Mark 13讀經資料

21: The Last Days (Mk 13:1-37)

Mark

TOC

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

In the last days of Jesus’ ministry on earth, He focused on preparing His disciples for the things to come. Watch for the signs, He said. There would be tribulation and false christs and false prophets. Jesus promised that He would come again. A servant of God must remain faithful until that day.

B.     Key Verse

            “When you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (13:29, 33).

C.     Did You Know…?

1.      Temple (13:1): The temple, which was part of Herod the Great’sreconstruction of Jerusalem, was an architectural wonder. A huge platform was erected over the sharp drop of the terrain to enlarge the grounds to 330 by 500 yards. It was supported by a retaining wall made of massive stones. On the platform stood the temple building, porches, and courtyards flanked by beautiful colonnades. The temple itself, which was not fully completed until A.D. 64, was built with large white polished stones (some were 37 feet [14 m] long, 12 feet [5 m] high, and 18 feet [7 m] wide) and was generously decorated with gold.

2.      “Not one stone shall be left upon another” (13:2): Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled literally in A.D. 70, when Titus completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple buildings. Stones were pried apart to salvage the gold that had melted when the temple was set on fire.

3.      Mount of Olives (13:3): A mountain range directly east of Jerusalem, running north to south. In Jesus’ time, it was rich in olives; but later was stripped bare of trees. The tallest mountain rose to about 2,700 feet (1040 m), providing an impressive view of the city and the magnificent temple.

4.      Sorrow (13:8): The NIV translates this as “birth pains,” which is a frequent analogy of the day when the Lord shows His power and exercises His justice (cf. 1Thess 5:1-3; Isa 13:6-11; Rev 12:1–2).

5.      Councils (13:9): The Jewish court system consisted of the Sanhedrin (the highest court) and the lesser courts, of which there were two in Jerusalem and one in each town of Palestine.^4/258 Each court, which was made up of Jewish elders, was granted legal and religious authority to judge local matters.^10/1501

6.      “Beaten in the synagogues” (13:9): Synagogues were used not only for worship and teaching, but also for confinement before trial.^7/1581Sometimes the Jews flogged the prisoner up to 40 times.^9/571 Jesus, however, endured a more severe flogging at the hand of the Romans (cf. Lesson 23, Did You Know 8).

^7.        “Abomination of desolation” (13:14): Jesus was referring to Daniel’s prophecy (Mt 24:15) that the temple would be desecrated (Dan 9:27; 12:11). This was fulfilled when the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70. It may also point to the rise of the antichrist in the future (cf. Mk 13:5,6; 1Jn 2:18,4:3).

8.      Housetop/Roof (13:15): People often relaxed on the flat roofs, where it was pleasant and cool (cf. Lesson 4, Did You Know 1).^9/501

9.      Clothes/Cloak (13:16): An outer garment that protected against cold night air.^3/170 Jesus’ warning in this verse echoes His command to the twelve disciples (cf. Mk 6:9).

10.  Four winds (13:27): Refers to the boundaries of the physical world, most often in the context of describing the Lord’s mighty works (cf. Ezek 37:9; Dan 11:4; Zech 2:6; Rev 7:1).

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(13:1-20)

(13:21-23)

(13:24-27)

(13:28-37)

(28)

(29-31)

(32-37)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. General Analysis

1. How do you stay on top of current events? How does the knowledge benefit your faith?

2. What should be the correct attitude in interpreting the signs of the last days?

IV.  Segment Analysis

A.     13:1-20

1. What were the disciples’ two questions (4)? To them, which was the more important question? In what order did Jesus answer their questions? To Jesus, which was the more important question?

2. Ask a mother about experiencing birth pains. Why did Jesus compare the signs to birth pains (8, NIV)?

3. List the sequence of signs recorded in verses 5-23. For each sign, if it has already taken place or is taking place, how? If not, how will it?

4. Explain verse 12. Why will family members betray each other?

5. What are we the readers supposed to understand about the “abomination of desolation” (14)?

6a. How does the description in 14-17 add to the impact of Jesus’ warning?

6b. What does “flee to the mountains” mean (14)?

7. How do we prepare ourselves for the coming tribulation?

B.     13:21-23

8a. Give examples of false christs and false prophets.

8b. How do false christs and false prophets deceive?

8c. How do we guard against false christs and false prophets?

C.     13:24-27

9. List the signs of the Lord’s Second Coming recorded in verses 24–27.

10a. When will Jesus come again?

10b. Why will Jesus come again?

11. What do you feel when you think about the Lord’s Second Coming? Why?

12. In light of the fact that the world will end, what are your plans and objectives?

D.     13:28-37

13. Who is “this generation” (30)?

14a. How many times did Jesus mention that no one knows when the time will come?

14b. Why didn’t Jesus (“the Son”) know the day or hour (32)?

14c. Why doesn’t God reveal the time to us? What is the danger of trying to pinpoint the exact time of the end of the world?

15. How is the fig tree growing leaves in summer a lesson?

16. Why did Jesus stress that His words will never pass away (31)?

17. What does each of the following in the parable (34-36) represent?

17a. Owner of the house (Mk 12:1; Mt 25:14)

17b. House (1Tim 3:15; Eph 2:19; Heb 10:21)

17c. Servants (1Pet 2:16; 2Cor 4:5)

17d. Doorkeeper (Ezek 33:6; Jer 6:17; Jn 10:3)

18. Explain this parable.

19. Compare the parable in 34-36 to the three parables in Mt 25:1-13, 45-51, and 25:14-30.

每週一字unit 2:Sabbath

每週一字unit 2:

Sabbath (n.)安息日
守安息日，你可以用動詞keep/observe
-Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
-The Jewish people observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.

God made the Sabbath day a sacred day. "So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation" (Genesis 2:3). It is as if God put his own signature on this day, calling it his day.

Word of the Day 1: grant

Word of the Day 1: grant
每日一字: 給(予)、授(予)

常用句型: (1) grant 名詞 名詞 ; (2) grant名詞 to名詞 

例(1): May the Lord grant you the job.
願主將這份工作賜給你。

例(2): Dear Lord, please grant the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who ask You.
親愛的主，求祢將聖靈賜給那些向祢求的人。

(PS. 小時候的中文造句練習，是學英文單字的好方法!)

May the Lord grant us the strength to do His will.
願主賜給我們力量，叫我們能行出祂的旨意。

Word of the Day 2: entrust

Word of the Day 2: entrust
每日一字: 交託、信託、委託、託管、

常用句型: (1) entrust 名詞 to 名詞 ; (2) entrust名詞 with 名詞 

例(1): In moments of doubts and fear, entrust everything to God
在懷疑害怕的時候，將一切交託給神。

例(2): God has entrusted us with the gospel. Let us launch out into the deep sea and preach His words.
神已經將福音交託在我們手上；我們應當開船入深海洋，傳揚祂的話語。

(小時候的中文造句練習，是學英文單字的好方法!)

Dear God, I entrust my future to You.
神啊，我將未來交託給祢。

Word of the Day 3: ask

Word of the Day 3: ask
每日一字: 要求、求

用法: (1) ask 名詞 to 動詞 ; (2) ask that 子句
說明: ask是個很簡單的字，有要求、求之意，是禱告時常用的字詞之一。

例子1: Dear God, we ask You to protect us from the evil one.
親愛的神，我們求祢保護我們不受惡者攻擊。

例子2: Heavenly Father, we ask that You lead our truth-seeking friends to believe You and Your true Church.
親愛的天父，求祢帶領我們的慕道朋友，讓他們相信祢和祢的真教會。

Word of the Day 4: hold on to

Word of the Day 4: hold on to
每日一字: 抓住

常用句型: hold on to 名詞

例(1): Let us to hold on to God’s promise.
我們要抓住神的應許。

We have to hold on to the truth.
我們要抓住真理。

讀經資料Mark 11

For the Lord’s Use (Mk 11:1-26)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

It was now the final days of Jesus’ ministry on earth. Five days before his arrest during the Passover (cf. Jn 12:1,12), Jesus entered Jerusalem. He had been in the city before (cf. Lk 2:43; Jn 5:1), but never with such fanfare. People welcomed Him as their king and savior. In this passage, Jesus showed us how to be put to good use for God’s work.

B.     Key Verse

            “The Lord has need of it” (11:3).

C.     Did You Know…?

1.      Jerusalem (11:1): Herod the Great had restored much of the city’s former magnificence. He built a vast palace and rebuilt its fortresses, amphitheater, and temple.

2.      Bethphage (11:1): Literally, “House of Unripe Figs.” It is not mentioned in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it is mentioned only in connection with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. It was located close to Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, between Jerusalem and Jericho. No trace of it remains today.

3.      Bethany (11:1): Literally, “House of Dates,” referring to the palm trees that grew there. A village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem and the final station on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. It was the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (cf. Jn 11:1), and became the base of Jesus’ ministry in Judea (cf. Mk 11:11-12; 14:3).

4.      Colt (11:2): A young donkey. Jesus rode on a colt to fulfill the prophecy recorded in Zech 9:9 (Jn 12:14-16).

5.      Branches (11:8): These were palm branches (cf. Jn 12:13). A palm branch was associated with rejoicing (cf. Lev 23:40). It also symbolized the “head,” the highest of the people (cf. Isa 9:14). Later, it represented triumph and victory. In the New Testament, the apostle John witnessed a vision of all people holding palm branches, praising God (Rev 7:9-10).

6.      “Hosanna!” (11:9): Hebrew expression meaning literally, “Save us now!” (cf. Ps 118:25-26). It was an exclamation of praise, much like today’s “God save the king!” or “Hail to the chief!”

7.      Fig tree (11:13): Fig is a common food in the region. Its green fruit is concealed among leaves until near the time of ripening; its flowers are hidden inside the fruit. Fig trees around Jerusalem normally begin to grow leaves in March or April but do not produce fruits until their leaves are fully grown in June. This tree was unusual in that it was already full of leaves near the time of Passover (mid-April).

8.      In the temple’s outer court (the furthest into the temple the Gentiles were allowed), the chief priest Caiaphas had authorized a market for the sale of kosher (ritually clean) items necessary for temple sacrifice. It was far easier for a pilgrim to purchase items that were guaranteed kosher than to bring them with him and have them inspected for meeting the requirements.

9.      Money changers (11:15): In New Testament Palestine, there were three forms of currency: imperial (Roman), provincial (Greek), and local (Jewish). In exchange for Greek and Roman currency, money changers provided pilgrims the required Jewish coinage for the annual half-shekel temple tax. Though a small surcharge was permitted, these transactions were sources of extortion and fraud.

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(11:1-6)

(1-3)

(4-6)

(11:7-11)

(7-10)

(11)

(11:12-14)

(12-13)

(14)

(11:15-18)

(15-16)

(17-18)

(11:19-26)

(19-21)

(22-24)

(25-26)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. General Analysis

1.   For each of the following, what did Jesus need it for, and how was it actually used?

1a. Colt

1b. Fig tree

1c. Temple

2.   Why did Jesus come to Jerusalem?

3.   What is your God-given purpose? Why are you here, at this time?

IV.  Segment Analysis

A.     11:1-6

1. Jesus borrowed a colt. What are other things Jesus used that He did not own? What does this tell you about getting the things we need?

2. What do you have that Jesus can borrow? What does He return to you?

3a. What are the characteristics of a colt that no one has ridden?

3b. Share an example of how God used someone who did not appear useful.

4. What does the disciples’ obedience tell you about their faith?

B.     11:7-11

5. List the things people did when Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

6. What was going through the mind of each of the following?

6a. Crowd

6b. Disciples

6c. Jesus

7. Why did Jesus go to the temple even though it was already late (11)?

C.     11:12-14, 20-21

8. Why did Jesus go to find out if the fig tree had any fruit? Didn’t He already know?

9a. What does the fig tree without fruits represent?

9b. Name someone in the Bible who was like a fig tree with nothing but leaves. Name someone who was the opposite.

9c. How might a believer become like the fig tree without fruits?

10. Is it fair for the fig tree to die? Why or why not?

11. Why didn’t the fig tree wither right away? Compare this to the parable of the fig tree in Lk 13:6-9.

12. Contrast the colt and the fig tree. Which served its purpose?

D.     11:15-18

13a. What is wrong with selling items required for sacrifice? Are the merchants not providing a convenience to the pilgrims?

13b. How is convenience sometimes a danger to our faith?

14a. How had the buyers and sellers made the temple “a den of thieves”? (cf. Jer 7:10-11,17-18).

14b. How was the temple at that time like the fig tree without fruits?

14c. How might the church today become “a den of thieves” or like the fig tree without fruits?

15a. Why did the chief priests and scribes want to kill Jesus?

15b. How were the chief priests and scribes like the fig tree without fruits?

E.     11:22-26

16. Explain verse 24. Can we pray for anything as long as we believe?

17. How do we have a faith that can move a mountain?

18. How is faith (22-24) related to forgiveness (25-26)? (cf. Jas 1:5-6; 5:15-16).

19. Do you have anything against another person? What is your incentive to forgive him or her?

 Segment Analysis

A.     11:27-33

1. How was the question on Jesus’ authority a trap?

2. Why did Jesus ask about John’s baptism? What does His response (11:33) tell you about His wisdom?

3. What does the discussion among the chief priests, scribes, and elders (11:31-32) tell you about their values? What does their answer tell you about their wisdom, or lack thereof?

4. Why did Jesus refuse to answer their question?

5. When someone questions the church’s authority and doctrines, how should you answer?