June 29th, 2024

This Sunday continues the predictable progression with the title, ‘Sixth Sunday after Pentecost’ [with the Gospel text being Mark 5:21-43]. And in these writings we are continuing our progression within the Gospel according to Mark, in the way that it was laid out by the writer. With this writing we are continuing our progression with what is typically called chapter thirteen.

It may not always be helpful, but the translation given below may be termed ‘somewhat literal’. There are some Greek words that have made their way into English, and that is not always a bad thing to know. To help understand what the text is saying, please go to other translations and/or a study bible.

Here is a translation of Mark 13:9-23:

“Now see, you yourselves; they will deliver you into sanhedrins, and into synagogues you will be beaten, and before rulers and kings you will stand for the sake of me, into a testimony to them. And into all the nations, first it is necessary to be proclaimed the gospel.

And when they lead you, delivering, do not be pre-anxious what you speak, but on the contrary, whatever is given to you in that, the hour, this speak; for not are you, yourselves the ones speaking, but on the contrary, the Spirit, the Holy. And he will deliver, a brother, a brother into death, and a father, a child, and they will rise against, children upon parents, and they will put to death them. And you will be, being hated by all on account of the name of me; now the one having endured into end, this one will be saved.

Now when you look on the abomination of the desolation standing where not it is necessary—the one reading, let him understand—then the ones in the Judea, let them flee into the mountains; the one upon the roof, do not let him come down, nor let him enter to take anything out of the house of him; and the one into the field, do not let him turn around into the things behind, to take the garment of him. Now woe to the ones in womb, to ones having, and to the ones nursing in those the days.

Now pray that it may not happen of winter. For they will be, the days, those, pressure, of such a kind not has happened, such, from beginning of creation, which he created, the God, until the now, and certainly not it will happen. And unless he had shortened, Lord, the days, not it would have been saved, all flesh; but on the contrary, on account of the eclectic whom he chose, he shortened the days.

And then, if anyone to you says, ‘Behold, here, the Christ; behold, there,’ do not believe. For they will rise, pseudo-Christs and pseudo-prophets, and they will give signs and wonders toward the, to lead astray, if possible, the eclectic. Now you, yourselves, see; I have pre-spoken, you, all things.”

One interesting thing within the text above is that this happens to be one of the last times that the word ‘gospel’ is given. The last time will be a little while later, when Jesus speaks of the woman who is washing his feet. The gospel is what happens first. And this seems to fit with the start of the entire account when the text says that this is the beginning of the gospel.

These words are not a history lesson. And they are also not a myth. At the heart of it all, these words are good news. And good news from THE KING is great news.