Christians love to drop names. We purchase the latest book by the current shooting star and drop his quotes into our conversations like he’s our best friend with whom we just enjoyed lunch. Or we race attend that seminar a few towns over with the big-name leader whose meetings draw hundreds. And somehow we think of ourselves as a little more spiritual than those who did not attend. But often the strategy backfires, and we might begin to think that our lack of followers, or our unpolished gifts set, or even our backwater location of ministry implies that we aren’t contributing as much to the kingdom as the heavy hitters. For some the discouragement reaches a level where they slink to the door and disappear. Maybe that’s why the story of John Mark appeals to me.
His background
John Mark was not a Peter, or a Paul, or an Apollos. His name does not appear in the list of the closest disciples of Jesus. No miracles or mighty deeds are attributed to Mark who is not named in the Gospel record though one of the four Gospels does bear his name. Some Bible scholars have floated the idea that Mark may have been the pitcher bearer mentioned in Mark 14:13 and Luke 22:10-11. Others conjecture that Mark may have been the youth who fled the scene of Christ’s arrest in Mark 14:51-52 as that detail is not shared by Matthew or Luke.
Mark was an average guy who never shook the earth or drew abundant crowds. His was a supporting role, yet the contributions God drew from this seemingly insignificant life amaze the Scripture explorer who digs them out.
The facts of Mark’s life and character must be sifted from the ancient sands of Acts and the writings of Peter and Paul. Mark’s name appears in the following eight references:
- Acts 12:12
- Acts 12:25
- Acts 15:37
- Acts 15:39
- Colossians 4:10
- 2 Timothy 4:11
- Philemon 1:24
- 1 Peter 5:13
Religious training
Mark lived in Jerusalem at the time of the early church. His mother, Mary, was Barnabas’s relative according to Colossians 4:10 though sparring camps of Bible scholars debate whether the two men were uncle/nephew or cousins. The King James and earlier versions translate the verse as “sister’s son” making Mark the nephew. Newer translations render the translation as “cousins.” Either way, Barnabas and Mark were family.
In Acts 12:5, 12 we learn that Mary’s home was a gathering space for the church. Mark was raised in the things of the Lord and exposed to devout believers. He no doubt witnessed Peter’s miraculous release from prison as a group of believers gathered one night to pray for that very request.
Missions trip
John Mark left with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 12:25) around AD 45 to minister in the church at Antioch. It was there that Paul and Barnabas were called to be missionaries (Acts 13:1-5), and they took Mark along to be their helper. The word means subordinate, servant, or minister. What an opportunity to learn mission work firsthand at the side of two giants of the faith. Mentoring others in the things of the Lord is the foundation of the Great Commission.
In Antioch Mark found himself 350 miles from home. He would visit Seleucia and the island of Cyprus, Barnabas’s home country. Perhaps Mark had other relatives on the island that he’d never met?
The men departed Cyprus for Perga in Pamphylia, some 700 miles from Mark’s home. It was there that he opted to leave Paul and Barnabas and return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
Scripture gives no clue as to the reason for Mark’s departure. Was he homesick or physically sick? Had he received word of a need at home? Were the unfamiliar surroundings of strange places and people more than he could process? Had he taken on too much too fast in his service for God? Perhaps discouragement had raised its ugly head? We can speculate, but God never saw fit to record the “why” of Mark’s departure.
Voted out
Paul and Barnabas completed that first missionary journey (Acts 14:26-28) and returned to Antioch with a summary of their year-long ministry. A rift had appeared in the new church over the topic of law versus grace and the underlying question, “Do Gentiles have to become Jews to be part of the church?” The matter was resolved, and Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch to continue their work.
Paul proposed a second journey to visit the converts/churches reached on the first mission trip. Barnabas, determined to give John Mark a second chance, insisted that he travel with them. Note that Barnabas stood by Mark as he had stood by Paul earlier (Acts 9:26-27).
Paul voted Mark as most likely to fail, refused his presence on the trip, and the team fractured into two teams with Paul and Silas heading one way while Barnabas and Mark returned to Cyprus. And here’s more fuel for those who would rather nitpick Scripture than glean helpful truth from the sacred pages. Barnabas is never mentioned after this squabble. Was Barnabas out of God’s will? Had he refused to submit to Paul’s apostolic authority and thereby disqualified himself? Or did God use the two men in different ways all the while multiplying the number of mission teams in the field?
The rest of the story
What became of Mark? Did he capitalize on this second chance?
Paul wrote to his friend Philemon fifteen years later (AD 60) and named Mark in a list of fellow laborers.
Mark was at Rome with Paul during Paul’s first imprisonment. Paul wrote a recommendation for the young man to the Colossians from prison (AD 60) and stated that if Mark came to see them they should welcome him (Colossians 4:10).
In AD 65 Peter referred to Mark as his son (1 Peter 5:13). Mark had by this time worked closely with Peter, and tradition holds that the Gospel of Mark came to us by Mark’s hand as Peter, the eye witness to the events, shared the details. The Gospel of Mark is fast-paced and action oriented.
Paul’s seal of approval
In his book, “Against Heresies” (Book 3 Chapter 1), Irenaeus (AD 130-200) reported that Mark penned his Gospel as a scribe for Peter, adding the following detail:
“Matthew composed his gospel among the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul proclaimed the gospel in Rome and founded the community. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, handed on his preaching to us in written form.[1]”
By AD 67 Paul, imprisoned and facing certain death at the hands of the Romans, dictated the last of his letters that we have. The letter was addressed to “Timothy, my beloved son.” As Paul closed that letter he recalled, Mark, another young man in ministry. The aging apostle wrote:
Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
2 Timothy 4:11 NASB
Perhaps Paul’s earlier low opinion of Mark still haunted him and he wanted to make amends? The phrase he chose, “useful for service,” includes the word we use for deacons. Mark had proven himself in the cause of Christ.
We don’t need a platform of thousands of loyal followers to serve God. We simply take what He has given us and allow Him to empower it for His purposes. And what about our failures or false starts? God works right through them. He is amazing as is His grace.
Let’s simply keep on keeping on.
[1] Source: https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/is-marks-gospel-an-early-memoir-of-the-apostle-peter/, accessed 4/4/2019