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NASB | Mark 13:28 ¶ "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Mark 13:28 ¶ "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and it puts out its leaves, you recognize that summer is near. [Matt 24:32, 33; Luke 21:29-31] |
Subject: Explaination of Mark 13:28-31 |
Bible Note: Greetings SRN! Actually, it is not true that the Bible is our only source which confims the existance of Jesus. There are other, not many to be sure, secular, religious, and historical records which refer to Jesus. My source for the following quotes is Josh McDowell's "Evidence that demands a verdict". 1) Cornelius Tacitus: "Hence to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius:..." (pg. 84). 2) Lucian: Referred to Christ as "...the mn wh was crucified in Palestie because he introduced this new cult into the world....Furthermore, their first lawgve persuaded them that they were all brothers one of another after they have trasgressed once for all by denying the Greek gods and by worshipping that crucified sophist himself and living under his laws." (p. 84). 3) Flavius Josephus: "Now there was about thistime Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men a receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him." (p. 84-85). 4) Seutonius: "As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigaton of Chrestus, he expelled them from Rome." (p. 85). 5) Plinius Secundus: "...they sang in alternate verse a hymn to Christ as to a god..." (p. 86). 6) Tertullian: "Tierus accordingly, in those days the Christian name made its entry into the world, having himself received intelligence from the truth of Christ's divinity, brought the matter before the Senate, with his own decision in favor of Christ." (p. 86). 7) Thallus and Julius Africanus both refer to the darkness which occurred at the death of Christ. (p. 86). 8) The Letter of Mara Bar-Serapion: Asks, "What advantage did the Jews gainfrom executing their wise King?" (p. 87). 9) Several of the Jewish Talmuds mention details of Christ's life and death. (p. 88). There may even be more that I am not aware of, but all of these are historical documents written by people who lived in the same century as Christ and who all were aware of Him. Thus, it is not true that the Bible is the only evidence that we have of Jesus' existence. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |