The Gospel: Perspectives from Mark (part 3)

“What is God's remedy for dejection at apparent failure in our labors? This - the assurance that God's purpose cannot fail, that God's plans cannot miscarry, that God's will must be done.”

And God’s purposes all point to the greatness of the Gospel. We fail… but He did not… His will could not be thwarted. John Mark’s life is one of the most clear depictions of this truth. So we are going to return today to see how the gospel worked in John Mark’s life.

III. Evidence of the Gospel in John’s Failure & Return to Usefulness

A. Where is the Gospel seen through John’s Failure

-In the Abandonment of Ministry

Acts 13:4-13, 15:38

In today’s world, the longevity of pastors and missionaries in one ministry is quite minimal. That’s not a new discovery. This has been talked about for quite some time in minister circles. But it goes beyond just numbers. In fact, it sits much closer to home than just facts… I’ve known and heard about even in the last few months, pastors who quit at one church, started in another, then in a few short months resigned at that one. Are all pastors/missionaries wrong in doing this. It can be really tricky waters to navigate… Not all people who leave a particular ministry ought to be called failures… there are legitimate times and reasons for that… think of Paul or even Jesus… at times they would stay and labor hard in one city even filled with harsh opposition… at other times that opposition was too much and people too stubborn that they left. Were they unfaithful or failures in doing that? So the leaving of ministry shouldn’t always be considered as failure… there’s usually a lot more to it… considering health of the pastor, his family life, his particular gifting, the flock he ministers to, and the Holy Spirits leading. All of these should be factored in alongside of potential sin and the temptation to quit.

Now with that being said, when we consider John Mark’s case… we can confidentially call it abandonment… because that’s exactly what Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit called it. That might seem harsh, but for Paul it fit the occasion.

Acts 15:38 NASB95

But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

A deserter- aphistēmi (af-is'-tay-mee)- meaning to go away, to desert, depart from

Interesting enough, Paul uses this same word to describe another group of people

1 Timothy 4:1 NASB95

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

Here in this verse, it means to fall away.… Now did Paul think that John Mark was guilty of this same thing? Falling away as in apostate… I don’t think so (not the same word in greek)… but regardless Paul did indeed think very strongly in his thoughts about John Mark. This wasn’t a “principled decision” but a desertion.

So how did this all happen and why would Paul make such a critical condemnation of Mark. Lets go back to Acts 13 and pick up on what happened.

Acts 13:4–13 ESV

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

Couple interesting observations before we take a look at John’s failures. The first place they go to on their missionary journey is the island of Cyprus… why is that significant? How does that inform us even about church planting and such?

Start with places you have inroads to and the people you are most compassionate about.…

Barnabas grew up on the island of Cyprus (obviously would have had a deep concern with there understanding of the Gospel)

Many people in their sending church( the church of Antioch) were residents at one time of Cyprus. (already a deep connection to Cyprus) - as we consider church plantings efforts it important to even look at our own flock and consider where we might have the most impact just based upon our own people and where they are from.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Go were the harvest seems ready… Go to where people are hungry. This seems evident throughout the missionary journeys of Paul. He went down to a river near Philippi where ladies were gathered to pray. The good news had already traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch through the scattered believers.… Doesn’t that also tell you alot about the life of believers.… where they went (and for whatever circumstance they went) they gospel traveled with them. They didn’t scatter to merely hide… they scattered to share… On Cyprus, there was a group of people urning to know more… in fact, one in particular and so that is where they went.

Recap with Map-

Somewhere between Paphos and Perga, John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Why did John Mark quit ministry?

Scripture isn’t definitive here so we don’t want to be too dogmatic but there are a few possible and helpful answers...

( most often give) Rigors of the ministry were too hard on the young and inexperienced John Mark.

Looking at John Mark’s departure after Cyprus, one has to wonder what happened on that island. Some speculate that his departure did come right after a mostly fruitless time in Cyprus (Acts 13:4–12), where only one conversion is recorded. However, there had been strong demonic opposition by the jewish magician. It could be that the young John Mark was discouraged at the hardness of the way and decided to return to the comforts of home.

I personally find this one difficult to believe for 2 reasons.… one Mark had grown up in the Jerusalem church where they were facing great difficulties, so already a little battle tested… 2... more convicing… that Paul was sooooo adamant on not taking John Mark along on the second missionary journey seems to suggest a much more serious issue.

Differing beliefs about ministry to the Gentiles

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Mark, John

Quite possibly, Mark had reservations about the wisdom of evangelizing Gentiles (such as the Cypriot proconsul, 13:12) without requiring some attachment to Judaism, a problem of conscience over which the early Jewish church continuously agonized (note 11:1–3; 15:5;

Distrust and/or Jealousy of Saul/Paul

This is, in my mind, the most interesting proposed reason. If you spend some time looking at the surrounding verses of Acts 13:13 where John leaves, and you’ll notice a subtle change that occurs. John Mark separated from the other two missionaries precisely at the point where Paul’s name began taking precedence over Barnabas’s name. Show you the shift...

Acts 11… Barnabas finds Paul

Acts 11:29–30 ESV

So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

And after the funds had been delivered....

Acts 12:25 ESV

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

And when the Holy Spirit spoke to the church in Antioch

Acts 13:2 ESV

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Then the proconsul summoned....

Acts 13:7 ESV

He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.

Whenever the two are listed together, it’s always listed as Barnabas and Saul.… indicating who the leader was.… that’s consistent with other portions of the scriptures. In the letters and in Acts.… it never lists Timothy or Titus or Silas first before Paul… it’s always Paul and Silas… or Paul and Timothy etc.… so its something worth noting....

But now in our passage there is a sudden shifting that takes place.… Saul now called Paul is the one who speaks up in verse 9 against the jewish false prophet Bar-Jesus. “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Almost ironic that the killer of christians who was later blinded by the light of Jesus would have his first recorded miracle be the blinding of a man who speaks openly against Jesus the Messiah.

Those details are fascinating but I want you to pick up on the change that now occurs.

Acts 13:13 ESV

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

And from that point onward in the book of Acts, Barnabas is never mentioned before Paul… it’s always Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas becomes the mere companion and Paul becomes the leader.

So is it possible that since Mark was Barnabas’s cousin (Col 4:10), this shift in leadership dynamics may have been personally significant to him. And may not just be a jealousy of Paul getting the attention instead of his cousin… it may be a personality thing about Paul that he didn’t like.… maybe they didn’t get along.… or maybe again that John Mark is still struggling to trust the former murder Paul. But it is interesting that the shift in leadership occurs at the exact same moment in scripture that John Mark leaves.

Whatever it may be, whether it was for jealousy or dislike/distrust or if it were based upon faulty beliefs or just downright unfaithfulness in John Mark’s life, we can be sure as his life bears witness that there is a gospel grace for anyone of those downfalls. We are most likely guilty of each of these, yet we take encouragement from John Mark’s life because of the Grace of God.… the gospel the saves us not just from the sins long ago, but from our present and future sins as well. We are not fully defeated anymore, because Christ’s victory makes possible our victory thru Him. Sin, failure, defeat doesn’t get the final say… Christ’s work on the cross gets the final say. John Mark’s life fully fleshes that out.

-In the Consequences of Sin

Acts 15:36-41

Acts 15:36–41 ESV

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

We may gloss over these verses and not think thru its severity, but we need to stop and consider the gravity of all of this. First of all, this is no small fight. Scriptures state the there arose a sharp disagreement… the combination of words in Greek make our up words “ a sharp disagreement”. One such word in the greek part of this word, is a word that is often used of anger… sometimes even violent. So this isn’t to say that they had a physical altercation but it was a very intense discussion that went on.

Second of all, look what became the outcome of this sharp disagreement. They parted from each other. How is it possible that such close companions in ministry could part ways? You just think about all that they had done together. Part of the founding of the Antioch church, then they went on together to be part of a relief mission to Jerusalem, then together they traveled all over Asia Minor planting churches and sharing Christ, seeing many come to know Him and follow Him, then returned to Antioch, rejoicing with the believers there. They had alot of really high moments together as a team. But they also endured really low moments as well.… in fact, we would call them severe persecution and trial. It’s interesting, but they say nothing draws one closer to a friend or brother then what..… trials… That’s why many who join the army and face war often forge deep friendships. But few could ever really say that they faced the kinds of hardships that Paul and Barnabas did.

Acts 14 records how Paul was stoned to near death.… so much so that those that were around him thought him to be dead. (see verses 19-23). Can you imagine how difficult that would have been. On top of that, Paul and Barnabas were avid defenders of truth. And they did this together as a team. Just after returning from their first missionary journey, and now joined with the believers in Antioch, Acts 15 begins with more problems.

Acts 15:1 ESV

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

And who speaks up and defends the truth.

Paul and Barnabas together.

Acts 15:2 ESV

And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

No small dissension. This wasn’t a brief topic or conversation, but another heated debate but this time they were fierce allies, defending the truth of God’s work against the nay-sayers.

What I want you to pick up is that starting in chapter 11 and all the way thru to the end of chapter 15… a period that lasted about 2-3 years… almost ever time Paul is mentioned.… he is mentioned with Barnabas.… they are an inseparable team.

And how did it come to this? Was it Paul’s fault, Barnabas’ fault.… unclear for sure… what is very evident.… none of this would have ever happened had John Mark not ran off. His failure caused the separation of the closest of ministry partners. That’s extremely significant. It adds so much more weight to what John Mark did. But it’s such a powerful reminder about the effects of our sins and our mistakes.

Our sins & mistakes rarely affect only us… they usually hurt everybody around us.… don’t allow the temptation to foster in your mind that nobody will notice, nothing will happen, it won’t hurt anybody. Sin has a terrible rippling affect.…sin leads to more sin and more destruction.… we all know this.… sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, cost you more than you want to pay.

John Mark probably never would have considered how much pain his little stunt would cause. I’m sure there were likely to be many people upset with him back in Antioch. Your the boy that broke up the dream team. How could you do that? They accomplished so much together and because you acted selfishly, immaturely, without discernment… whatever the case may be… it affected us and the mission field.

This is such a good reminder for us to be circumspect in the way we walk… walking as wise people… always considering how our actions can bring grave consequences and cause lots of damage. It’s far too easy for us to simply not care and act selfishly in the moment. Too many of our decision never truly consider the effect they have on others only ourselves. Let John Marks life be an example.

Thankfully the grace of God is always bigger than our mistakes though. What man intended for evil, God used for good. We are well aware from our time in acts before how God turned this into a mission effort that would actually benefit more people than less. Only God create beauty out of ashes.… goodness out of corruption..… productivity out of destruction. And God continues to do this today. What an encouragement it is to see the hand of God at work.

As beautiful as the handiwork of God is our focus is on the beauty of the Gospel in John Mark’s life because God was not finished with John Mark yet as we will see in our final point.

B. Where is the Gospel seen through John’s Return to Ministry Usefulness

John Mark didn’t stay unfaithful. As we probably all know, he would eventually return to much fruitful ministry… but what I want to stress, is that he didn’t get there by himself.

This is where the gospel is evident. You messed up, John Mark, You failed… but my grace is sufficient for you, my power is displayed in your weakness. And so God did work but thru other people though to show His grace. Thru these important gospel ministries… that of mentorship and of second chances within Christian relationships.

-In the Grace of Mentorship and Second Chances

Acts 12:12, Luke 22:34, John 20:18-19, Acts 4:36

What possible reason could we give that would have make sense for John Mark to return to ministry again? How is it possible?

Well, the Bible says that after John Mark failed… he returned to Jerusalem. He would need someone to lift his spirits, to strengthen him, to guide him...someone that knew him well and could mentor him… the apostle Peter whom calls John Mark his son in the faith fits the bill perfectly. In fact, who better than Peter would be able to assist and apply grace.… If anyone understood the process of restoration after failure… it was Peter… who himself denied the Savior three times and fled from Him in fear. Peter whom Christ said would be the rock for whom the Lord would used to build His church… and would run so far that he would return to his old ways and old practices.… fishing… No doubt Peter’s influence on John Mark played a huge role in his life bring him back into service for the Lord.

But John Mark had yet another great influencer.… Barnabas… the “son of encouragement” who lived up to his name by giving John Mark another opportunity… in which he accepted and remained. Barnabas acted much like our savior… proving again how critical a role encouragement and mentorship is for John Mark’s success as well as the success of every follower of Christ.

This should heavily remind us that those that we pour time into may and will probably fail us. They may frustrate us by poor excuses, they may shirk off responsibilities, they may altogether abandon us.... and that can be extremely discouraging. Your children, those that you are leading in discipleship, friends and close companions. You may give your life to them and they may turn their backs on you. But to be a follower of Christ is not to hold a grudge, instead we are called to not give up on them. To pursue them like Christ pursued us.… that even while we fled from Him.… He pursued us and gave us a new and glorious life.… filled with purpose, and value, and meaning.

This is the gospel played out in John Mark’s life thru the mentorship and thru the second chances of godly saints and it is our responsibility to follow suit.

-In the Sanctifying for Good Works

Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:6, Matt. 11:18-21

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

God didn’t just save John Mark so He could live his life however he pleased. God saved John Mark’s life from sin so that He might walk in righteousness… the same righteousness of Jesus… an imputed righteousness… and that righteousness produces good works.… works that honor God and “build up His kingdom”.

This issue of John Mark’s failure is a matter of gospel implications. If John Mark quit and never did anything else with his life, one would have to wonder if God meant what He said.… that He did create us for good works… and that in salvation.… He would continue to bring it to completion throughout our lifetime.

Of course, God is no liar… so if John Mark’s life never had a turn around.… we might want to consider whether John Mark actually indeed had a changed life to begin with. Jesus himself spoke of this in the parable of the seeds in Matthew 11. In Jesus in words to the disciples.… giving them an explanation of the parable, he says.…

Matthew 11:18–21 ESV

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

The stony ground, the thorny ground, and the seeds thrown on the pathway are all lumped together and contrasted against the seed that fell upon good ground.… the first 3 never produced fruit.… only the last one did.… this is to contrast whom is a true follower of Christ. You may with joy for a time “receive Christ” and get all excited about spiritual things.… just like those seeds that fell on stony ground.… but the true test of ones salvation is found in whether they bear fruit and in this passage, one of those fruits is perseverance.

John Mark didn’t persevere on this one occasion, but the rest of his life tells a different story… a story of fruitfulness and of the gospel’s effective work of making one like Christ. In his youth, he errored, in His adulthood He increasingly became like Christ.… abounding in fruitfulness.

Where did John Mark bear fruit?

Rejoined missions work with Barnabas (Acts 15:39)

Assisted and encouraged the apostle Paul (Colossians 4:10, Philemon 23-25)

Philemon 23–25 ESV

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Colossians 4:10–11 NASB95

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.

Wrote the Gospel account to the Roman Gentiles

It was during Peter’s time in Rome that John Mark must have been with him.… 1 Peter 5:13 confirms this. Of this time, the great church historian Eusebius records for us

Mark 1–8: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Author

A great light of religion shone on the minds of the hearers of Peter, so that they were not satisfied with a single hearing or with the unwritten teaching of the divine proclamation, but with every kind of exhortation [they] entreated Mark, whose gospel is still in existence, seeing that he was Peter’s follower, to leave them a written statement of the teaching given them verbally, nor did they cease until they had persuaded him, and so became the cause of the scripture called the Gospel according to Mark. And they say that the Apostle, knowing by the revelation of the Spirit to him what had been done, was pleased at their zeal, and ratified the scripture for study in the churches. (Church History, 2.15.1–2)

Conclusion:

John Mark's story is a testament to the thorough transformative power of God's grace. His initial failure did not define him. Instead, he went on to play a crucial role in the early Church. This serves as an encouragement to all believers that past mistakes do not disqualify us from future service. God's grace is sufficient to restore and use us for His glory.

Application Questions:

-Do you walk wisely? Are you considerate for how your actions affect others? Do you even care about what may happen to them?

-Are you beating yourself up for a past sin? Have you taken the time to be encouraged by the grace of God that frees us from our past failure?

-Do you work hard towards the encouragement of others? Are you gracious and patient enough with them to give them a second chance? Patient in the same way Christ is patient with you?

-Are you bearing fruit that is in accordance with your salvation? What fruit are you bearing now that is evident to those around you? If you are serious about this, ask someone closest to you what fruits they see in your life.

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