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Imagine the scene. The city of Jerusalem, city of hope, on the brink of the most sacred festival of the year, 200,000 pilgrims pouring into the city to celebrate the festival when they remembered their liberation form the oppression of Pharaoh.

Imagine the tension  - the Jewish authorities careful not to offend Rome,

Pilate and the imperial authorities, ready to quash any hint of uprising as they had in Sepphoris.

 

Into that city comes from the west, the wealthy port of Casarea Maritima, a procession -at the head Pilate, in all his finery, backed up by Roman cavalry and foot soldiers, uniforms glinting in the spring sunlight, giving the message – don’t mess with us – you live in peace because we control your city, your wealth. Proclaiming the power of the Empire, the imperial theology – peace through the gods, through conquest.

Emperor not merely ruler of Rome but Son of God. Inscriptions of Augustus refer to him as son of God, lord, saviour, one who had brought peace to earth. After his death he was seen ascending into heaven. His successors bear divine titles, including Tiberius 14-37CE

 

 

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Jesus’ procession embodies alternative vision – the Kingdom of God v Kingdom of Caesar central to mark and early Christianity. This confrontation continues through Jesus last week, ending with his execution.

 

 

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So looked for new King David – future glory involving justice and peace rather than power.

 

 

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Solomon built first Temple c 900 BCE, sacked in 586. 2nd temple rebuilt c 500BCE then expanded by Herod the Great  (-4BCE)  c20BCE – money from extortion, extra Temple taxes,

40 acre platform

 

 

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These stones have been excavated in the last few years. They fell onto a pavement with small shops.

70 CE - Just before gospel of Mark written, perhaps a decade before Matthew

 

 

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Jerusalem at this time inhabited by wealthy people – often absentee land-owner whose rents were sent from country areas

Population swelled at times of Jewish festivals by about 200,000 pilgrims

 

 

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Nb

 

 

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Land acquired by:

•Confiscation (couldn’t be bought or sold!) - Gift from king

•Foreclosure because of debt

•Displacement of tenants though commercialised production.

 

•In first century big estates grew and lot of peasants worsened.

 

•Also:

•Priest who represented the Jews before God on Day of Atonement also represented them before Rome on other days.

 

 

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Delicate balancing act – collaborate Rome to keep Rome happy but also not to anger Jewish subjects.

 

“If we let him go on like this everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation”. John 11.48

 

 

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Jerusalem key in Mark – 6/16 chapters,  40% of gospel.

 

 

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Not about himself

 

Prepare the way of the Lord (1.2)

 

The times is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near (1.15)

 

Go beyond the mind you have – trust the Kingdom is near

 

 

 

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Neither bear fruit

 

 

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Not against temple as such but against its exploitation. Worship is substituted for justice. Nb not the place of robbery but the robbers’ retreat, hideout!

 

 

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‘All the nations’ quotation from Isaiah. Court of gentiles was part of Herod’s extension, so Temple did not exclude them. But 63-70 Temple dominated by zealots, insurgents (another word for robber rather than petty crook) who sought to overthrow Rome by violence.