Jesus, the Temple and the Coming Son of Man: A Commentary on Mark 13 by Robert H. Stein

Author:Robert H. Stein [Stein, Robert H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2014-07-24T16:00:00+00:00

Mark 13:24a: “But in Those Days, After That Tribulation”

With the temporal introduction “but . . . after that [tribulation],” Mark indicates to his readers that he is beginning a new section and topic. He does so by the adversative “but” (alla) and the temporal designation “after that [tribulation].” Some argue that “but” acts as a strong adversative introducing an entirely new subject.1 However, whereas “but” (alla) is used forty-five times in Mark, it is never used to indicate the beginning of an altogether new section.2 On the other hand, “but” along with “after that [tribulation]” and the change in subject matter does indicate that we are dealing with a new theme taking place after the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem described in 13:15-23.3 One should not assume that the tribulation referred to is “the great tribulation” (RSV) of Revelation 7:14. The expression “the great tribulation” is found only this one time in the New Testament, whereas the term tribulation is used forty-five times and the adjective great is used only twice with respect to it. The second instance where great is associated with the term tribulation (RSV) is Matthew 24:21, but here it is used to describe the intensity of the tribulation associated with the destruction of Jerusalem and does not designate “the” great tribulation.4 These two temporal designations (“in those days,” “after that [tribulation]”) along with the inclusio in 13:23 (see pp. 67, 72, 100 above), indicate that 13:5-23 is a unity, and that a new subject is being introduced at this point that possesses the greatest relevance in this chapter for Mark’s Gentile readers.5

Still another indicator that we are involved with something new in 13:24-27 is the clear change in the audience being addressed. It is clear that the audience envisioned in 13:5-23 is the disciples. This is evident by the “you” (always plural except in the verb “look” [ide], 13:21) found in 13:5 (2x), 7 (2x), 9 (5x), 11 (6x), 13, 14, 18, 21 (4x) and 23 (3x).6 It is clear from 13:3-4 that the referent of “you” is the disciples, represented by Peter, James, John and Andrew. On the other hand, the disciples are not addressed in 13:24-27, and the second person pronoun (singular or plural) and second person verbs (singular or plural) are nowhere found. The material is not addressed to the “when you see” audience in 13:14 but rather to a nondescript “they will see” audience in 13:26. In the following parable of the fig tree (13:28-31) the audience addressed is once again the disciples (note the “you” in 13:28 [2x], 29 [3x], 30, who are part of “this generation” in 13:30). In 13:32-37 the disciples are again referred to (note the “you” in the exhortations found in 13:33 [3x], 35 [2x], 36, 37 [2x]), because no one knows the exact time of the coming of the Son of Man (13:32). Thus the exhortations are relevant to them as well.

There is, however, a connection between the coming of the Son of Man in 13:24-27 and the destruction of the temple referred in 13:2, 4, 5-23.

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