Second Chances and Redemption - A Reflection on John Mark

For the last few days I have been thinking about a young man mentioned in the Book of Acts.  His name is John Mark and while we don't know much about him, he has a significant impact in the ministry of Paul and Barnabas.  We first hear of him the night Peter is miraculously freed from prison.

Acts 12:11-12 NIV:
[11] "Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

[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."

From this short verse and inclusion by Luke of his name, we can see he was likely a young man, and was raised in a family of faith. Luke was writing this not as  a first person account, and that he knew John Mark personally, likely lead to his inclusion here.  In fact it might have been a bit of John Mark's remembrance that was included by Luke here.

We next see John Mark accompanying Paul and Silas as they return form Jerusalem back to Antioch. Acts 12:25 NIV:  "When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark."

I can just imagine the excitement of John Mark, setting out with Paul and Barnabas, heading back to Antioch with them.  They had not started any of their missionary adventures yet, but they were elders in the Antioch church, and God was moving powerfully there.   What a great honor it must have been to serve these two leaders!  Additionally, John Mark was essentially the second representative from Jerusalem to visit the growing church in Antioch.  It doesn't say anything about this, but I would imagine he was considered one of the young leaders, possibly being raised up for significant ministry.

Shortly after their arrival Paul and Barnabas are called out by the Holy Spirit, to be sent on the first of their missions (See Acts 13:1-3).  They were prayed over and sent out and John Mark once again accompanied them.  Acts 13:4-5 NIV:  "The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. [5] When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper."

This Mission to Cyprus is really the first missionary trip of the church, and John Mark had the opportunity to go along with Paul and Barnabas!  Talk about being on the cutting edge, seeing God move in powerful ways, as He confirmed their words with Miracles and signs, what an exciting time it must have been for John Mark!

It seems that they are not too far into their mission when we hear of John Mark once again, really just a  quick side-note.   Acts 13:13 NIV:  "From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem."

That is all that is recorded about John Mark's ministry with Paul and Barnabas, so the question is why is he significant?  The answer to that is found in the following passages from Acts 15:36-41 NIV:

[36] "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” [37] Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, [38] but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. [39] They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, [40] but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. [41] He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."

I can't even fathom the impact of this disagreement on John Mark.  There was clearly more to the story then what was previously recorded by Luke, but we don't have any details.  Whatever the source of the disagreement, we can tell that Paul had a very strong opinion that John Mark couldn't be trusted.

As I was reflecting on on this, I was reminded of times in my life where certain ministers or ministries had expressed concerns about myself, effectively labeling me as only good for certain things.  I remember the zeal I had for serving the Lord, and I remember the impact their negative words had on me, sometimes causing me to even doubt my calling, or my choice to follow the Lord.  I am sure that John Mark was impacted deeply by Paul's words.

My reflection continued, for it is clear that Barnabas provided an opportunity for redemption and restoration to John Mark!  Even though I know almost nothing of him, I am moved in my heart to compassion for him.  That John Mark wanted a second chance is clear, for this wasn't some conscripted service.  I am sure He asked to join them again, and was hoping for a second chance to return to the Lord's service in this way. 

What struck me about this is how merciful the Holy Spirit is toward John Mark.  Make no mistake, the decisions to go back to the missions field was not just an idea of Paul or Barnabas, but rather divinely inspired.  They were once again being encouraged forward by the Holy Spirit.  The key point here is that John Mark's inclusion was also part of the plan of the Lord.  While John Mark was effectively serving as a helper to Paul and Barnabas, he was serving the Lord primarily!

Often we can lose sight of that fact, that we are all servants of the Lord, first and foremost, especially when personalities get involved.  Even the most anointed ministers are not the Lord, and sometimes can let personal offense or their perspective get in the way.  We are all individually called and chosen by the Lord, and He is one to whom we are called!  Who knows why John Mark left, but maybe it was in obedience to the Lord?  I have had times, in the past, where what the Lord was calling me to do was in conflict with the plans of someone I was serving under.  When I brought it to the Lord, He made it very clear.  He said, "You can either be loyal to them, or obedient to me!"  At that point the answer was easy.

I believe that Barnabas came to a very similar point in this situation, He could either be loyal to Paul or obedient to what He felt was right in the Lord to do, to bring John Mark along, and give him a second chance!   I am grateful for this example of obedience in the face of personal conflict, not as an example of conflict, but rather as an example of redemption and restoration!  I believe this demonstrates clearly the Lord's heart for John Mark, and really for very believer!  None of us is less than any other in the eyes of the Lord!  From a purely human perspective, I would rank Paul as being more important, but in the Lord's eyes, John Mark was, and is, just as significant!

So today, my encouragement is to look to the Lord for my sense of significance, period!  I have served in many ways, and under many ministries, but my primary allegiance is always to the Lord!  He is the only one who  truly knows my heart, and His calling in my life!  I certainly don't always get it right, but I must always look to the Lord, not at anyone else, or at their opinions or decisions concerning me.  The Lord has a plan of me, and as long as I am looking to Him and trying my best to follow Him, I will be successful, regardless of what others think!

Thank You Lord, for calling me and loving me, and for being my Lord!  Help me to walk in freedom, not allowing other people's opinions of me to limit my service to You!

Amen!

Receive, Respond, Reflect and Rejoice!

This morning I am reflecting on some verses from Paul's letter to Titus 3:3-8 NIV:

[3] "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. [4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. [8] This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."

I really like Paul's summary of the Gospel message here.  He calls Jesus the kindness and love of God our Savior, and that is a wonderful name.  Jesus is NOT the judgment and punishing of God, but rather the kindness and love of God!  He saved us because of His kindness, love and mercy, while we were still sinners.  This is true of us all, for His salvation is just as real today as it ever has been.

Secondly, his description of our transformation, "washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" is so helpful.  It is not self-purification and works, but rather rebirth and renewal both of which the Lord accomplishes in us.  We are receivers of God's abundant grace and mercy.  Our job in this whole thing is to receive and acknowledge the great gift we have been given.  In the end, our efforts to do good are simply a response of gratitude for all that we have been given!  We are responding to His initiation, to His action, to His offer, to His love, and then called to reflect that back to the world around us!

I guess I could summarize the Gospel it as receive, respond and reflect, all accomplished in a spirit of gratitude!  Or maybe it could be summed up as receive, respond, reflect and rejoice!

Thank You Lord for Your simple truths and encouragements!

Individual Learning Plans From The Holy Spirit

This morning I have been reading in Hebrews 12, and letting God's word soak into my soul.  I am aware of my need to spend more time reading The Word, so I am endeavouring to increase my time reading and reflecting.  The verses that I am reflecting on this morning are as follows - Hebrews 12:7-13 NASB:

[7] "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? [8] But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. [9] Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? [10] For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. [11] All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

[12] "Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, [13] and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed."

Now the NIV version translates this differently speaking of enduring hardship as discipline, which seems to twist the meaning slightly out of context to me.  Immediately on reading the NIV version, one feels that God is causing the hardship to enable discipline, and thus colors the discipline with a dark taint.  The NASB version (shown above) doesn't elicit in me the same perspective.

The word the author used, that has been translated discipline is the the Greek word paideia, which is defined as follows:

1) the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body
2) whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions.
    a) instruction which aims at increasing virtue
    b) chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)

Now we know from the context of the following text that the author is using this to refer to children, as sons and daughters, not as adults, so when we read this section we should understand the use of discipline purely as definition 1 above.  Secondly, since the definition refers to training and education of children, we should think of education under the best teacher, the one who knows us perfectly, and understands even our inner thoughts, Holy Spirit.  The VAST majority of this education and training is positive in focus and results, the purpose and goal is to help us mature and grow in knowledge and understanding.  Tests are to help us and our teacher understand what we have learned.  Tests can actually be fun if you totally understand your material, and are meant to be encouraging in that perspective. 

I remember one time my son got back his Missouri Standardized Testing Results and was feeling bad about his scores.  He was in the 5th grade at the time, but He didn't fully comprehend what the scores meant.  When I explained to him the fact that he was doing math and reading at levels similar to highschool students (grades 10-12), he suddenly went from feeling discouraged, to feeling REALLY good about himself.

It seems to me that the purpose of our discipline (education and training) is to allow each of us to mature fully into trusted adult sons and daughters of God.  As each of us is unique, I believe that each of our trainings is unique to some extent as well, a Holy Spirit crafted individual learning plan.  He is about raising all of us to represent Him, and He is primarily a God of love and compassion!  He wants us to be able to represent Him to others, and walk along others as they go through discipleship.  Any punishment that I have ever received was not so much punishment as having to redo work in a particular area. 

If we think about school, any time we get a failing grade in a particular subject that is meant to provide evidence of the need for repeating that subject or subject area!  We don't receive beatings for failing a spelling test (at least I never did) and I don't see God the Father ever using such methods with me, in any area of failing.  He is about growing me and training me to faithfully represent Him to those I encounter, helping them to understand what they are experiencing and providing insight into how God works in our lives.  As the author writes above, "He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness."

Finally, the author finishes this section with a strange bit on strengthening hands and knees that are feeble, and making straight paths for our feet.  Again, we tend to think education is just about the mind, but we are triune beings, beings comprised of body, mind and spirits, and God's education system doesn't just focus on one part of us to the exclusion of others.  Holy Spirit, really does want to teach us in all areas, and desires that we mature and grow and develop well balanced in all areas.  When I read this statement, I am envisioning those of us that grew up under poor teaching, where only certain parts of the Gospel were preached, and thus our development was out of balance.  We need proper education and focus to strengthen the weaker areas!  There are certainly some who have become so focused in one area that they have become disjointed, or out of proper alignment, which affects all their thinking and actions.   The Lord would have us healed and balanced, and He will help us.

So this morning, I am encouraged in my life to listen closely to Holy Spirit as He guides me and directs me.  I am encouraged to listen and to embrace His direction, knowing full well that His purpose is to enable me to grow into a mature son, one who can be entrusted with greater responsibility and authority.  I am encouraged to endure discipline, just like I endured through math class, trig, algebra, chemistry and even phy-ed.  All of these classes were designed to aid me in growing in my education, and how much better is the Holy Spirit at personally crafting an individual learning plan just for me! 

Amen!