Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

. it is not hard to imagine that the cousin of Barnabas might have suffered with the sameuneasiness, but to a greater degree4. John Mark’s departure eventually causes a rift between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40)a. and it is interesting that here Luke calls him Mark, perhaps indicating subtly that hisconvictions had matured, but certainly that he had and was now willing to reenter this ministryb. the apostles and elders had spoken on the question of Gentile converts in this very chapterand time period, certainly settling the issue among every humble believerc. but unfortunately for John Mark, Paul has lost faith in him and considers it serious enough tosplit from Barnabas rather than have John Mark as a companionD. His Redemption1. about 11 years pass before we hear of John Mark again, but he is apparently at Rome with Paul,the prisoner of Caesar (cf. Colossians 4:10, Philippians 24)2. the division appears to be fully healed so that John Mark is a fellow laborer and comfort to theprisoner of the Lord3. the Colossian letter implies, though, that John Mark was contemplating a journey to Asia Minorand we eventually find him in the company of Peter (cf. First Peter 5:13)4. toward the end of Paul’s life, we last hear of John Mark (Second Timothy 4:9-11)a. Paul asks Timothy, who is at Ephesus, to bring Mark to him “for ministry,” exactly the taskhe had abandoned so many years beforeb. John Mark lived to redeem himself in the eyes of the apostle and every Bible reader, as wellas every Christian who has ever fallen short in his service and contemplated trying againE. His Gospel1. tradition holds that John Mark was a closer companion to the apostle Peter and that fromlistening to the apostle’s recollections, John Mark wrote the second gospel account that bears his Romansurname2. he is credited with founding a congregation in Alexandria before dying there in A.D. 62-63II. Some ApplicationsA. Raised In The …1. there is enough evidence to deduce that John Mark was a wealthy man, probably raised in greatwealth, and while that sounds pleasant enough, we know that sometimes such luxury produces idlenessand materialism that strangles the soul of man2. for some, riches are a terrible curse–a blessing of God transformed into a curse by the subtlety ofSatan who uses them as a snare, so that poverty would actually profit them more spiritually (Proverbs30:7-9)3. we know others who were “raised in the church” so to speak, which should bring them greatblessing, but Satan finds a way to turn even that into a curse on those who slip into idleness andcomplacency as a resulta. for some of them, faith has been handed to them or imposed upon them, but they have nevertaken the time to make a personal effort at discovering the reason to have hope, and so they really don’thave any of their ownb. even those who were “raised in the church” must take the time and effort to examine theclaims of the New Testament to decide if they are true, and if they are found true, no time should be lostin acting upon themB. What It Means To Minister1. today, we tend to reserve the word “minister” for those who are full-time gospel preachers, butthe Bible word really just indicates a servant of some kind2. we all ought to be interested in ministering to Christ and his people, providing a service thatsaves souls, edifies the weak and carries out God’s will (First Peter 4:7-11)a. visiting those who are hungry, poor, homeless and prisoner (cf. Matthew 25:44)b. serving as an agent of the government to punish the guilty (cf. Romans 13:4)c. teaching the lost and the saints to know and grow in Christ (cf. First Timothy 4:6)3. ministering to the saints is not merely the work of full-time paid ministers (Hebrews 6:9-12)128! Jeff S. Smith