June 23rd, 2024

This Sunday continues the progression of the Pentecost season with the title, ‘Fifth Sunday after Pentecost’ [with the Gospel text being Mark 4:35-41]. And within these writings we are continuing our progression within the Gospel according to Mark, in the way that it was laid out by the writer. And with this writing, we are starting what is typically called chapter thirteen.

In the writing below, as well as in the previous writing, there is the use of the word ‘opposite’. That seems to be an important word. It puts two things together that have a connection and that are important.

The first time that word was used was in Mark 11:2, where Jesus is pointing to a village where his disciples will find a colt—basically a donkey—upon which Jesus will sit as he enters into Jerusalem. (And it is interesting that Jesus describes the colt as never having a rider.) In this case the village is opposite to the disciples. Both are important as Jesus progresses toward Jerusalem.

The next time the word ‘opposite’ is used, Jesus is connected to the treasury, an important place for the Jews (Mark 12:41). The word for ‘treasury’ in Greek, the language of the New Testament, is a long one, and it has the word ‘guard’ within it, to show how truly precious it was. And Jesus is sitting opposite that important thing.

The final time that word appears within this gospel account is below, where Jesus is connected to the temple. A LOT could be said about that temple. It COULD have been considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. I will leave it at that, and you may wish to investigate the matter further. And it is interesting that, once again, the position of sitting is brought up. It is certainly an important position; it is the position of kings. And Jesus is certainly a king.

The words which start this description of the temple come from one of Jesus’ disciples, and the words in bold are called an ‘historical present’. It is when a verb is usually in one of the past tenses, but it is given in the present. The ‘presence’ of this historical present may point to a type of competition that Jesus is having with various things as he makes his way to the cross. And it is also interesting that, at that point, at that hill called Golgotha, after others are crucified with him, we will see the historical presents stopping for a while. It seems that, at this point, the writer is letting the actions speak for themselves.

It may not be helpful, but the translation given below may be termed ‘somewhat literal’. Further help may be given by looking at other translations and/or a study bible. Here is a translation of Mark 13:1-8:

And going out, he, out of the temple, he says to him, one of the disciples of him, “Teacher, behold, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”

And the Jesus said to him, “You see these, the great buildings? Certainly not, it will be left here, a stone upon a stone, which certainly not, it will be destroyed.”

And sitting, he, into the Mount of the Olives, opposite the temple, he questioned him, according to his own, Peter and Jacob and John and Andrew: “Say to us, when these things will be, and what the sign, when, they are about, these things, to be completed, all.”
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Now the Jesus began to say to them, “See, not anyone, you, lead astray. Many will come upon the name of me, saying, ‘I, myself, am;’ and many they will lead astray. Now when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; it is necessary to happen, but on the contrary, not yet the end. For it will be raised, nation upon nation and kingdom upon kingdom. There will be earthquakes, according to places; there will be famines. Beginning of birth pains, these.”