God's Grace Displayed in the Life of John Mark. How? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba

The gospel was Mark is attributed to having been written by John Mark. The Holy Spirit used various men to write and preserve the Bible that we have. In this it is the word of God, Himself. He orchestrated each writer’s pen presenting His Story. To fully understand the style used, one must consider to whom it is written. The gospel of Mark was written to the Roman Christians. For that reason, it’s style is one that presents the message in a style that “is brief and blunt, pertinent and pithy, short and sweet…this is the gospel of action and accomplishment.”[1] This is what would be best suited for the Roman Christians who lived under a dictatorship that signified power.

It was an act of God’s Grace that chose John Mark to write the Gospel of Mark.

To further understand the gospel of Mark, one must also look at who John Mark was and why the Holy Spirit chose him to record this gospel for us. We know that his mother was the one whose home Paul went; after being released from prison in Acts 12:12. “where many gathered to pray”. Many also believe that it was this house where the Lord’s Supper occurred and hence John Mark is writing about his own encounter in Mark 14:51-52 when he tells of a young man wrapped in a linen cloth fled naked through the streets after the guards laid hold on his linen cloth (a story we will explore further as we reach Mark 14).

JOHN MARK THE MAN

John Mark received much of his knowledge of the events in Christ’s life from Simon Peter. Simon Peter referred to John Mark as his “son” in I Peter 5:13. This is not referring to a son by birth; rather, as indicating that Peter led this young man to a saving knowledge of Christ-much as Paul refers to Timothy as his son (2 Timothy 2:1). Also, we know that John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10). Furthermore, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas at the beginning of their first missionary journey; however, he turned back (Acts 13:13). Because of his desertion, Paul did not want him to join them on the second journey. Indeed, this led to a disagreement between Barnabas and Paul, leading to their going separate ways (Acts 15:38-39). Barnabas took John Mark with him to Cyprus and Paul to Cilicia.

But as grace would have it and John Mark grew in his faith; later, Paul would later regard John Mark as one of the few who were faithful to the ministry of Christ to the end, requesting his presence during his darkest hours in a Roman dungeon because “he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). Much like his mentor, Peter; John Mark had learned firsthand the sweet grace of being forgiven. His accounts of Jesus Christ, most likely the recordings of what Peter had told Him, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit take on special meaning for each of us who have at one time or another failed in the ministry. After all God used him to be instrument of this gospel.

“he learned firsthand that God gives penitent believers opportunity to recover from past failure. Mark not only heard redemption and new life proclaimed, he experienced it in his own life.”[2]

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Consider all this as we begin a study through the book of Mark; as it speaks to each of us. God’s grace is bigger than our failures, when we turn to Him. He can use each of us to spread His gospel message, regardless of our past, if only we are willing to follow after Him.

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.