The King Arrives, but for What Purpose? The Christological Use of Zechariah 13–14 in Mark 13

Abstract

ABSTRACT This analysis of Mark 13 finds the paradigm of a Christology of divine identity—specifically, a Christology that sees Jesus in the place of God in the expectations of God's coming—to be fruitful for understanding the Christological implications of several statements in Mark 13. In the case of this text, the paradigm emerges from the allusive connections between Mark 13 and Zech 13–14, one of the most extensive explications of the hope of God's coming. Although it is not the only text that influences the content of Mark 13, the Christocentric use of the Zecharian text particularly affects the shape of Christological expressions of the Markan text and other aspects of prophetic expectation linked to those expressions (such as the fate of Jerusalem and the identity of who constitutes the remnant). Given the content of the prophecy and given the presence of other allusions to Zech 9–14 in the passion narrative, it is not surprising that there are multiple connections to Zechariah here. Mark—as the storyteller—and the Markan Jesus—as the central character—find in Zechariah fitting language to express Jesus's identity as one who embodies the expectation of God's coming, bears God's presence, enacts God's expected roles, and exercises God's unique authority.