God often chooses the lowly to spread His word. John Mark, the writer of the earliest Gospel, is an encouragement to those of us with a checkered past.

John Mark possibly lacked a fatherly presence in his life, as indicated by the mention only of his mother in the Bible (Acts 12:12). Mark was the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10) and accompanied Barnabas and Paul on the first Christian mission (Acts 12:25). Yet John Mark "deserted" them and refused to accompany them (Acts 15:37-38) after the action got rough (Acts 13:13). In addition to fear, Mark also could have been homesick for Jerusalem, or he could have been upset that his cousin was no longer the lead apostle on the mission. This is not the mindset of a fruitful missionary team member, and Paul therefore refused to give Mark a chance to redeem himself on a second mission (Acts 15:38-39). Some Bible scholars speculate that the young man with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemani who was in such a panic to flee from the soldiers that he left his clothes behind was John Mark himself (Mk 14:51-52). If this is true, it adds to Mark's tendency to run away in time of trouble.

Are you like John Mark? Do you have a history from which you can't escape? John Mark persevered, and became a faithful, useful missionary, even a co-worker of Paul (Phlm 24; 2 Tm 4:11). "God makes all things work together for the good of those who love" Him (Rm 8:28), and He is the same today as in Mark's time (Heb 13:8). Give your entire life, warts and all, to the Lord.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 23, 2007

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