Bible Studies

---

Hello, my name is John Mark. Yes, I know, I have two names. John is my Jewish name and Mark is my Roman name. My mother was a great help to many Christians in Jerusalem. She opened up her beautiful home for prayer, for teaching, and also as a place of refuge for Christians who were being persecuted. In fact her home was the first place that Peter went after he was freed from prison by an angel of the Lord. Hospitality was certainly one of her gifts.

I was pleased that Barnabas and Paul took me back with them when they returned to Antioch after having come to Jerusalem to bring much needed aid. Barnabas and Paul also took me along with them on their mission to Cyprus as their helper. When we arrived at Salamis, they began preaching in the Synagogues. Barnabas and Paul proclaimed the word of the Lord from one end of Cyprus to the other. Paul was beginning to be the primary leader of the group, and he and his companions were getting ready to sail from Paphos.

However, it was at this time that I decided not to continue on with them, and I returned to Jerusalem. Some people say that I left because I was upset over Paul taking more of a leadership role of the group, ahead of my cousin Barnabas. Others say it was because the work was too hard and dangerous, and I was too soft and fearful. Still others think that it was because I objected to Gentiles being offered salvation solely on faith alone, without the necessity of keeping the Jewish law. The real reason, I will not say, because it really doesn’t matter. Only know this, I was wrong.

Later, Paul told Barnabas that he wanted to revisit all the cities that they had proclaimed the word of the Lord in. Barnabas wanted to take me along with them, but Paul would not stand for it, he was still upset with me. He insisted that I not travel with them since I had deserted them earlier. I don’t blame Paul; he had every right not to trust me, I had really let him down. I just wish that he had been a little more understanding. But thank God for my cousin Barnabas, what an encouragement he was. He took me with him even though it meant that he would have to part-company with his longtime companion and friend, Paul.

God is so wonderful! He allowed me to spend time with Barnabas and learn so much from him. Later I was even reconciled to Paul. When Paul was in prison at Rome he recommended me to the church at Colosse and said that I was an encouragement to him; something that I learned from Barnabas. Paul even considered me an equal when he wrote to a fellow Christian named Philemon, calling me a “fellow worker”. It was such a blessing that Paul would ask Timothy to pick me up and visit him in Rome where he was once again in prison, saying that I was useful for ministry.

I have talked so much about Paul and Barnabas, but it was Peter who was my father in the faith. I spent a lot of time with Peter, listening to story after story about Jesus. How Jesus performed great miracles; how He taught the disciples; how He loved them. Listening to these stories, I felt the spirit of God move me to write them down. Oh, did I tell you, I was the one that pinned, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, what you know today to be the Gospel of Mark.

I would like to say one thing more. I was a very immature Christian, and I made many mistakes, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, perseverance, and with the help of great teachers and mentors became a mature man of God. So just remember to persevere, never give up, God will work through a willing heart to bring about a mature faith.

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bring you peace and comfort until He returns.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE