Have You Ever Been "John Marked"?

By Gobel Brockman

There's a man in the Bible that we don't hear much about, but many of us can relate to him. His name was John Mark. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but departed in the middle of it and returned home. (Acts 13:13) A while later Paul and Barnabas decided to revisit the areas where they had earlier ministered. Barnabas wanted to give John Mark another chance, but Paul wanted no part of it. The Bible says that the dissension between them over this became so sharp that they decided to part from one another, with Barnabas taking John Mark with him while Paul traveled with Silas. (Acts 15:36-40)

There's something very interesting to me in that story. In the beginning of Paul's ministry the other believers wouldn't accept him as a fellow minister. Barnabas, known as "the son of consolation" was successful in appealing to the others to accept Paul. Now he was trying to get Paul, the recipient of his earlier intercession, to show the same grace to John Mark, but sadly to no avail. John Mark was able to minister with Barnabas, but I'm sure the rejection of Paul stayed with him.

I titled this devotional "Have You Ever Been John Marked?" What do I mean by that? I mean have you ever failed and then had to deal with people who wouldn't let you forget it? I'm sure almost everyone reading this would say yes, simply because we've all failed at some point. People's unwillingness to forgive and inability to let you forget can indeed feel overwhelming. You've asked God to forgive you, and you're confident that He has, but those around you seem to have forgotten that they needed the same grace you now seek yourself.

But the good news is this: Paul eventually recognized his error and began working with John Mark again. As Paul faced the end of his life he even asked that John Mark be sent to him, for he considered him "useful to me for the ministry." (II Timothy 4:11) 

What's the lesson in this for us? Although the Bible says little about him, it's obvious that John Mark continued following Jesus and being faithful to what God had called him to do, while leaving his previous failure behind. We must do likewise. At some point we will fail in life. The question is, will we stay down, or resume seeking God and move on from our mistakes. John Mark did, and as a result he ended up being both used by God and appreciated by Paul.

So if you have been "John Marked" because of a past failure, don't let it hold you back. Resume doing what you know is right and be faithful to the God who called you. Learn from your mistakes, repent of them, and move forward in the grace of God and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. That faithfulness will soon be rewarded, and your gifts will again bring glory to God.

And don't forget to let the Barnabas that God sends you to walk with you on the journey. We all need consolation sometimes.