The final six chapters of Mark are devoted to the final week of Jesus’ life – demonstrating the dominant role that the events of this week took in the life of the Lord. Much of the teaching that went on here was focused on the end of Judaism and old Israel; and the dawning of a new age for the kingdom of God.
Mark 11 – the Triumphal entry is indicative of the imminence of the Kingdom of God breaking through (the entire gospel of Mark – with its rapid movement through the ministry of Jesus – illustrates this). It is followed by actions that demonstrate the imminent judgment on the entire Jewish people – illustrated first through the cleansing of the Temple (indeed, God would “cleanse” the whole system through Rome), the withered fig tree (representing the fruitless nation because it has rejected its own messiah), and the silencing of the flawed religious leadership of the Jews.
Mark 12 involves several stories also pointing toward the end of the age. The parable of the tenants continues the judgment imagery – it is about the Jews who have rejected the prophets and the Son of God. Ironically, the Jews then seek a way to kill him because they recognize the parable is about them. Having just been exposed – they act in such a way as to fulfill the very parable that was told! The continued attempts to trap Jesus all fail (with the tax issue; the resurrection; the greatest command); finally, the inability to answer the question of the Messiah and David (which speaks to the humanity and deity of the Messiah) further illustrates the rejection of God’s chosen messenger by His own people. The poor widow who gives all symbolizes the radical nature of the people of the eschatological kingdom.
Mark 13 describes, partly in apocalyptic (symbolic, catastrophic) language, the destruction of Jerusalem. Everything in this context is pointing to the end of the world of that day – in the sense of the end of the Jewish age and the dawn of a new Messianic era in the kingdom of God. God is breaking through – judgment will begin at the household of God for their rejection – and salvation will go forth to the nations.
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