Mark

Summary

As a teenager, Mark tried and failed to follow Jesus. The writings of the early church fathers agree that this young man was Mark.

As a man in his early thirties, Mark tried and failed to be a minister of the gospel. Barnabas and Saul gave Mark a chance to participate in the first missionary trip.
Mark’s failures caused a split between Paul and Barnabas.

Barnabas took Mark back to the place where he had quit before. Mark became an effective minister as a man in his mid-forties.

Mark was a valuable minister of the gospel while in his late forties. It took 20 to 25 years for Mark to become a consistent Christian who was effective in ministry
God gave Mark several chances for successful ministry. Mark became one of the four authors of the gospels.

Scripture References

  • The young man — Mark 14.51-52

  • Peter goes to Mark’s mother’s house — Acts 12.12,25

  • John Mark goes with Paul and Barnabas — Acts 13.5, 13

  • Paul and Barnbas fight — Acts 15.37-39

  • The disciple Jesus loved — Jn 13.23, 21.20

  • Peter and John escape — Acts 5.22, 26

  • Witness to what was seen — Luke 1.2, Acts 26.16

  • Paul speaks in third person — 2 Cor 12.1-7

  • Barnabas home town in Cyprus — Acts 4.36

  • Mark a fellow worker and a cousin — Col 4.10-11, Pmn 23

  • Mark useful in ministry — 2 Tim 4.11, 1 Pet 5.13

Discussion Questions

  1. Was Paul right about Mark? Was Barnabas also right?

  2. Did Mark change or did Paul’s opinion of him change?

  3. Would Paul and Barnabas have continued working together if Mark hadn’t been an issue?

  4. Have you ever judged someone incorrectly before the end of the story? What should you have done differently?

  5. What do riding a bicycle and riding a horse have in common with Mark’s story?

  6. Have you ever experienced fear of failing? What were the circumstances? How did you overcome it?

  7. Fear of failure can paralyze people. What are the emotional consequences of failing?

  8. Risk aversion is a big economic issue today in the United States. Why do you think that is true?

  9. Risk aversion is a big spiritual issue today in the United States. Why do you think that is true?

  10. How should faithful churches help people deal with failure in their spiritual walk and in ministry?

  11. Have you ever failed someone close to you? How did you feel about it then? What kind of emotions does it bring back when you think about it now?

  12. Have you ever failed in service to the Lord? How did you feel about it then? What kind of emotions does it bring back when you think about it now?

  13. Has someone who was close to you ever failed you? How did you feel about it then? What kind of emotions does it bring back when you think about it now? Does thinking about this change your view of Paul’s reaction to Mark’s departure?

  14. Who should have won the argument: Paul or Barnabas? Why?

  15. In what ways can you relate to Mark as a person and as a follower of Jesus?

  16. Have you ever known someone who had one or more of the positive characteristics that Mark demonstrated?

  17. What effect did they have on the people they interacted with, particularly with the fellowship they participated in?

  18. What appeals to you about the story of Mark?