A Proven Failure

Barnabas had a young cousin named John Mark who traveled with Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. However, when they were in Pamphylia, John Mark returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13) For that reason, Paul did not want to take John Mark with him on a second missionary journey. (Acts 15) John Mark was held accountable for his failure.

But God is in the business of redeeming and restoring failures, and He both redeemed and restored the young man and his ministry. We know that Paul came to appreciate him, too, because he said to the Colossians, My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark . . . if he [Mark] comes to you, welcome him. (Col. 4:10 NIV) In another letter, Paul told Timothy, Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful. . . . (II Tim. 4:11b)

John Mark was also Peter’s friend. The early church believed (and scholars generally agree) that John Mark wrote Peter’s gospel account—the book of Mark in our Bible.

God took John Mark, worked in the life of the proven failure, and turned him into a success.

Originally published January 27, 1989.
Picture: Pansies, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

A Violent Reaction

After he became a Christian, Paul spent some time in Antioch. Then the church of Antioch sent him on the first official missionary journey with another disciple named Barnabas.

In the city of Lystra, Paul began ministering by performing a mighty miracle. A man who was crippled from birth was healed. (Acts 14:8-10) The crowd of the city went wild. They exalted both Paul and Barnabas as gods; they even prepared a sacrifice of oxen before them!

Then Paul and Barnabas became excited. They tore their clothing and ran into the crowd. They cried, “why are you doing this? We also are men . . .” (v. 15a RSV) Paul added, “turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth . . .” (v. 15b)

Perhaps the admonition to turn from vain things explains what followed. Just days later, when influenced by adversaries from city they had visited earlier, the people stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city. (v. 19b) Then they left him there for dead.

The rapid turn-around of the people makes no sense to a rational mind. But a rational mind would not try to make a person a god. When people are deceived, they are easily swayed.

Originally published December 11, 1981.