Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Acts 12:6-12

Theme: Mark was a product of a Christian community, who failed in ministry but got a second chance and ultimately reconciled with Paul.

Date: 10/14/2018 File name: GospelOfMark01.wpd

ID Number:

Mark walked with God.

The Mark I’m referring to is the author of the Gospel that bears his name, and who is frequently referred to in the New Testament as John Mark.

Historically the Church has referred to him as Mark the Evangelist since he is 1) The author of one of the four gospels that together are called the evangel — the good news of the story of Jesus Christ, and 2) Because tradition says that, after the Apostle Peter’s death in Rome, John Mark traveled to Alexandria, Egypt to preach to the gospel, and was ultimately martyred there.

All through the New Testament, his name is peppered in here and there.

He doesn’t stand out as a primary character, but when you dig in and look for him and his life, it’s a story of conversion, failure, of redemption, and faithfulness.

I. MARK: A YOUNG MAN WHO CAME TO CHRIST BY THE INFLUENCE OF FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS

(there are three elements that stand out in his experience)

1. 1st, John Mark was the product of a Christian home

a. from several references in the Book of Acts, we can glean that John Mark lived with his mother Mary in Jerusalem

1) her son’s name is John Mark

b. the indication seems to be that John Mark’s mother was a woman of means who had a sizeable home, big enough to accommodate a large group of people

ILLUS.

The fact that Mary is never further identified beyond her first name is a strong indication, that virtually everyone in the early church knew who Luke was referring to.

She didn’t need any other identification.

She’s simply “Mary with the big house where the Christians meet,” and that clearly identified her to most of the early disciples.

1) we know from Acts 1:15 that before the Day of Pentecost swelled their numbers, that the early church in Jerusalem numbered about 120 people

2) Acts 2:1 tells us that on the Day of Pentecost that the entire church was gathered in one home

3) we think it’s Mary’s home

c. Mary is wholeheartedly devoted to Christ and his church and makes her home available whenever it was needed by the Christian community

1) it was in her house that the disciples met to pray for the release of Peter from prison

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

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.”

(Acts 12:11–12, NIV84)

2) it is here in Acts 12:12 that we first read of John Mark, but it will not be the last

a) it’s about A.D. 44 — a decade since the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord, Jesus

b) John Mark is a young adult probably in his mid-twenties, and a member of The Way there in Jerusalem

c. we also know John Mark was related to Barnabas

“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.)”

(Colossians 4:10, NIV84)

1) so John Mark was the product of a Christian home

d.

blessed are children who grow up in a Christian home where Christ is honored and worshiped

2. 2nd, John Mark was the product of a vibrant church

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

(Acts 2:42, NIV84)

“All the believers were one in heart and mind.

No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

34 There were no needy persons among them.

For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”

(Acts 4:32–35, NIV84)

a. after the resurrection, the disciples became bold witnesses — John Mark saw that

1) we find Peter and John and the other Apostles preaching the gospel and the church is growing by leaps and bounds

“So the word of God spread.

The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”

(Acts 6:7, NIV84)

b. by the time we get to Acts 12, the church has been expanding for a decade

1) Saul, the terror of the church, has been converted and becomes Paul the missionary

2) Peter has taken the gospel to the Gentiles and churches are springing up in other communities — and John Mark is a witness of this phenomenal growth

c. in Acts 12, Herod Agrippa has arrested James and puts him to death and then arrests Peter in order to do they same

“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.

This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each.

Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

(Acts 12:1–5, NIV84)

d. when Peter is arrested and imprisoned, we find the early church gathered at what must have been a pretty intense prayer meeting

1) Peter is miraculously delivered — and John Mark is there when Peter begins banging on the door

e. John Mark was undoubtedly a witness to the ministry and fellowship and teaching of the Apostles

f. blessed are children who grow up in a gospel-preaching, Christ-honoring, church

3. 3rd.

John Mark was the product of influential Christians

a. we don’t know what kind of relationship the young John Mark may have had with Jesus

1) there is one tantalizing piece of information in John Mark’s Gospel indicating that as a young teenager John Mark was a follower of Christ

“Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man.

Seize him and lead him away under guard.”

45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!”

And he kissed him.

46 And they laid hands on him and seized him.

47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.

But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”

50 And they all left him and fled.

51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body.

And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.”

(Mark 14:44–52, ESV)

2) John Mark is the only gospel that gives us this little tidbit of information, and a lot of people think that John Mark is inserting himself into the story

a) there is simply no reason to share this seemingly insignificant piece of information unless this happens to be a vivid, first-hand account of the event by a participant of the event

b) a young un-named man, following Jesus and the disciples is seized in what we would call his underwear, and he gladly leaves it behind, running away naked, in great fear of his life

c) it is such a personal detail; the sort of thing that only an eyewitness would remember

3) so it seems probable that John Mark may have known and been a follower of Jesus

ILLUS.

I can’t help but wonder if Mary, John Mark’s mother, was one of the women whom we’re told supported Jesus’ ministry financially.

And, I wonder if Jesus ever mussed the hair on John Mark’s head.

This is all conjecture, of course.

b. what we know for sure is that John Mark was well acquainted with men like Barnabas, Peter and the other disciples from a young age, and would, in time, become an acquaintance and companion of the Apostle Paul

1) in 1 Peter 5:13, the apostle Peter refers to John Mark as his son which may be an indication that the Apostle was responsible for leading the young man to faith in Christ

2) if nothing else, it implies that Peter took a young John Mark under his wing and helped him grow and mature in his faith

c. then there were his travels with men like Barnabas, Paul, Silas, Luke and others

d. blessed are the children who grow up with faithful examples of the authentic Christian life

A. WHAT’S THE LESSON?

It Takes a Faith Community to Grow a Christian

ILLUS.

Loan-wolf Christianity seldom produces mature believers.

I have encountered this attitude many times in social media and in person.