This week the published studies gained 37 notes across 3 chapters in Mark. Each entry links to the chapter page, where the note sits beside the text and the commentaries.
Mark 12
The resurrection discussed here pertains to the state of the soul at the time of death. Historian Josephus notes that the Sadducees believed the soul died with the body, because their scripture was limited to the first five books—the Pentateuch. In contrast, the Pharisees held the belief in an eternal soul, aligning with the Torah, which corresponds to the Christian Old Testament. It is this very belief that Paul takes advantage of to sow discord between the two groups when he said (Act 23:6):
“Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Note that Jesus does not claim we turn into angels after death, but rather that we become like angels. Angels and human souls are distinct entities, each a unique creation of God.
Does this imply there will be no marriage in heaven? Probably not in the way we understand it now, but that shouldn’t worry married couples who wish to remain together forever. Since heaven is free of pain and suffering, we can assume God will also address our feelings about marriage. Likely, there will be relationships with emotions beyond what we can comprehend with our early bodies today.
Jesus’ correction of the Sadducees must have stunned them, as in one statement he dismantled the entire logic of their beliefs. The Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife and based their faith solely on the first five books of the Old Testament (the Pentateuch). Jesus cites a verse from their own scriptures where God tells Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This could hardly be true unless the three men still existed in some form.
Following God’s plan would be simple if we loved Him with all our hearts. When our primary focus is on loving God, our desire to follow His plan and do His will becomes automatic. This naturally includes obeying all the other commandments as well.
If you love your neighbor, even your enemies, as much as yourself, all the other commandments will naturally fall into line.
The scribe is very close to salvation. It is unclear whether he took the final step and accepted Jesus and his message. However, Jesus’ ability to interpret the Old Testament correctly was revolutionary, to the point that even the “experts” in Jewish Law hesitated to ask him further questions, fearing he would refute them with logic that could not be overturned.
Mark 12:36 — "Speaking by the Holy Spirit" is another way
The phrase “Speaking by the Holy Spirit” indicates that David’s declaration was divinely inspired, as reflected in Psalm 110:1: “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'”
English versions obscure an important detail: in Hebrew, the two “lords” are completely different people. A more accurate translation would be, “God said to my lord.”
This scene depicts God installing someone else in a position of authority (and guaranteeing that the opposition will be subdued). The second lord in the psalm is, of course, believed to be Jesus, meaning David is calling Jesus “my Lord.” If Jesus were David’s son, this would have been highly unusual for the Israelites of that time. In Jewish homes, the father was a revered figure, and calling one’s son “my lord” would seem reversed and nonsensical to the ancient Israelites.
To answer the question, we need to consider who Jesus was. He was unique among all humans because he was both the Son of God and a man. This made him superior to David but also his descendant.
Jesus now shifts his focus to the scribes, who wore long robes with tassels on the tails and were warmly greeted as they moved through the city (according to Jewish customs, those of lower status always greeted those of higher status). Jesus describes them as fraudulent hypocrites.
Note that Jesus mentions the scribes will face “greater condemnation”. This is because of their position. Rather than promoting God’s plan, they are exploiting it for their own gain.
The amount the woman gave was equal to about 1/64 of a denarius, which equated to about a day’s work. This fractional amount would not even have been enough to purchase a meal.
The essence lies in sacrifice and prioritizing others’ well-being over your own. Truly saintly individuals are characterized by their willingness to give without hesitation, as seen in the poor widow in these verses.
Read Mark 12 with all its notes → · open in the full reader
Mark 13
Jesus predicted the destruction of the Great Temple 40 years in advance. Some of his followers likely saw the event when Roman forces, led by General Titus, attacked Jerusalem in 70 AD. Titus besieged the city in spring, and after several months, he breached its defenses. The Second Temple was burned and destroyed, marking the end of the Jewish national state.
The disciples must have found it an astonishing revelation. The Temple was an impressive complex. Walls were built so the ground could be extended and filled with dirt. One corner of the temple platform, at the southeastern edge, featured a wall rising 20 stories high. Josephus provides a detailed account of its architecture and decorations, noting that “the exterior of the building wanted nothing that could astound either mind or eye.” He describes how the sun reflecting off the large golden plates emitted such a fiery glow that those trying to look at it had to turn away, as if from solar rays. The construction used massive white stones, each nearly 40 feet long, 12 feet high, and 18 feet wide. These stones gave the temple a dazzling white appearance, resembling a snow-capped mountain to visitors. Covering one-sixth of Jerusalem’s entire area, it was truly a breathtaking sight.
The disciples now understand that Jesus will be executed and probably associate the destruction of the Temple with future events following his death. They ask about the signs that will foretell that the events are near. Their focus isn’t on the three-day period before the resurrection, since the signs suggest a longer wait before Jesus’s return. Jesus first warns them to watch out for false prophets who claim to be Christians but are intent on deceit.
Jesus tells the disciples that there will be “birth pains” such as wars, natural disasters, and famines, and advises them to stay vigilant. He foretells they will face arrest and torture because of their faith in him. But regardless, Jesus tells them they must spread the word to all nations. And when they are arrested do not worry. The Holy Spirit will take over.
It may be surprising, but Jesus warns that family groups will divide because of the gospel. Prioritizing allegiance to Christ overrides all else—even close family ties. The disciples, in particular, faced hardship. Historian Pliny the Younger recounts how informers betrayed Christians to the Roman authorities for execution. Tacitus notes the early Christians were despised, and Juvenal claimed they belonged in the sewers.
This verse is certainly hard to understand. The phrase “abomination that causes desolation” originates in Daniel (9:27). The key terms are “abomination,” meaning something detestable to God, and “desolation,” meaning emptiness and desolation. Whether it refers to the Romans or the Antichrist is open to debate, or it could refer to both. For the Twelve, Jesus may have been referring to the Romans while leaving the warning broad enough to apply to modern-day disciples anticipating the arrival of an Antichrist.
Nevertheless, Jesus’ instructions to the disciples proved accurate. When Rome moved towards Jerusalem, most Jews sought refuge inside the city walls, trusting that God would intervene and save them from the Roman troops. Jesus, however, told the disciples to do the opposite—flee the city and seek shelter in the mountains. In the end, the Romans besieged Jerusalem, captured it, and entered the city, destroying its inhabitants and sacking the Temple before destroying it.
The instruction to not retrieve their cloaks highlights the severity of the attack. Back then, cloaks were essential, serving various purposes such as providing warmth during the night.
For those questioning whether the “abomination of desolation” refers to the Romans or the Antichrist, Jesus’ message here suggests something far more severe than the Roman destruction of Jerusalem.
Mark 13:20 — The term "elect" here refers to Jews and
Jewish people of the day considered themselves to be the “elect”. Later, they applied the term to Christians. Thus, the term “elect” here refers to Jews and Gentiles—meaning God’s chosen people and Christians.
Most people will recognize that this paragraph highlights the presence of false prophets and individuals claiming to be Christ. However, the most crucial point is how Jesus concludes—the same way he started. Christians need to stay vigilant and alert at all times.
It is unclear whether the language is literal or apocalyptic. The stars, or what look like stars (e.g., stars, planes, lights, missiles), may indeed fall from the sky, and the sky may be darkened (easy to imagine during wartime) — or Jesus might simply be telling us that times will be extremely chaotic and difficult for humanity. Nonetheless, he assures us that God will protect us.
Many translations, including the NIV and NRSV, use the words “anguish” and “suffering” in place of “tribulation”. However, the literal translation is “tribulation”.
Mark 13:24 — Jesus tells us that following the days after
Jesus tells us that after the “tribulation” he described in the prior paragraphs—after the false prophets, the fall of great nations, and Christian persecution—there will be turmoil. How long after the tribulation is not known. Matthew seems to feel Jesus meant a shorter timespan, while Mark seems to expect a longer period between the tribulation and turmoil. It may be that one of the authors believed Jesus was referring to the fall of Rome, while the other believed there was more to it, that it covered a period long after the early birth of Christianity. Nonetheless, He encourages us to remain hopeful, as God will safeguard His children.
Jesus indicates that the end times are approaching, but the exact timing is uncertain. He mentions that this generation will not pass until these events occur, yet also states that heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will remain. To add to the confusion, he explicitly says that only God knows the day or hour when these events will happen. So what do we do with information that is not entirely clear? Jesus tells us in the very next sentence – be on guard and alert at all times.
This is a difficult verse to interpret. Which “generation” is Jesus referring to? Some interpret “generation” as referring to the Jewish people as a whole. Others see it as a generic reference to mankind, suggesting humanity won’t perish until these events occur. Still, some believe it points to the disciples, who will witness at least some of Jesus’ warnings unfold within their lifetimes.
Why wouldn’t Jesus know the time when these things would happen? Firstly, he seemingly existed in a human form, complete with all its inherent limitations. However, other parts of the New Testament, like Luke’s note that Jesus “grew” in wisdom, suggest that Jesus is something beyond our typical understanding of humanity. He is not, as some try to paint him in a box, God incarnate, but rather the “son” of God — a unique being that remains difficult for humans to fully comprehend.
Mark 13:35 — Jesus' message is again stressed – be ready
Jesus’ message is again emphasized – be ready at all times for Christ’s return.
Interestingly, the four periods – evening, midnight, when the rooster crows, and in the morning – correspond to the four night watches used by Roman soldiers.
Read Mark 13 with all its notes → · open in the full reader
Mark 14
All Jewish men were required to attend Passover in Jerusalem, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, alongside Tabernacles and Pentecost. The city likely buzzed with travelers, with estimates suggesting Jerusalem’s population doubled, possibly even tripled, during Passover. Jewish leaders were concerned about provoking the large, excited crowd, especially under Roman rule.
Reclining at a dinner table may seem unusual to modern readers, but in Jesus’s time, people typically ate while reclining on low couches around a low table instead of sitting upright on chairs. They rested on their left side, leaning on one elbow, and ate with their right hand, with their feet pointed away from the table.
We are not told who objected to the woman (John says her name was Mary) pouring perfume on Jesus’ feet and head, but we can presume that at least one of them was Judas Iscariot.
None of the gospels explain why Judas betrayed Jesus. There was tension when Mary anointed Jesus’ head and feet with costly perfume, which might have been the trigger. However, it’s possible that nobody ever knew the real reason, especially since Judas committed suicide soon after.
Of course, the chief priests accepted Judas’s offer. This gave them insight into the movements and activities of Jesus and the disciples, allowing them to find the right moment to arrest Jesus without provoking a riot.
Oddly, even with Mark specifying the exact day, we still lack certainty about the day Jesus was crucified. All accounts state Jesus died on Passover, except John, which indicates the events occurred the day before. This discrepancy is understandable given the multiple calendar systems used during Jesus’ time.
Adding to the confusion, John states it was the “day of Preparation for the Passover” when Pilate handed Jesus over. This could refer to the day before the actual Passover or be a hyperbolic way for John to portray Jesus as a sacrificial lamb, since the Passover lamb was sacrificed the day prior.
Furthermore, even the exact beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was variously considered to be the day of Passover or the day following Passover.
Remember, Jesus and the disciples were staying outside the city since Jerusalem was very crowded with visitors for Passover. However, the Passover meal had to be eaten within the city walls, between sundown and midnight. Therefore, they needed to find a place inside the city for the meal.
The meal would include unleavened bread, wine, bitter herbs, sauce, and the sacrificed lamb.
Read Mark 14 with all its notes → · open in the full reader
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