Mark 13 – 14

Chapter 13 starts with Jesus talking about his return and the end times. What signs will be happening and that we will not know the day or time. Interestingly verse 13:30 lays out a timeline in a way:

It’s true—this generation will not pass away before all these things have happened.

Unfortunately what he says will lead to His return is very generic, if you look at time there has always been wars and talk of wars plus many natural disasters. I believe when Jesus returns it will be clear to those who know. I have an internet friend who insists President Obama is the anti-Christ. I know many in the conservative world and Christian community believe this may be true, but I don’t think it’s so. For support you are going to have to wait for the Revelations study starting in 7 or 8 months (otherwise check out TheFuelProject’s YouTube channel for his study).

Verse 14:8 is one of those verses that should have had the disciples wondering:

She has done what she could for Me—she has come to anoint My body and prepare it for burial.

Normally you don’t “anoint” a living body for burial, so why did they not question that?

I need to lay out the time line for Jesus’ crucifixion and the Passover Lamb sacrifice. But we get a good picture in chapter 14 that Passover has been celebrated before Jesus is laid on the cross. Many say they celebrated it early while others say Jesus died at the time of the Passover sacrifice. Verse 14:12 seems to verify the idea that Jesus was sacrificed after the Passover Lamb:

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the customary day when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, His disciples wondered where they would celebrate the feast.

Jesus was welcomed as the Passover Lamb when he entered Jerusalem, which many believe was Monday and not Sunday. It’s very difficult to get into the timeline of Jesus’ death, but it’s clear the symbolism God was using. Jesus’ blood will allow God to Passover us in time of Judgment.

One interesting difference in Mark is the story of Peter’s three denials. Luke and Matthew say before the cock crows, where Mark says before the cock crows twice (v 14:30). We get to his first denial and in brackets it says a cock crowed with a note saying some manuscripts deleted this section (v 14:66). On the third denial it says in brackets the cock crowed “a second time” (v14:77).  I notice it says “earlier” manuscripts omit this portion which makes me wonder when it came in. Was it to resolve the fact this was different that Matthew and Luke or was never there in the first place? This is one of those places the Bible that people look at and question the validity. Personally it concerns me that there was stuff not in earlier versions that showed up in later. The twice thing doesn’t bother me since anyone who has heard a rooster crow, they don’t stop at one. I wonder what the original manuscript says?