“She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.”
THE LIFE OF MARK, Part II
and so does Mark
When Paul and Barnabas finished their relief ministry to the saints in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch (another 300-mile or 483-km trip to the north).
Ac 12:25, “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John, whose surname was Mark.”
We learn from Colossians that John Mark’s mother was the sister of Barnabas. Thus, John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas. Barnabas invited John Mark to go with them to Antioch after the Jerusalem Council. Mark then accompanied his cousin Barnabas and Paul to Antioch.
At Antioch, the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Paul to go on a missionary expedition further into the Roman Empire. The local church at Antioch sent them out on this mission (Ac 13:1-4). They took John Mark with them. He served as their “assistant.”
Ac 13:5, “And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John [Mark] as their assistant.”
Since John Mark was their “assistant,” he did the odd chores. He set up the P.A. system, drove the car, and organized their meetings. He did the legwork for the team.
PRINCIPLE:
The work of God needs people to do the legwork.
APPLICATION:
The work of God needs to champion people who do the legwork. Every ministry needs this kind of person. Thank God for each of them. These are the people who do much for the kingdom of God. However, we hear very little about them publically. They work behind the scenes. Very little kingdom work would get done if it were not for them.
(The life of Mark — to be continued)
