WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN HOLY WEEK?  Part 3

                                                       WEDNESDAY (1)                                                          Mark 13.3-13 

                                  Church of Pater Noster, the Mount of Olives

Yesterday we were with Jesus and his disciples as they left the temple at evening, and Jesus forecast its total destruction.

The gospel of Mark then goes on to a long discourse – 26 verses in total – about the end times, with several changes of subject.  I believe that we have the kernel of Jesus teaching on that Tuesday evening, but that other quotations were then added from the early Christian community’s memory of the same or similar topic.  So here is what I think happened.

And here is a picture of where it happened.  It is a cave, situated within the fourth century church on the Mount of Olives, where this discourse used to be read every Tuesday in Holy Week.

 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,  

‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’

Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

 ‘As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.’

How different these words sound if they were said just three days before Jesus was crucified!

Jesus and his disciples did not stay there – too cold at night.  They must have gone back to Bethany to sleep.

(Note for bible geeks:  I have left out verse 10, because I think it is a footnote added in later).

Later today will come the second blog for Wednesday, what happened at the evening meal.  (No, it wasn’t the Last Supper.  That comes on Thursday).