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Holy Week 2023 – Jesus’s Holy Week Teachings Part 2 (Olivet Discourse)

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This  is the second of two posts examining some of Jesus’s teachings during Holy Week that we often forget about as we jump from Palm Sunday to the Last Supper and the events that follow. Having already examined the series of confrontations between between Jesus and the religious leaders (found in Mark 11:27-12:40 as well as in Matthew and Luke) in the last post, we will now turn our attention to Jesus’s teaching on the destruction of the temple and his return (found in Mark 13 as well as in Matthew and Luke), which is commonly known as the Olivet Discourse. 

What We See
When Jesus and his disciples left the temple, one of the disciples (we are not told which one) pointed out the beauty of the temple area (13:1). This leads to Jesus saying that a time will come when the temple and buildings would be destroyed (13:2). Peter, James, John, and Andrew then ask Jesus about when this will happen and what the sign leading to it will be (13:3-4). 

As Jesus is prone to do, he does not give a direct answer, but rather focuses on what is most important for them (and us) to know. He does not give a list of the signs that immediately precede these events; instead, he chose to discuss that there will be false teachers and deceivers who will try to lead the people astray (13:5-6; also see 13:21-23). In essence, the appearance of many people saying the end is coming is not a sign of the end, nor is a growing number of wars, earthquakes, or famines (13:7-8), as these stand at the beginning of the end rather than at the end. These words are particularly helpful as sometimes people focus on these very things in trying to argue that Christ is about to return.

Instead of focusing on particular signs, the disciples should be watching themselves (13:9), making sure that they remain faithful even as they experience persecution; they are called to be faithful to the end (13:13). Such persecution could be by being brought to authorities (13:8) as well as being betrayed by their own families (13:12) or masses of people (13:13) Two items that should give hope and comfort even in the midst of suffering is that the gospel will be preached to all nations (13:10) and that the Holy Spirit will aid them in what to say (13:11). 

However, Jesus does mention a particular sign that should lead to people fleeing to the mountains. This sign is the “abomination of desolation” (13:14), a phrase that alludes back to the Book of Daniel in reference to the impure sacrifice offered by the ruler Antiochus Epiphanes in the temple. This action is a sign that the destruction of Jerusalem is near and for people to flee Judea (13:14-20), as it ushers in a great tribulation (13:19-20) that will again lead to false prophets arising (13:21-23). The reader is called to understand the nature of this “abomination of desolation” with this likely being an event that occurred during the Jewish War against Rome in 66-70 AD. 

Jesus shifts gears from the fall of Jerusalem to his own return in Mark 13:25, as he notes that after this time of tribulation, there will be signs in the sky (13:24-25) and then the Son of Man (a term Jesus uses for himself) will come on clouds with angels to gather his elect (13:26-27). Jesus thus seems to say that his return will be after the destruction of the temple, but he does not say how long after that it will occur. Jesus later mentions that this generation will not pass along before these things take place (13:30). This likely refers to the fall of Jerusalem, which happened in 70 AD, would happen within the lifetime of his listeners rather than an expectation that Jesus would return within their lifetimes or within the lifetime of those who start to see the destruction of the temple. The timing of his return is not something that one can know (13:32), but is something we should stand ready for just like a servant who awaits his master who has gone out on a journey (13:33-37).

Therefore, the command to “watch” – which is repeated throughout this section (13:33, 36, 37) – is less about looking at the various events happening in our world to decipher when Jesus will return; it is more about continually living ready for Christ to return in light of the promise that he has made. In many ways, the overarching teaching is that the glories of Jerusalem will soon fade away and we need to be ready for that. We must also recognize that the words of Jesus will never pass away and we need to remain faithful to them and ready for him (13:31). 

What We Learn
These words of Jesus offer perspective for Christians on how to live in light of his death and resurrection as we await Jesus’s return and also connect with other realities and truths we discover in Easter. We need to recognize the temporary nature of even the most glorious things that are found on this earth and also the uncertainty of when – not if – Christ will return. The period of time awaiting Christ’s return will have challenges, both because of the presence of false teaching and also because of persecution that we will face. We should not be surprised by either of these, but rather should be prepared and ready to encounter them. We cannot waver in our hope and confidence of Christ’s return, remaining faithful to him in word and deed. May the reality of the resurrection that we celebrate at Easter remind us of the hope we have in his return and also the comfort we have even in the face of suffering and challenges in this world.

Questions about the Bible or theology? Email them to Pastor Brian at Theology@WeAreFaith.org. You can also request to receive weekly emails with our blog posts by filling out the information on the right side.

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