From chapter 11 and the following, we have been seeing the changes resulting from the Lord’s rejection. In Mark 11:11 we read of Jesus entering the Temple. In verse 1 of today’s chapter, we see His going out of the temple. We do not read in this gospel of His going into it again. The Lord left the temple, the glorious center of the Jewish religion. God was finished with it. A new one will come later (v. 35) and He will be its Master. Just think of how many people today, Jews, Catholics and Protestants, are clinging to the old customs and traditions. (Read 2 Cor. 5:17).
V.3-4 The disciples question Him about what He had said in verse 2.
V.5-37 The Lord gives them a grand outline of what would take place in their lifetime and right on till when He would return in His glory. But four times He said “take heed.” Watch for them, and then look at the last word of our chapter. But also notice that He uses another word of warning “watch.” Look for it three times tomorrow, and three times in Mark 14:32-72. Keep your chart near you and notice in it, the things from this chapter.
V.5-8 The main character of Satan, the Devil, is to deceive. From the Garden of Eden (2 Cor. 11:3) to the end (Rev. 12:9) Satan, in these verses is like the “deceiving serpent” (v. 5, 6, 22).
V.9, 12-13 But here as the “roaring lion” in violence — Satan’s two characters.
V.10 This refers to “the gospel of the kingdom” which Jesus and His disciples preached when He was on earth. The nation of Israel rejected it. Today we have the gospel of the grace of God, going out to all the world. But this verse is the future after the believers are taken to be with the Lord. Then the world which may not have heard the gospel, will then have an opportunity. See “C” to “E” on your chart see also Matthew 24:14.
V.11 In the meantime they could count on the Spirit of God — after Jesus had returned to heaven — to give them help as to what to say.
V.12-13 The more closely they lived to please the Lord, the more they would be misunderstood and hated. We too (2 Tim. 3:12).