Mark 12:1-4, The Subject of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse

The subject of Jesus’ talk with the Twelve, and we could also call it the “driving theme” of the conversation, has to do with questions asked by “the disciples.”  That is in quotes because that is what Matthew and Luke say, while Mark says it was Peter, James, John and Andres who asked Him privately. 

So, first, as they went out to the Mount of Olives the disciples were amazed at the buildings on the Temple Mount.  Jesus said, Do you see these great buildings?  Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  Then four of His disciples asked Him about this.  Let us first list the questions recorded by each of the Evangelists.

·       Luke 21:7:

o   When will these things be?

o   What sign will there be when these things are about to take place?

·       Matt. 24:3:

o   When will these things be?

o   What will be the sign of Your coming?

o   What will be the sign of the end of the age?

·       Mark 13:4:

o   When will these things be?

o   What will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?

The first thing we see is that each records the first question: When will these things be?  You might think you already know the answer to that.  It happened in 70AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.  We will talk about that, but I think you are right.  In the above picture, taken of the Western Wall, is a pile of stones believed to be proof of the fulfillment of Jesus’ words.

But then you should have noticed there were other questions and they were not all the same.  Perhaps Luke records a repeat of the first question since he refers to “these things.”  “When will it happen, and how can we know when it is about to happen?”

Matthew asks about signs of Jesus’ coming and the end of the age, and neither of these things happened in 70AD.  Jesus will also answer those questions.  And then Mark records what I think is the most instructive question of all: what sign will there be when all these things will be fulfilled?  That is a powerful term.  The Greek is “sun-telos,” the prefix “with” and the word “end.”  The idea is: when all these things come together.  It’s when several things all come to a head at once.  The disciples have come to realize that the kingdom they thought Jesus would bring in is not going to be established as soon as they thought.  The plan, in their minds, is delayed, but they want to know when all the aspects of Messiah’s reign will come.  This is the subject of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse.  It includes 70AD and it includes His return.