July 6th, 2024

You probably guessed it. This Sunday’s title is the ‘Seventh Sunday after Pentecost’ [with the Gospel text being Mark 6:1-13]. And within these writings we are continuing our progression within the Gospel according to Mark, and we are doing that in the way that it was laid out by the writer. And with this writing we are finishing up with what is typically called chapter thirteen. 

Jesus is continuing his talk about the ‘end times’. But this topic is in a slight contrast to what was spoken before, with Jesus giving some details about the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. And this slight change in subject may be seen in the strong use of the word ‘but’, translated below as ‘but on the contrary’. That word is not used too often. 

It probably should be noted as well that the word translated as ‘suddenly’, near the end of the section below, is the only time that word is used within this gospel account. There seem to be a lot of Greek words for things happening quickly (see also Mark 9:8).

This sermon in chapter thirteen is, by far, the longest section of Jesus simply talking within the Gospel according to Mark. But anytime that Jesus talks, it is not simple; it is important. And when this gospel account begins with saying that this is the ‘beginning’ of the Gospel, that is a significant starting point. And this chapter may be one of the closest things to an ending point, mainly because the regular ending of this account may leave a person hanging [spoiler alert!]. 

There are a lot of ways in which a text may be translated. Here is what may be termed a ‘somewhat-literal translation’ of Mark 13:24-37 [and you may find it helpful to look in other translations and/or a good study bible to increase your comprehension of the text]:

“But on the contrary, in those, the days, after the affliction, that; the sun will be darkened, and the moon, not, it will give the light of it, and the stars will be out of the heaven, falling, and the powers, the ones in the heavens, they will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of the Man coming in clouds with power, much, and glory.

And then he will send out the angels and they will assemble upon the eclectic of him, out of the four winds from extremity of earth, until extremity of heaven. Now from the fig tree, learn the parable: When already the branch of it, tender, it becomes, and it puts out the leaves, you know that near, the summer is; so also you, when you see these things happening, you know that near, he is, at gates. Amen, I am saying to you that certainly not, it will pass away, the generation, this, until which these things, all, happen. The heavens and the earth, they will pass away, now the words of me, certainly not, they will pass away. 

Now concerning the day, that, or the hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son, if not the Father. Look; be awake, for not you know when the time is. As a man, away from home, having left the house of him, and having given to the slaves of him, the authority, to each the work of him, and to the doorkeeper, he commanded that he should watch. Therefore watch, for not you know when the lord of the house, he comes, either late or at midnight or at cockcrow or early; lest having come suddenly, he finds you sleeping. Now the to you, I am saying, to all I am saying, watch.” 

In last week’s writing this writer had made the point that this was one of the last times that the word ‘gospel’ was given in this account. Obviously it appears many times within the epistles. And it is another time within the longer ending of this account. But the word ‘gospel’ is rare in this account. And that could be said also of the word ‘glory’. That is the last time the word will be used within this account (and the only other times it is used in this entire account are at 10:37 and 8:38).

That word ‘glory’ has to do with ramifications. And it could be said again—because we do not have to deal with this too often—a king’s throne also has to do with glory. The throne often details the ramifications of the person who usually sits on that throne. We usually think of chairs as a place of rest. This type of ‘chair’ is much more significant. And when it comes to the One who is sitting on that very special ‘chair’, that is certainly significant. It all depends on him.