg:me literature. Butthat satopicfor anotherday Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 27

28 Ques:onsfordiscussionandthought * 1. WhendidJesusexpect theend tocome? 2. Whatisthe desola:ngabomina:on Jesusrefers toinmark13:14? 3. Whatsetofeventswillprecede*Jesus coming? 4. WhenJesusreturnswhatsignswillaccompany* him? 5. Whatshouldhisdisciples(youandI)dointhe mean:me?

29 Copyright 2014byWilliamC.Creasy All rights reserved. No part of this course audio, video, photography, maps, :melines or other media may be reproducedortransmi_edinanyformbyanymeans,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any informa:on storage or retrieval devices without permission in wri:ngoralicensingagreementfromthecopyrightholder. Crisis,theOlivetDiscourse 29