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?
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