*John Mark’s story is told in Acts 12:25-13:13; 15:36-39
Who is John Mark?
Family Background
- He’s the son of Mary, a woman who provided a meeting place for early Christians in Jerusalem.
- Cousin of Barnabas, one of the earliest Christian disciples.
Context
- Mentioned in the New Testament in the Book of Acts and the Epistles.
- Closely associated with both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul.
Strengths and Accomplishments
Close Association with Early Church Leaders
- Served as Peter’s interpreter and probably got many of his Gospel facts from Peter.
- Accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.
Writer of the Gospel of Mark
- Generally accepted as the writer of the second Gospel, providing an essential record of Jesus’ life.
Reconciliation and Growth
- Despite early setbacks, managed to reconcile with Paul.
- Eventually became an important assistant to Paul and a valued member of the early Church.
Weaknesses and Mistakes
Abandonment of the First Missionary Journey
- Left Paul and Barnabas during their mission trip (Acts 13:13).
- This led to a falling out between Paul and Barnabas when Barnabas wanted to give him another chance.
Immaturity and Inexperience
- Seems to have started his journey with Paul and Barnabas as a young and perhaps naïve individual.
- This likely contributed to his early mistakes and may have led to his abandoning the mission.
Lessons from His Life
The Power of Second Chances
- John Mark is a great example of how people can learn from their mistakes and grow.
The Value of Mentorship
- Having strong mentors in Barnabas and Peter helped shape him into a better disciple and writer.
The Importance of Reconciliation
- His story with Paul teaches us that disagreements shouldn’t permanently sever relationships within the Church or otherwise.
Key Verses (NIV)
- Acts 12:12: “When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”
- Acts 13:13: “From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.”
- 2 Timothy 4:11: “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”