Olivette Discourse: Introduction

Mark 13

This morning we come to the Olivette discourse. It’s called that because it takes place on the Mount of Olives between Jesus and four of his disciples. We’re going to spend 4 weeks looking at this passage for a couple of reasons. One, it is an important topic, filled with important exhortations for his listeners. Two, it has been understood in a variety of ways and therefore been the source of no small amount of controversy. So, right off the bat I want to warn you, we’re walking into a mine field.

But we must walk through the minefield. It’s part of the Bible and has been given to us for a reason. This teaching of Jesus is found in all three of the synoptic gospels. In addition to Mark 13, we also find it in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. And with so many parallels in the book of Revelation, some have called Revelation John’s way of explaining the Olivette discourse. The point is, it is something the apostles considered of vital importance. It may be a minefield for us, but it is clearly important enough for us to take the time to walk through it.

So, how ought we to walk through it? That is what we will lay out in this introduction.