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Paul and Mark 2Timothy
Paul and Mark
"Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry" (2 Tim. 4:11). Such is the statement of Paul at the end of his life. Such an appraisal of Mark was not Paul's early one. While their relationship started off on a good note it changed. Paul and Barnabas started by taking Mark with them when they set off on their first preaching trip (Acts 13:5). After a very short while, Mark left them and returned home (Acts 13:13).
When they made plans for a second preaching trip, Barnabas suggested that they again take Mark. Paul strongly disagreed! The division prevailed and resulted in Paul and Barnabas going on their separate preaching agendas (Acts 15:37-40). They did NOT let this cause hatred and animosity between them – they just disagreed on taking Mark. Paul refused to take Mark with him. Paul did NOT accuse Mark of being a failure as a Christian, but refused to take him along in the work.
We hear no more about Paul and Mark until Colossians 4:10. Somewhere between Acts 15 (51a.d.) and the writing of Colossians (62 a.d.), both Paul and Mark have changed. Mark has grown, Paul has reassessed his evaluation of Mark, and they are working together. Then this statement pops up a few years later (64-67 a.d.). Truly Mark is useful as he not only overcame the difficulty of rejection and served with Paul, but was chosen to write down the gospel that bears his name.
We can learn from this.
- Our appraisal of people does NOT seal them to such character.
- People can grow and change.
- Our appraisal is not the ONLY one, other brethren may see things differently.
- When people change, our appraisal must also change to reflect the new situation.
- When important people have a low appraisal of us, we need to simply continue in our spiritual growth and service to God. We must not be offended and angry and QUIT serving the Lord.
- In such growth, it may be that we need to be able to accept the first appraisal without harboring a life-long grudge and resentment. This allows for us to later work together and hold each other in esteem for the Lord's sake.
- When someone is not in a position to be useful, someone like Barnabas and his encouragement can bring about growth in one's character and ability.
Hugh DeLong
