Friday, November 1, 2013

Restoring John-Mark

"Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem" Acts 13:13

Did John-Mark leave because he didn't know how to take the miracles that happened around Paul? (Acts 13:1-12) We really don't know. But, maybe John-Mark did leave the early ministry for a more familiar station. For safer ground. It has been known of others to do this also. We may get overwhelmed and back-off from a certain group or 'calling' in the church.

(I didn't feel comfortable teaching the tweens in our church and left that age group to other teachers. I am more comfortable teaching the ladies and young women.)

John-Mark later recorded the Gospel of Mark, a great description of Jesus as the servant to man. Many Bible scholars believe this may have been Peter's account of Jesus' life on earth, as dictated to Mark. However it was written, John-Mark was used by God, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to write one of the great books in our Bible.

God knew for what He would use Mark. Whatever failings John-Mark may have had, God forgave him, placing him in a wonderful ministry.

Paul restored John-Mark himself later in his second letter, instructing Timothy. "...Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry" 2 Timothy 4:11.

If we know a brother or sister that leaves a ministry we thought they should have kept, we can and should restore them. We can watch and help them find where God uses them and then build them up in that ministry. Never should we set them aside or give up on them because they left the ministry we thought they should participate in. God knows all about them, their strengths and weaknesses.

"But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased" 1 Corinthians 12:18.

God restored John-Mark and used him for His glorious purpose. Praise God.

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