Turning the World Upside Down: The Ministry of Restoration: Acts 13:13

I. Mark Resigns vs. 13

A. The reason for Mark’s leaving, is not given. Perhaps, because he saw Jerusalem and Antioch explode in growth, and they had little “success”. (Dennis and Chris Z ex). It could be because Pamphylia had sickness. It could be that Paul and/or Barnabas got sick and Mark left them when they needed him the most.

Gal. 4:13 “but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;”

B. This was a pattern in his life, that at that time had not been broken.

Mark 14:52-53 “But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together.”

C. Whatever the reason, it stuck in Paul’s mind.

II. Mark is Restored: Acts 15:36-40

Acts 15:36–40 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. And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

A. Paul still hadn’t fully forgiven Mark for leaving them, but Barnabas wanted to take his cousin with him. When you fail or fall most will hold it against you, but a small group will be willing to go out on a limb for you. Like Barnabas did for Saul, Barnabas, and Lord knows how many others.

B. It is the church’s duty to restore and not condemn.

Gal. 6:1-5 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.”

C. If they refuse then you let them go.

Matt. 18:15-20 ““If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.””

I Cor. 5:1-5 “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

III. Mark Became Reliable

A. We know that Mark spent some time with Paul, while Paul was under house arrest.

Philemon 24 “as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.”

B. Mark was welcomed by Paul who forgave him, and in doing so admitted he was wrong about him.

Col. 4:10 “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);”

C. Before he died Paul wanted to see Mark. This shows how much Paul thought of him.

II Tim. 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.”

D. Mark would serve Peter and write the gospel of Mark. If Jesus entrusted a failure to do so much how much more will He entrust you with.

I Pet. 5:13 “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.”