Week 6 - Acts 15:36-41, 2 Timothy 4:9-11 | Failure Isn't Final

Have you ever messed up so badly that you thought God was done with you? Maybe it was a job, a relationship, or a step of faith that fell apart, leaving you thinking, ‘I’ve blown it—there’s no way God can use me now.’

It could be something from your past—a failure, a sin, or a wound or trauma so deep that it still defines you. Or maybe it’s something from your present—a recent relapse, a slide back into old habits, or yet another broken relationship.

If that’s you—or someone you love—you’re not alone.

Turn with me to the Book of Acts and allow me to introduce you to someone who knows exactly what it’s like to fail big: John Mark. His story — and his rocky relationship with the Apostle Paul— is a rollercoaster of failure, disappointment, growth, and incredible redemption that shows us how God’s grace turns setbacks into comebacks.

Here’s the plan for today. We’re going to break down John Mark’s story into four parts:

First, we’ll talk about the conflict – How John Mark’s failure led to a sharp disagreement between him and Paul and Barnabas.

Next, we’ll look at the grace – how Barnabas’s invested in John Mark’s grow and maturity.

Then, we’ll see the transformation – How John Mark matured into a faithful partner of Jesus and His Church.

Finally, we’ll talk about the restoration – How God redeemed John Mark’s story and brought reconciliation.

Sound good? Alright, let’s dive into the first part of John Mark’s story.

Before we get to the conflict, I want to help you wrap your head around the character of John Mark and his relationship with Paul and Barnabas first.

If you remember from a few weeks back and how Barnabas and Paul got introduced. As some point after Paul’s conversion he came to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles, which appears to be where he got to know Barnabas. And Barnabas eventually caught news that north of Jerusalem and Israel in Syria, in the city of Antioch the Church was Jesus Christ was growing rapidly and so Barnabas headed up there to give some direction to this new fledging church plant. Upon arriving there in Acts 11, Barnabas realizes that the job is too big for him alone, so he leaves to Tarsus because he remembers Paul and he goes to enlist Paul to help him establish the Church in Antioch. Which is then what Paul and Barnabas do. They teach and preach and pray and eat together with the Christians at Antioch and a Church is formed and it thrives. Look at the text with me:

Acts 11:25–26 NIV

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Meanwhile, as this is all happening in Antioch of Syria in the north, Acts 12 tells us that things back in Jerusalem are heating up for the Christians there. King Herod starts persecuting the Church and he has Peter arrested and James the brother of John put to death by the sword.

Fearing the same fate for Peter as James, the Church in Jerusalem prays earnestly to God to save Peter and God hears their prayers! He sends and angel to the prison where Peter is guarded between 2 soldiers and bound with chains behind bars with more guards at the entrance. And the angel frees Peter! It’s a prison break.

And in Acts 12 after Peter busts out of jail with some angelic assistance, he’s out of sorts a bit because he was sleeping. So he’s a bit dazed and confused by the whole ordeal, but once he’s out and finds a place to stop and catch his breath, we’re told in Acts 12:11 that:

Acts 12:11–12 NIV

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 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.

And here is where we first get introduced to John Mark!

John Mark is the son of this woman named Mary. This isn’t Jesus’ mom or Mary Magdelene one of Jesus disciples. This is a prominent Jewish Christian in Jerusalem that’s joined the new Church of Jesus Christ. I say prominent because the Church that was praying for Peter’s rescue, they were all meeting at her home!

This Mary has partnered up with Jesus and His Church and Peter knows her well enough that when he breaks free of Herod’s prison he determines he will find safety and refuge in the home of Mary. John’s Mom. And He does!

You can go read about it in Acts 12. It’s a whole ordeal. The Church is gathered. Many are there praying for Peter and then Peter, who was in prison shows up! A servant girl notices Peter and exclaims! Hey guys! Pete’s here! And their first response is one of faith, we knew it! God has heard our prayers sent and angel to lead Peter on a prison break, Let’s go.

Actually no, they’re first response is to rebuke the servant girl! “You’re out of your mind! they told her. What are you crazy! Peters in a high security prison. He ain’t knocking at the door. But she insisted and wouldn’t you know it. There was Peter safe and sound in the home of Mary and her son John Mark!

Acts 12 continues. Herod’s ticked. Obviously. But God’s done with Herod. He smites him. Literally. And angel of God strikes down Herod for being an arrogant and wicked man! It’s kind of wild.

Then we get back to Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13, back up in the north in Antioch in Syria. Their Church plant is now a well established healthy Church and so this Church determines to send out some missionaries and take what they have in Antioch to other parts the world. They determine, through prayer and direction of the Holy Spirit, to send out Paul and Barnabas and guess who else? John Mark!

Look at Acts 13:4-5

Acts 13:4–5 NIV

4 The two of them [Paul and Barnabas], sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

That John, is John Mark! Now, we don’t know the ins and outs of how they get together, but we can piece a few things and make some educated guesses. In Colossians 4:10 we discover that John Mark also happens to be Barnabas’ cousin. So Barnabas, who is a Levite from the island of Cyprus (Acts 4:36) is also apparently, a nephew of the Mary we learned about in Acts 12, John Mark’s Mother!

So we don’t know how John Mark got partnered up with Paul and Barnabas exactly but it appears that John Mark was a part of a vibrant Church community in Jerusalem and because he’s family to Barnabas, perhaps Barnabas sends him a letter: “Hey Cuz, Paul and I are going to my home island to do some evangelism and we were wondering if you’d like to tag along and help!”

Suffice it to say, John Mark partners with Paul and Barnabas on their very first missionary Journey.

This first missionary journey is a huge success! Churches are planted, tons of Jews and Gentiles are converted to Jesus! It’s Great!

But something happens between John Mark and Paul along the way. The Bible is not clear at all about what happens, but In Acts 13:13, we read about John Mark leaving Paul and Barnabas.

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. The Bible doesn’t spell out why he left. Maybe he was homesick. Maybe the missionary life was harder than he expected. Maybe there was tension we’re not told about. But whatever the reason, when we fast-forward to Acts 15:36-39, we see that Paul didn’t just view John Mark’s departure as inconvenient—he saw it as desertion.

And Paul wasn’t ready to give John Mark another shot. He remembered the pain of being abandoned and wasn’t willing to risk it happening again. But Barnabas—true to his name, which literally means “Son of Encouragement”—wanted to give John Mark another chance. He wasn’t ignoring John Mark’s past failure, but he saw something in him worth investing in. He believed in grace.

And that’s where the conflict exploded.

Look at Acts 15:36-39 with me:

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

This wasn’t a minor disagreement. These two spiritual giants—brothers in the faith, partners in the mission—were not divided over the future of a young man, John Mark.

Imagine the scene. Paul and Barnabas, men who had walked through persecution together, who had preached side by side, who had planted churches together, are now in a heated argument. Barnabas, always the encourager, is saying, “Paul, we can’t give up on him. He needs another chance.” Paul, ever the mission-focused leader, is saying, “Barnabas, we can’t afford another setback. We need people we can count on.” The disagreement is so sharp that they split. Paul takes Silas and heads one way. Barnabas takes John Mark and heads another.

And here’s the key takeaway: Failure doesn’t have to be final, and even conflict can be a catalyst for God’s greater purposes.

On the surface, this seems like a tragedy—two of the greatest missionaries in history going separate ways. But look closer. Even in their division, God is at work. Instead of one missionary team, now there are two. The gospel is being spread in multiple directions. And while we don’t get a report about Barnabas and John Mark’s ministry in Cyprus, knowing Barnabas’ track record, we can safely assume that God was using them powerfully.

And here’s something else I want you to notice: Even in conflict, they let grace reign. Paul and Barnabas didn’t agree, and at this moment total reconciliation doesn’t happen, but they also didn’t let this divide or derail the mission of the church. Acts 15:39-40 makes it clear—they part ways, but the church still commends them both to the grace of the Lord. They refuse to let their disagreement derail the bigger picture of what God is doing.

This is such an important lesson for us. Conflicts and failures can feel like the end of the road, but they don’t have to be. God can use these moments to refine us, redirect us, and grow us.

Maybe you’ve felt like John Mark—like you’ve messed up too bad to be useful again.

Maybe you’ve felt like Paul—like someone else’s failure hurt you too much to trust them again.

Or maybe you’ve been like Barnabas—seeing potential in someone that others have written off.

Wherever you are in this story, here’s what you need to hear: Failure isn’t final. Conflict doesn’t have to derail you. And grace will always move the mission forward.

Failure is only truly failure if we choose to give up! When we press on in partnership with our ever-faithful God in Jesus, failure never has to be final. The key is perseverance and grace. This is exactly what both Paul and Barnabas demonstrate. Though they part ways, neither of them gives up on the mission or on those involved. They each choose grace in their own way, and, as a result, God continues to use them mightily for His purposes.

Which brings us to our second point:

II. The Grace: Second Chances and Mentors

Barnabas, true to his name as the "Son of Encouragement," doesn’t give up on John Mark. He invests in him and gives him another chance taking him to ministry along side him in Cyprus. Because, Barnabas didn’t see failure as the end of the road; he saw it as an opportunity for redemption. He invested in John Mark because he believed in what God could do through him. And here's what's amazing: John Mark grows.

While we don’t have a detailed account of what happened in Cyprus, we do know that Barnabas’s faith in John Mark wasn’t wasted. Years later, Paul—writing from prison in Colossians 4:10—sends word to the church to welcome John Mark if he comes to them, indicating that John Mark had become a trusted partner in ministry again.

Colossians 4:10 NIV

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

We are only left to assume from this that John Mark’s discipleship and mentorship under Barnabas played a key part in his growth and maturity.

Barnabas’ grace displayed through relational investment reveals it’s power to transform. Living life with someone, walking alongside them as he did for John Mark, providing grace, guidance, and space to grow. Barnabas saw past John Mark’s failure and believed in his potential to mature. And through this intentional mentorship, John Mark grew into someone who would later be considered a valuable co-laborer in the mission of the gospel. Barnabas’ gracious investment proved that John Marks failure didn’t have to be final! It was simply the foundation of another step of faith from which the Lord Jesus used to build upon!

Friends, who in your life needs a Barnabas? Who needs someone to believe in them, to give them space to grow—even after failure? On the flip side, when you’ve failed, are you willing to grow? Sometimes, we want restoration without the process of transformation. But John Mark’s journey reminds us that growth takes time, grace, and intentionality.

And if we’ll partner with Jesus in the process, as John Mark did, look at the results. Look with me at...

III. The Transformation: From Quitter to Gospel Writer

So, what happened to John Mark? He matured. He was transformed from a young man who abandoned his mission into a mature, godly man who became a faithful servant and a key figure in the early church.

In fact, did you know that the Gospel of Mark—on of only 4 gospel acounts of Jesus’ life that we have — was written by John Mark, the son of Mary and cousin of Barnabas?

Somewhere along the way, through the second chance Barnabas extended to him and the discipleship Mark received, he grew. Eventually, he found himself partnered with none other than the Apostle Peter.

And here’s the twist: if you know anything about Peter, you know he also failed miserably for Jesus. When Jesus needed friends most, Peter denied Him. But just as Jesus forgave and restored Peter, Barnabas did the same for John Mark. And wouldn't you know it? Two former deserters ended up writing the Gospel of Mark together!

Church history, through the witness of Papias (an early church father who lived shortly after Peter's death) and Eusebius, confirms that John Mark was Peter’s assistant. Mark took Peter’s sermons and turned them into the Gospel we read today. And in 1 Peter 5:13, Peter calls John Mark "my son," which speaks to the deep, heart-level relationship between the two.

What a crazy powerful example of how God can repurpose failures! John Mark didn’t just grow into a faithful servant—he became the author of the Gospel of Mark. His story proves that even after failure, God can take us farther than we ever imagined.

Now, remember I asked at the beginning if you’ve ever felt like a failure or thought something in your past disqualified you from serving Jesus. I hope you can see from this story that the gospel of grace says your past mistakes don’t disqualify you from ministry—rather if your partner with Jesus they can actually help prepare you for it! The reality is that God can use both our successes and our failures to shape us into vessels for His glory.

Transformation is a process, and God is faithful to complete the work He’s begun in us. The only thing we have to do is not give up. And if we’ve been hurt or offended, grace invites us never to give up on others.

Which brings us back to Paul and John Mark. Their separation—though full of grace—left their relationship strained. So did they ever experience reconciliation?

Well, let’s find out...

IV. The Restoration: When God Heals and Rebuilds

About ten years after their fracture, Paul writes a letter to the Church at Colossae and to Philemon. In both letters, listen to what he says about John Mark.

In Colossians 4:10, Paul writes:

“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)”

And in Philemon 24, Paul says:

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.”

Then, 16 years after the fracture in Acts 15, Paul pens these words in 2 Timothy 4:9-11:

“Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

Somewhere along the way, Paul dealt with his bitterness, and grace took root. Over time, his heart softened, allowing him to see John Mark’s growth and maturity. Eventually, if we take Paul at his word, reconciliation happened.

Sixteen years after John Mark’s failure, Paul—now sitting in a Roman prison awaiting death—writes, “Bring Mark, for he is very useful to me in ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). The same man who once abandoned him is now someone Paul treasures—a trusted friend and partner in the mission of Jesus.

But don’t miss this: reconciliation didn’t happen overnight. At least ten years passed between John Mark’s failure in Acts 13 and Paul’s words in Colossians and Philemon. It took another six years before the full restoration came in 2 Timothy.

Here’s what I want you to see: Failure isn’t final. God’s grace grows. Grace transforms setbacks into comebacks when we keep partnering with Jesus. It’s a process. Forgiveness can happen in an instant—it’s a choice to release bitterness and entrust the offense to Jesus. But reconciliation? That’s a journey. Sometimes, it takes years, and sometimes it may not happen this side of eternity.

Paul and John Mark’s story shows us that while disagreements, boundaries, and even seasons of separation may come, when both parties stay committed to Jesus, healing is possible. That’s the power of the resurrection at work—bringing restoration to broken relationships.

Paul once wrote, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). That tells us two important things:

Forgiveness is always possible cause it just takes you. it’s your choice to release bitterness to Jesus can you can anytime, anywhere!

Reconciliation isn’t always possible cause it takes two! It requires partnership with Jesus from both parties.

Paul and John Mark experienced full restoration. But even when reconciliation isn’t possible, the freedom of forgiveness is always available.

I’m sure Paul carried some hurt and bitterness after parting ways with Barnabas, but he stayed committed to grace. He kept walking with Jesus, and so did John Mark. Over time, healing came, and grace bore fruit—reconciled friendships, renewed partnerships, and a legacy of faithfulness.

And this friends is the gospel! God restores. Grace grows. Failure isn’t final. And when we continue to partner with Jesus and His grace, no relationship is beyond repair.

We saw it in Peter’s life. Peter failed. He denied Jesus three times—but Jesus restored him and made him a leader in the church.

We saw it in Paul’s life. Paul failed. He persecuted Christians—but Jesus redeemed him and used him to plant churches.

We saw it here in John Mark’s life. He failed. But God wasn’t done with him.

And neither is He done with you.

Today, maybe today you feel like John Mark—defined by past failure, unsure if you’ll ever be useful again.

Or maybe you’re in Paul’s shoes—wounded by someone else’s failure, tempted to write them off.

Or perhaps you’re called to be like Barnabas—to see potential in someone who needs grace and investment.

Wherever you find yourself, remember: Failure isn’t final. God’s grace is greater than your past. Your story isn’t over.

So, what’s your next step?

Who in your life needs a second chance today? Who can you encourage, as Barnabas did? And if you’ve failed, do you believe that God can transform your story, too? Remember, failure isn’t final — God’s grace transforms setbacks into comebacks when we keep partnering with Jesus! If we don’t give up, grace always has the power to transform!

Let’s pray.