Thank you to Ian for this week’s MWB
John Mark
In Acts 15 v.36 – 41 – – we learn of a strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. Paul proposed to return to some of the places they had previously evangelised together; Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them but Paul rejected Mark because on the previous mission Mark had returned to Jerusalem part way through the mission. What impact did such rejection have on Mark?
Mark’s mother, Mary, had opened her home for Christian ministry and it was to Mary’s house that Peter went after escaping from prison (Acts 12 v.12). It was a servant girl who answered the door and with Barnabas, a land owner, as a cousin one can assume that Mark had a comfortable upbringing. In 1 Peter 5 v.13, Peter refers to Mark as “my son” which provides the possibility that it was Peter who led Mark to the Lord. So – how does a young Christian cope with rejection and failure?
We know that Barnabas – the encourager – took Mark with him to Cyprus and some years later Paul wrote in Col. 4 v.10 – “My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.” – and in 2 Tim. 4 v. 11 – “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” It appears that forgiveness and reconciliation had won the battle; Of course the gospel of Mark is attributed to John Mark so the young man had continued in faith and service in the Lord even though he had experienced rejection.
Our prayer for the those in the church today is that, though often faced with a sense of failure and rejection, we – “being firmly grounded in the truth of the gospel
may be faithful to its teaching both in word and deed;” – that, in those times of tension and conflict, forgiveness and reconciliation will prevail and love for one another will reign in our hearts.
The Collect from the C of E. book of Common Worship.
Almighty God,
who enlightened your holy Church
through the inspired witness of your evangelist Saint Mark;
grant that we, being firmly grounded in the truth of the gospel
may be faithful to its teaching both in word and deed;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. – – – – – Amen