Mark 13 takes us to two questions. There’s the immediate question from the disciples is simple enough “when will the destruction of the Temple happen?” The second arises out of it and moves beyond one “mini-world-end” to the greater end of the world event when Jesus will return. Jesus addresses this too. Read Mark 13:24-37… Continue reading Are you ready?
Tag: Mark
The Generation that will not pass away
Mark 13:30 has provoked plenty of debate. What does Jesus mean when he says that “This generation will not pass away?” It appears at first sight that he has been asked about when the world will end and he’s answered that “this generation”, those standing in front of him will be alive to see the… Continue reading The Generation that will not pass away
What Was The Abomination of Desolation?
In Mark 13:14, Jesus warns his followers that when they see “the abomination of desolation” then they should get far away from Jerusalem. They were to make a run for it. What was that “abomination”. The phrase conveys the idea of something or someone doing something that is so terrible, so appalling that it causes… Continue reading What Was The Abomination of Desolation?
How do you respond when your world is ending?
Do you remember where you were when the Berlin Wall came down or when those aircraft flew into the Twin Towers? Perhaps some readers will be a little too young to remember those events but all of us well remember the day when lockdown was announced in response to the global pandemic. In each of… Continue reading How do you respond when your world is ending?
Where is your confidence?
Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. At the heart of the festival was the Temple, an impressive building. Whilst the Jews on returning during Ezra and Nehemiah’s day had been disappointed by the 2nd Temple, a poor comparison to the one Solomon had built, Herod the Great had sent lavishly… Continue reading Where is your confidence?
Teaching Resources
One of the resource sets I’m building up on Faithroots is a set of teaching guides on books of the Bible. These have started life as resources for lay preachers in our church. The idea is that they are there to help people who might not be able to access a lot if commentaries. They… Continue reading Teaching Resources
Judgement is coming (Mark 13)
The Temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. Initially a fairly simply design had replaced Solomon’s temple and Ezra records the disappointment of the people at this. However, by Jesus’ day, the second temple had been remodelled and extended greatly by Herod the Great who hoped to win favour with the Jews. … Continue reading Judgement is coming (Mark 13)
Who has more to give?
In the days following Jesus’ cleansing of the temple, the different religious and political groupings have attempted to take him on and bring him down. His actions in the temple courts amounted to a direct challenge of their authority and so, they attempted to undermine his. Jesus however has defeated all comers. He has demonstrated… Continue reading Who has more to give?
What do I owe Him?
Jesus is engaging all comers in debate, there have been Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians. One lawyer has been hanging back, observing. Now, he steps in with his question. Mark leaves open the question about whether this is intended as another trap but observes that this man has been impressed by Jesus’ answers so maybe there… Continue reading What do I owe Him?
Whose is she?
Have you been following the articles on Mark 12? Are you starting to spot a theme yet? At the start of the chapter, we had the story of the tenants in the vineyard, they withheld the rent due to their landlord. We then saw a debate over whether or not Caesar was entitled to the… Continue reading Whose is she?
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