Stories of the Rabbi 21

Luke 13 – The Destruction of the Temple and Its Meaning

I. The already and the not-yet

a. This section, the Olivet Discourse, is one of the most challenging sections in Mark. Before launching into the text, we need to understand a concept that is used throughout Scripture, and that is the concept of the “Already / Not Yet”

b. Many passages reflect not only things that happened at the time or happened in the lifetime of the disciples but also are a shadow of what might yet come

c. There are too many directives to “do this” or to “do that” for this passage to be about the end times. Jesus repeatedly tells the disciples what they should be doing during this tribulation. Apocryphal literature, like Revelation, does not use this kind of language.

d. This passage contains a lot to discuss, so take your time, work through it, and highlight areas that apply to us now and what happened to the disciples in their day.

e. As we study the passage, we will see that Jesus is pointing to a different kind of Temple. Remember the themes in the last few chapters of Mark—the New Temple, the New Passover, and the New Covenant.

II. Mark 13:1-2; 8 - The theme and context of the passage

a. The theme of this passage is the last line of verse 8

i. “These are the beginning of birth pains.”

ii. Birth is an incredibly painful event (especially for the first-century woman)

iii. It is a pain that is necessary – the woman must go through the pain

iv. At the end is the promise of life.

v. Jesus is telling the four disciples about events that will happen in (most of) their lifetime. Some will be martyred before these events happen.

vi. But there is a promise at the end of this suffering that Jesus is describing.

b. Vss. 1- 2 – The destruction of the Temple

i. This is the context for the entire chapter. Everything for the rest of chapter 13 must be read in the context of the prophecy of the temple destruction, which was fulfilled in 69-70 C.E.

ii. This is the second temple – the first one was destroyed by the Babylonians in 423 B.C.E.

iii. The second temple was built during the time of Ezra / Nehemiah in 516 B.C.E., but then destroyed again by the Seleucid Empire in 166 B.C.E. The second temple reconstruction was started by Herod in 20 B.C.E and was still under construction in Jesus’ day.

iv. The Temple – which was a permanent version of the Tabernacle - symbolized the unification of God and His creation – it was God dwelled, and His people met Him there.

v. The destruction of the Temple in the past had been devastating to the Jewish people from not only a national and political perspective but a deeply spiritual perspective. To the 1st Century Jew, the destruction of the Temple is equal to God removing Himself from the world.

III. Mark 13:3-13 – Signs that the end is near

a. Remember – Jesus is talking specifically about the destruction of the Temple

b. Vs. 5 – He warns us not to be deceived – this is tied to vss. 21-23

c. Vs. 6 - There will be many false Messiahs

d. Vs. 7 – There will be wars and rumors of wars (when was there ever not a time when there was war or threat of war?)

e. Vs. 8 – There must be conflicts between people groups as well as natural disasters – none of this is new, but they are things to pay attention to.

f. Vss. 9-13 – the real sign that the end of the Temple age is coming is persecution. Jesus gives the disciples insights into enduring this persecution.

i. The government will be involved

ii. The persecuted will be taken in front of leaders because Jesus wants those leaders to know who Jesus is (end of vs. 9)

iii. Vs. 10 – the Good News must be delivered to all nations

1. This is another crucial sign that the end of the Temple is coming – the Good News of Jesus will be brought to the Roman Empire (the world)

2. We should not read “all nations” to mean every political nation in existence, that would not be the 1st Century Jewish understanding of the term (πάντα τὰ ἔθνη panta ta ethny all the ethnics or peoples)

3. The 1st Century Jewish understanding is that the εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion Good News / Gospel) would be opened to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. In the Jewish mind, there were only two people groups, Jews and Gentiles.

iv. Vs. 11 – Rely on the Holy Spirit for power when persecuted

1. How does this verse encourage you when you are facing a hard time?

v. Vss.12-13 – The Gospel will divide families, and those who hate Jesus will hate the disciples. But again, comes the encouragement to endure.

IV. Days of Tribulation – again, keep in mind Jesus is speaking about the destruction of the Temple - not what John writes about in Revelation.

a. Vs. 14 – Look up Daniel 9:27, 11:31; 12:11

i. The phrase “the abomination of desolation” is better understood as a desolating (meaning complete destruction) sacrilege.

ii. Daniel uses the same phrase, “the abomination of desolation,” to refer to the Babylonian desecration of the Temple in 423 B.C.E.

iii. The same term was used in 166 B.C.E. when Antiochus put a statue in and sacrificed pigs in the temple.

iv. The warning is then that the city of Jerusalem will be besieged by an army – at this point, the Disciples would think immediately of the Romans.

v. Persecution of Believers and a Roman besieging army are the two signs that the end of the Temple is immanent

b. Vss. 15-20 – Get out of town!!!

i. Jeremiah told the people of Jerusalem to surrender to the Babylonians. Those who did surrender survived.

ii. This time, Jesus tells the disciples to get out of town if they want to survive. History shows that the Christians in Jerusalem heeded Jesus’ words in 70 C.E. and left the city when Rome surrounded it, and they survived.

iii. Vss. 17-18 – It will be very hard to leave, but it must be done.

iv. Vs. 19-20 – What Jesus is talking about here is that those who choose to hear Jesus’ words will be among the elect people who will be saved from the Roman desolation.

c. Vss. 21-23 Another warning

i. Jesus is straightforward here that there will be efforts by others to lead the believers astray.

ii. This is like the false prophets of Jeremiah’s day, who said that the Babylonians would never take Jerusalem.

iii. Those false prophets were wrong, and the False Messiahs will be wrong

V. Vss. 24-27 The coming of the Son of Man

a. This language is VERY apocalyptic – it is essential that we do not read this literally, but prophetically in the context of the destruction of the temple.

b. Also, read this passage in light of Jesus’ declaration 3 times prior that he will be killed but then resurrected.

c. The times will be tough – when Jesus is crucified and when the Temple is destroyed.

d. The hope then is that Jesus will resurrect, and that resurrection brings the new hope that the new Temple is not a building, but a people.

e. God will no longer dwell in a building, but because of the resurrection, those who choose to accept the invitation of the Good News can now join the elect.

f. God will dwell in the lives of the elect, and they will no longer be just the Jewish nations, but all peoples from all over the world.

g. This is not just a prophecy about Jesus’ second coming, but a prophecy that reflects the destruction of the temple (crucifixion), the removal of God from the people (days in the tomb), and the coming of the Son of Man (the resurrection of Jesus and the indwelling of God in the hearts of humanity).

h. However, like most things in the Bible, we have the already and the not yet. While the passage describes the meaning of what post-Temple life means, it is also a shadow for the future when Christ will return – not to take us up into heaven away from creation, but to unite the Kingdom of God with His beloved Creation.

VI. Mark 13:28-31 Remember the Fig tree

a. Remembering the fig tree parable in Mark 11 and 12 – we are reminded that fruit is near when leaves start sprouting

b. The same is true for signs of God’s work – the disciples were to watch for signs of God’s movement in history and Jerusalem.

c. How can we take this warning to be watchful and apply it to our times?

d. Vs. 30 - 32 – this warning is specifically for those who lived at that time, but Jesus follows that statement with a statement about the eternality of His words. The notice to be watchful is another “already / not yet” scenario.

VII. Mark 13:32-37 Another directive to keep watch

a. Again this is a caution to be vigilant to watch for signs of God’s movement in our history