After You Blow It

You done messed up a-a-ron

Good evening campers!

I hope you’re all having a great time so far. It’s been fun for me as well.

Alright, well it sounds like we have an exciting competition brewing.

How many of you have been in situations where you can say “wow I really blew it that time”? I’m not just talking about minor mistakes, I’m talking about major ones. A time that seemed to derail a relationship, cost you something significant.

I can remember in 2010 a time when I thought I really blew it. I was a young college student at the time. I was learning and growing as an individual. I had dreams and aspirations in ministry. I wanted to really do something for God. But I knew I needed training and experience.

Well, there was a church that was looking for a student to lead their children’s ministry program. Seemed like it was right up my alley. I grew up in that style of program, so I knew what it was supposed to look like, and it was going to pay me a little money! Perfect.

Well, things started off okay, and I was learning and growing through it all, but after a while, I really began to feel the pressure of the responsibility. It was self-imposed, but there nonetheless. But some of what I had to do included fulfilling filing an annual report. Well, I failed to do so. And then when asked about it by a man in leadership at the church, I lied about it. I said I did indeed file the report, but in reality I did not. Well, that bothered me that I lied, so I actually went and apologaed, and the man was very forgiving and all was well. .....

.....Until the following semester came around and I had some events to plan and there were some details of the even planning that were my responsibility and I failed to do them.

Now I want you to try to imagine what this was like for me. I come from a well-respected family that has held leadership positions in large churches and organizations for years. I was serving in a church under a man that I deeply respected and I wanted to be like him. I had dreams and aspirations of ministry that I was going to go out and be this great Christian leader. I was afraid that if they learned that I failed to fulfill my responsibility, that I would look like I was lazy and not fit for leadership in ministry. I wanted so much to make the people that I respected proud of me. But when it came to fulfilling my responsibility, I failed. And then I lied about it to cover it up.

Of course it was long until I was caught in my lie. I was confronted, confessed, and then ultimately had to sit before the elder board of the church. I had really blown it. I had let these people down. I felt like the very people that I was looking to for their affirmation were now ashamed of me, and that I couldn’t face them. That’s a top five worst experience of my life moment right there. I blew it.

I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced that. I don’t know if you know what it’s like to royally mess things up so badly that you never want to show your face to those people again. But I can promise you this: You will experience that at some point in life. I know you will, because you’re human. When that time comes you will have some decisions to make. After you blow it, after you make a mess of things, what matters from that point forward is how you respond, what will you do after a mistake. Will you just run with the mistake and never look back? Will you flee and forsake those around you? Or will you assess you situation, make a U-turn, and begin to do what you can to correct things?

Today we are going to track the story of a man named Mark.

Mark is an interesting individual. He is a man who showed a lot of promise early on in his life and even got to travel the world with the greatest evangelist to ever live. But then he made a huge mistake. He messed up. He abandoned and therefore lost the trust of His friends. How is Mark going to respond?

Now you’ll have to bear with me a little bit as we trace Mark’s story because we are going to read several passages in order to set the background and get the whole story.

The Early Years

First of all, who is Mark? Let’s turn to the book of Acts chapter 12 where we have our introduction to this character.

Acts 12:1–12 CSB

About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.

Acts 12:1-12

So Peter is in jail and an angel lets him out, and Peter goes straight to this house. The house belongs to the mother of a man called John Mark, but a lot of times he is just called Mark.

Why did Peter go to this guy’s mom’s house? In all likelihood, this house was where the church in that city met to hear the Word of God proclaimed. Mark’s mom is hosting the church.

What does this tell us about Mark? Not a whole lot. we could speculate that he and his family would have been early converts to Christianity, or that his family had some kind of status or simply a large enough home to host the church, etc. But we really don’t know a whole lot about the situation for sure.

What’s interesting though that there are a couple high profile men in town during all of this. If we slide back to the end of chapter eleven we read why they were there.

Now

Acts 11:27–30 CSB

In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius. Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.

ACts 11:27-

So there’s a famine and so the church basically collects an offering in order to help their brothers and sisters in Christ, and they send the money with Barnabas and Saul. Saul, of course, is also known as the Apostle Paul. Saul was his Jewish name, and Paul was his greek name. So whenever you read Saul in the book of acts, just remember that Saul and Paul are the same person. Barnabas was a key leader in the early church and was instrumental in helping Paul become established as a leader himself.

But Saul and Barnabas come to the city to deliver the offering that was collected to help other Christians, and when they left, guess who they took with them?

That’s right, Mark.

Acts 12:24–25 CSB

But the word of God flourished and multiplied. After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark.

Acts 12:24-

Now how cool is that? I’m sure it certainly helps that Mark and Barnabas are cousins (we learn that from the book of Colossians), but that’s still really awesome. Mark gets to ride along with these two superstar pastors. Barnabas and Saul were two of the key leaders in what was probably one of the biggest churches in the area. The church in Antioch was a hub of ministry. Very important things took place there and Barnabas and Saul were the ones doing the majority of the teaching.

This would be like if John MacArthur came to visit and then took me back with him to California. Well alright then. Let’s go!

So he went along. And not only did he travel back with Barnabas and Saul, but then he gets to keep traveling with them. Look at the beginning of chapter 13 with me

Acts 13:1–5 NASB95

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to 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, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.

Acts 13:1-

Alright. Now he’s part of the crew. The Holy Spirit specifically said to send out Saul and Barnabas to accomplish the work to which they have been called.

So they head out, and who do they take with them as an assistant in this ministry? John, whose other name was....Mark! They take Mark along! Mark gets to see some of the most incredible things on this journey.....until he decides that it’s time for him to go home.

The Failure

Paul, Barnabas and Mark start traveling together and they land on the island of Cyprus. They hang out there for a little while, preaching and teaching about Jesus, but it isn’t long before they head to a new location. So let’s look at

Acts 13:13 NASB95

Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Well. This is interesting Mark, after being with Paul and Barnabas for a short period of time, decides that he is going to head home. And when I said a short period of time, they only made basically one stop: the island os Cyprus. They went to several towns on the Island, but that was all they did. And Mark is already ready to go home.

Now, I will grant that there isn’t whole lot of information in this one verse here. Some might even say I’m overstating the case that this is a failure. I mean, it doesn’t say why Mark left, only that he did. Maybe he was sick. Maybe his mother was sick. Maybe he had other things to take care of. At the end of the day, we simply don’t know. However, we do know that whatever reason that he did end up going home, Paul was not happy, and Paul most certainly viewed it as a failure.

How do I know?

Well, after Paul and Barnabas had finished their travels, they went back home for a while. After a little bit Paul wants to go out and revisit the churches they started on their first journey.

Lets pick it up in

Acts 15:36–38 NASB95

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 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.

Acts 15:36 CSB

After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.”

Acts 15:36-38

And Barnabas is like, Yeah! Let’s do it! But look at verse 37

Acts 15:37 CSB

Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.

Hmmm. Alright. They’re old pals. They’ve traveled together twice before, why not again?

Well. Paul’s not having it.

Acts 15:38 CSB

But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

This is why I identify Mark’s departure on the first missionary journey as a failure. Paul would have understood why Mark had to leave if it was a legitimate reason, but Paul’s reaction here makes me think that isn’t the case.

Maybe Mark decided that things were getting a little too dicy out there. People were strongly opposing Paul and maybe Mark got cold feet and decided he had had enough. We don’t know exactly what the reasoning was, but we know Paul viewed it as a desertion. To Paul, Mark had blown it.

Paul had a mission to complete. A mission that the Holy Spirit Himself commissioned him to complete, and he took Mark along specifically so that Mark could aid them in the journey and what does Mark do at the first sign of opposition but hop in the ship and go home. He’s deserted Paul, he’d deserted the mission. Paul was counting on him, and Mark let Paul down. He blew it.

Have you ever had someone you were counting on let you down? It doesn’t feel good.

So that’s Mark’s failure. He bails on the missions and goes home. What’s the result? What were some of the consequences for this failure? What’s the fallout?

The Fallout

Slide: fallout 1: Negative impact on personal relationship 2: negative impact in other’s relationships.

Well, for starters, as we’ve already seen, Paul is none too happy with Mr. Mark Part of the consequences of Marks actions is that it negatively impacts his relationship with Paul. Paul no longer trusts Mark. He thinks Mark isn’t dependable. Useless for future ministry, perhaps even unqualified.

First, the consequences of Marks actions negatively impact his relationship with Paul.

That alone would be soul crushing. A man that Mark doubtless looked up to and admired has lost complete faith and confidence in him for future work. Just devastating.

But if that wasn’t enough, not only is Mark’s relationship with Paul damaged, but it turns out that Mark’s actions are now causing issues between others as well. Read the next verse here.

Acts 15:39 CSB

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.

Acts 15:

The fallout doesn’t just affect Mark’s relationships, it ends up affecting the relationships of those around him as well. Barnabas still believed in Mark, but Paul had lost all faith, and the two could not see eye-to-eye over the matter. It cause so much trouble, the text says there was such a sharp disagreement about it that they parted ways.

Paul and Barnabas. Two men that had worked together for years, taught together, preached together, traveled the world together, were persecuted together, fled for their lives together, and brought many people to faith in Jesus Christ together, these too men who had experienced so much together parted ways because they could not agree on how to handle the deserted Mark.

I cannot imagine how Mark had to feel about that. Not only did he damage his relationship with someone he looked up to, but he had caused a division between two individuals that he admired.

How would you have handled that situation? How would you have felt? I’m pretty sure I would have liked to crawl under a rock somewhere and just hide out for a while.

How did Mark react? Well, we don’t exactly know, but we have some information.

How did Mark react? Well, we don’t exactly know, but we have some information.

First, he didn’t go hide under a rock. He apparently decided to learn from his mistakes, do a 180 U-turn, and work on becoming trustworthy again.

I know I would have been tempted in that situation to tell Paul and Barnabas, alright calm down. You two go on together and I’ll just stay home. Mark didn’t do that. He decided to go with Barnabas and continue to preach the gospel with him.

And that’s about all we know. For a while. Mark’s name never appears again the in book of acts, but his name pops up in a few other places and that’s where things really get inspiring.

The Restoration

First, he didn’t go hide under a rock. He apparently decided to learn from his mistakes, do a 180 U-turn, and work on becoming trustworthy again.

I know I would have been tempted in that situation to tell Paul and Barnabas, alright calm down. You two go on together and I’ll just stay home. Mark didn’t do that. He decided to go with Barnabas and continue to preach the gospel with him.

And that’s about all we know. For a while. Mark’s name never appears again the in book of acts, but his name pops up in a few other places and that’s where things really get inspiring.

Check out

Philemon 23–24 CSB

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.

Philemon 24 NASB95

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

Phile

Whoa! That has a different ring to it than “deserter” now doesn’t it? My fellow worker Mark greets you. That’s quite the change in disposition. How about this next one:

Colossians 4:10 CSB

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),

Okay, first Mark is called a fellow worker, and then the church in Colosse is instructed to welcome Mark. Sounds like Paul has begun to take a liking to Mark again. He’s not the only one.

Peter talks about him as well. Look at

1 Peter 5:13 CSB

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son.

Peter calls Mark his son. He isn’t his physical son, but rather a spiritual son. This either means Peter led Mark to Christ or discipled him greatly or maybe even both. In either case, it’s interesting that Mark is with Peter and this letter is considered to be written toward the end of Peter’s life. So Mark seems to be fulfilling an important role by being along side of Peter in his last bit of time on this earth.

Finally, and this is the last passage, but I find it to be the most significant. The book of 2 Timothy is one of Paul’s very last letters that he wrote before he died. He mentioned Mark one last time.

2 Timothy 4:11 CSB

Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.