The lion of St Mark

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

What are the Signs? Mt 13,5-23

We will now read the first part of Jesus' speech, 13,5-23, following the circular arrangement we have discovered:

Going astray: 13,5-6

The opening words of Jesus in verse 5 with "began to..." are typical of Mark's style; see, for example, 1,45 or 8,31.

Jesus' first word in the speech is, as we have seen, "Look out", which we read as a call for discernment. What is the contrast in the warning in these two verses?
The first line of verse 6 will be taken further in 13,22. For its overtones see Is 43,10 and also 6,50.

Tribulation: 13,7-8

What is the key statement in these two verses? What are its implications? See also verse 10 and 8,31 again. Look also back to verse 4 in the NABRE.

These two verses reflect many passages in the Old Testament. See (among others) 2 Chronicles 15,6; Is 19,2; Is 13,13; 1 Samuel 14,15; Haggai 2,6.21; Is 14,30; Ezk 14,21. Consider as well Apocalypse chapter 6.
What conclusions can we draw from all these?
Some editions of the NRSV include 2nd Esdras (sometimes known as 4 Ezra) though it is not recognized as belonging in the OT. If this is available, 2 Esd 8,63-9,6 is worth a look.

For the last line of verse 8, see Is 26,17-18; Micah 4,9-10; Hosea 13,12-13. Note also 13,17.

Handed-over: 13,9-13

As we have seen, these verses tell of the experiences of the disciples themselves, "you". They are therefore central to this first part of the speech. We have seen how this is stressed by Jesus saying once again: "Look out!" A comparison with Mt 24,8-9 will show how this is special to Mark.

The reason becomes clear in verse 9 as the key word of this section follows, repeated in verses 11 and 12. The same word is also found in 1,14 and 10,33. What are the implications of this? How is the word used? (As usual, translations will vary but you may be able to pick up the point even so.)
Another important word is also found in verse 9. See Apoc 1,9.

Verse 10 reads like an insertion but one made by the evangelist himself. Look at 1,1.14-15; 10,29 and especially 14,9. Note what is similar to 13,7. Note too the emphasis which is not in Mt 24,14.

Verse 11 is unique to Mark as part of this speech, though it echoes Lk 12,11-12 which comes in a rather different context. In Matthew, this message comes earlier in the Gospel, in the discourse of chapter 10, Mt 10,17-23. References to the Holy Spirit are rare in Mark so consider why he is mentioned here.

Verses 12 and 13 continue the point; they are also found in the Matthew discourse I have just mentioned (Mt 10,21-22). See Micah 7,6-7.
What us the special note of verse 12?

Note how verse 13 echoes verse 6 but differently.

What is the conclusion? See Wisdom of Solomon 2,12a.

This is a moment to pause for a response.

Tribulation: 13,14-20

We have seen how these verses are paired with the earlier verses on wars and rumours of wars and cosmic events, 13,7-8. With that, we now have the enigmatic comment by the evangelist in verse 14: "let the reader understand.
Considering the background of these verses provides much debate among commentators. We know that the Jews rose in revolt against the Romans in 66AD which led to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. As I noted in the overview, this may well have been the background for the speech even though there is no specific reference to it. Jesus speaks of the destruction of the Temple in 13,1-2 and Mark specifically points out that the Mount of Olives was opposite the Temple.

However, the language of these verses is quite general and has much in common with other biblical passages as we will see. The reader of verse 14 will be aware of the destruction of Jerusalem as the background while at the same time able to apply these verses to his own time and place.

"The Abomination of Desolation" is a traditional expression for the sacrilege described in verse 14. This refers to an incident described in 1 Maccabees 1,54. The image is found in Daniel (which is contemporary to the Maccabees), Dn 9,27; 11,31; 12,11. However, a literal translation would be "standing where he ought not". What are the implications of this? See 2 Thess 2,3-4.

A graphic description of the consequences follows in verses 15 to 18.
"Woe" in verse 17 is common in the OT: Amos 5,18; 6,1 for example.

Consider verses 19-20 together: what is the theme of these two verses? See Dan 12,1b and also Joel 2,2 or Amos 8,9.
Note the word introduced in verse 19: see Dn 12,1 again.

For verse 20, look at Dan 12,11-12. Note the group introduced here, see 13,22.27.

Going Astray: 13,21-23

False Christ and prophets: Dt 18,20.22 or Dt 13,1-5. For false Christs see 2 Thess 2,3-4 mentioned above and also 1 Jn 2,18.

Signs and wonders: Dt 6,22 or Jer 32,20-21. Note also Jn 4,48.

Verse 23 as we have noted brings this first part of the speech to its conclusion. What is the message?

Now it's time for a response.

We can now move on to the question of "when? in the second part of this speech, 13,24-37.