What is Jesus talking about in Mark 13? Is he talking about the fall of Jerusalem? A future fall of a third temple right before his return? Did he believe he would return, but was actually mistaken? Perhaps there is another way that makes more sense within Mark’s Gospel itself. In seven chapters, Peter Bolt presents a compelling argument that in Mark 13, Jesus referred to his own death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father. None of the other interpretations “adequately explains the function of these verses [Mk 13:24–27] within Mark’s narrative” (xix).
Peter Bolt is the Academic Director of Sydney Divinity College and the Director of the Centre for Gospels and Acts Research.
The introduction (ch 1) surveys the problems with the other readings and points us in the direction of a better interpretation. Jesus’ enthronement begins at the crucifixion, stretches through to his resurrection, and up to his ascension. This view is a minority view, but it is not held only by Bolt. You can find this at least in the writings of Lightfoot and Geddert.
In chapter two, Bolt outlines his method for us, which is reader-response criticism. While “less esoteric” than the “newer literary criticism,” reader-response criticism is still esoteric, especially when we get to narrative levels (25) and the “interrelation of parties in a narrative transaction” (Table 1, p. 24).
This method considers a narrative text as having both a story (what happens) and a discourse (the how of a narrative). What we do want to be, though, is “fit” readers, that is, readers who can understand as much of the Old Testament and Mark’s assumptions as is required to understand his narrative.
In chapter three, Bolt runs through the first twelve chapters of Mark’s Gospel. This was incredibly compelling. It doesn’t give you much insight into Mark 13, per se, but he ably gives you a unified understanding of the flow of Mark 1–12.
Chapters four and five move through Mark 13. Chapter four hits the high points of Mark 13—looking at its narrative position, the use of OT language and the rhetorical structure in this apocalyptic discourse—before digging into the finer details in chapter five. Bolt notes that “the apocalyptic perspective spoke of the end” (67). However, “the end awaited by the Old Testament may not necessarily be equivalent to the end expected by modern readers. Old Testament language of the last day can be—and is—transformed in its New Testament context” (67). While Jesus refers to the end, we today believe he meant the end of time in history. We don’t think Jesus means the end of the old age and the beginning of the last days (Heb 1:2, “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”).
Chapter five gives a close reading of Mark 13. A knowledge of Greek is very beneficial here so that you can understand the grammatical nuances. However, I took Greek eight years ago and remember very little. For laypeople, it is enough to have your Bible out and do your best to follow along (although it is really helpful to know at least a few words). Understanding Old Testament prophetic imagery helps make sense of Jesus’ words in 13:5–23. Understanding Daniel 7:13–14 helps us understand Mark 13:24–27 (and 14:62!). In verses 26 and 27, the Son of Man comes to the Ancient of Days to receive the kingdom (v26), and then he begins sharing the kingdom with the saints through sending out his angels to gather in the elct (v27).
Some of the most convincing verses for this interpretation is 13:33, 35–37. Jesus gives his disciples a parable, but surrounds it with commands to stay awake because they don’t know when the master will return, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning, all times that are repeated in the following chapters. The disciples are told to “be on guard” a number of times in this chapter: v9, v23, and v33. They are to be on alert in these final hours before the cross, grave, and defeat of death. But while Jesus stays awake in the Garden of Gethsemane, his disciples… fall asleep (13:36; 14:37, 41).
Chapter six takes us through the final three chapters of Mark, showing how they fulfill the events foretold in Mark 13. Bolt pays special attention to shared terms, such as sleeping and the specific time periods (three-hour “watches”) of the night.
The book closes with chapter seven, the conclusion, and argues that this view functions the best because it offers an intertextual referent to Mark 13. In the other views, the fall of Jerusalem and the return of Jesus fall outside of Mark’s Gospel. Meaning, they aren’t fulfilled within the Gospel itself. Bolt does not deny the return of Jesus, just that Mark 13 does not refer to it. This gives Mark 13 the most “narrative integrity.” Jesus referring to his death and resurrection in Mark 13 makes the most sense within the whole Gospel of Mark. As Bolt writes, “Rather than the chapter being about an implication of the exaltation, it is about the exaltation… It is about the historical event that guarantees the consummation” (150). Mark 13:24–27 refers to the resurrection that happened three days after the “appalling sacrilege” where the Jewish leaders crucified the true “King of the Jews” (15:2, 26), the Son of Man (13:26; 14:21, 62), Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1, 11; 9:1).
Bolt ends with an Appendix on parallels between the language of Mark 13, Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Acts. The second Appendix gives points of agreement and disagreement with Geddert’s Watchwords.
Recommended?
I wish Bolt had offered fuller explanations of certain verses that are more challenging in his view (such as 13:10), but most of his explanations made very good sense. No view of Mark 13 is airtight, not even Bolt’s, but I do find this view to have the most explanatory power. While I think this book would have benefitted from an updated list of ancient interpreters who understood Daniel 7 to speak of Christ’s ascension, he has written that list in his The Cross From a Distance. Also, David Schrock has an excellent blog post listing these ancient interpreters as well as sixteen connections between Mark 13 and Mark 14–15.
While not always easy to read in place, this is a short and necessary book on a very difficult chapter. This is the best book (anything, really) on Mark 13 I have read so far. Highly recommended!
Buy it on Amazon or from Wipf & Stock!
Lagniappe
- Author: Peter G. Bolt
- Paperback: 197 pages
- Publisher: Wipf & Stock (November 2021)
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from Wipf & Stock. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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