The Coming of the Son of Man in Mark (Part 4)

In Part 1, we covered the signs that preceded the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. In Part 2, we discussed how Jesus' use of apocalyptic language is evidence that he is prophesying judgment on Israel, not the end of the world. Part 3 covered what Jesus meant by the "gathering of the elect."

We now come to Part 4 of our blog series on Mark 13.

Vv. 28 -31 "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. So, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

The fig tree account helps organize Mark 13. In verse 28, Jesus responds to the disciples' original question in Mark 13:4 (when will these things occur?) by referring back to the fig tree lesson (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25). But what does the fig tree represent?  In Isaiah 34:4, the fig tree is an image of the judgment of the nations. This fig tree judgment imagery is also part of our context. Christ now takes this judgment and provides a timeframe to his disciples.

Mark 13:30 is a crucial verse regarding how to interpret Mark 13 well — i.e., consistently. This section needs to be understood from the disciples' perspective (i.e., what they heard from Christ), what they will see and experience after Christ leaves (but within their lifetime).[1] When this book was written, the events of 70 A.D. had not taken place, and they were still expecting this judgment to take place in the future. However, when taking verses 24-27 as an eschatological event, it leaves no room for verse 30 to be taken literarily.[2]

In Mark 9:1, Christ said, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God after it has come with power," and in Matt 10:23, he said, "I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." Are these passages also symbolic, or is something else taking place? Is 'this generation' an ambiguous amount of time, or how did these things occur in the disciples' generation? What would happen to Christ's testimony if these events did not occur in that generation? 

From this passage's context, it is apparent that this prophecy was supposed to happen relatively soon. Verse 31 ends this section with an emphatic statement, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

We now move from Jesus’prophesy about the destruction of the Temple. To his second physical return to judge the whole earth.

Vv 27-32 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. "Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. Therefore, stay alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all: 'Stay alert!'"

In verse 32, the reader is introduced to a new subject — his second physical return, 'but concerning that day;'[3] the time of Jesus' physical return is not known to him but only to God the Father. In verse 33, the disciples are told to 'watch out,' 'be alert,' and 'watch' for his return, which examples are given in the next two verses. Verse 37 closes this section with a command, 'Stay awake,' which applies to all of Christ's followers, "all of whom must live with the prospect of an expected Parousia.”[4] The same pattern of Temple destruction (immediate) and world judgment (future) is found in Matthew 24.

We turn to Robert Stein[5] for an apt summary:

The main emphasis found in this passage involves the recognition of Jerusalem’s forthcoming destruction. The parabolic analogy is that just as the budding of the fig tree is a harbinger and herald that summer is near, so when “these things” spoken of in 13:14–23 take place, especially the abomination of desolation, the destruction of Jerusalem is near. Thus Jesus’s original hearers should flee from Judea and the city. For Mark’s readers, it indicated that what was taking place in Palestine was foreseen by Jesus and that the commands, warnings, and exhortations he gave (13:5, 7, 9, 11, 13b, 14–16, 18, 21, 23) should be heeded. “These things” must take place in their generation. Yet in the next section, Jesus warns against the danger of calculating the exact time of the parousia. Mark’s readers are to be alert and watch, but they are not to panic or allow themselves to be overcome with eschatological frenzy.

This should not cause us confusion or alarm. We, the Church, are called "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)." While we live as exiles (1 Peter 2:11) and waiting for our King's return, we are to live godly and holy lives (1 Peter 2:12-25) and preach the Gospel.

Again, Stien (ibid):

The high Christology found in these verses is quite striking. With an authoritative “Truly” (13:30), Jesus boldly claims that the destruction of the mighty city of Jerusalem will take place within his generation. This is more certain than the continued existence of heaven and earth! Like God’s word, his own words will never pass away (13:31). They are more sure than the foundations of the universe. Mark’s readers were probably beginning to see the fulfillment of Jesus’s prediction of Jerusalem’s destruction, which would have reinforced their faith in the authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He who foretold these things also promised them succor and aid (13:11) and that faithfulness in their time of crisis would result in eternal salvation (13:13).

Stand fast in his promises, Christian.

[1] R.T. France, Jesus, and the Old Testament: His Application of Old Testament Passages to Himself and His Mission. Vancouver, British Columbia: Regent College Publishing, 1998, 238.

[2] France, Jesus and the Old Testament, 229.

[3] France, Jesus and the Old Testament, 503.

[4] France, Jesus and the Old Testament, 546.

[5] Robert Stein, Mark, Grand Rapids, Mich., Baker Publishing, 2008. 620