March 10, 2021 (Wednesday)
When Paul and Barnabas went on their first missionary journey, Barnabas suggested taking along his relative (nephew or cousin), John Mark. Everything seemed to be going well, as far as we know, but Mark, a very young man, left the group and went back home after they had traversed Cyprus and were entering Asia Minor. Nothing more is said about it in the Bible until it was time for a second missionary journey. Barnabas wanted to allow Mark to come with them, but Paul refused, resulting in Barnabas and Mark going one way and Paul choosing Silas as his partner. Many years later, Paul is writing from prison to Timothy and requests that Timothy bring Mark with him to visit Paul in prison, for, as Paul put it, ‘Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11 NLT).
Years earlier, when Peter was imprisoned in Jerusalem, and miraculously freed by an angel, Peter went to the home of Mark’s mother, Mary, because he no doubt knew that was the gathering place for followers of Jesus. Mark, therefore, was well acquainted with believers from his earliest years. I think we can rest assured that he was well taught in the faith. We find him in the company of Paul when Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the Christians in Colosse. Scholars are in agreement that Peter dictated to Mark the gospel which bears Mark’s name. The gospel of Mark was authored by the Apostle Peter.
While we do not have a detailed description of Mark’s experiences, we know enough to believe he was a strong believer who spent time with such spiritual giants as Paul and Peter.
Our theme for this blog is based upon Paul’s change of heart toward Mark over the course of many years. He rejects Mark’s attempt to accompany Paul and Barnabas on a second missionary journey, but calls for Timothy to bring Mark to him because he has proven helpful to Paul’s ministry. He had failed to convince Paul of his abilities to serve the Lord on the first missionary journey, but was given a second chance.
If Paul had thought back across the years of his life, he would have remembered that as a dedicated Jew he had promised to obey God but had passed by any opportunities he may have had to accept Jesus as Savior. Instead of acceptance, he had given Jesus rejection and even persecuted Jesus by persecuting his followers. He,too, had failed. He knew that, and called himself “the chief of sinners.” But he did not dwell on the fact that as a Jew he failed God. The Lord gave him a second chance. Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, struck him down then lifted him up to a place of service. Yet his presence brought trouble in those early days, and he was sent away to his home town, Tarsus, for years until Barnabas came to get him deeply involved in the Lord’s work.
Barnabas was a good man who instinctively gave second chances; Paul was a good man who needed to be convinced.
Questions:
1. Are you asking the Lord for a second chance?
2. Have you been given a second chance?
3. Can you give someone a second chance?
I’LL GO WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO
Words: Mary Brown
Music: Carrie Rounsefell
1892
It may not be on the mountain height
Or over the stormy sea
It may not be at the battle’s front
My Lord will have need of me
But if, by a still, small voice he calls
To paths that I do not know
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine
I’ll go where you want me to go
I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord
Over mountain or plain or sea
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord
I’ll be what you want me to be
Perhaps today there are loving words
Which Jesus would have me speak
There may be now in the paths of sin
Some wand’rer whom I should seek
O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide
Tho dark and rugged the way
My voice shall echo the message sweet
I’ll say what you want me to say
I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord
Over mountain or plain or sea
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord
I’ll be what you want me to be
There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide
Where I may labor through life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified
So trusting my all to thy tender care
And knowing thou lovest me
I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere
I’ll be what you want me to be
I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord
Over mountain or plain or sea
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord
I’ll be what you want me to be