“The Beatitudes: John Mark“
[By Sonyia Turner]

Each one of us have a path to walk in this life.  It is a path of our own choosing, one that is either Godly or one of the world. Jesus spoke, in Matthew 5:6, about those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (KJV). In finding an example of someone who chose the path that leads to God, let us consider John Mark and examine his choices which exhibit a life that exemplifies one “to hunger and thirst after righteousness” (KJV).

We first read about John Mark in Acts 12:12 as he is gathered with others praying for Peter to be released from prison. This fervent prayer, being answered with Peter appearing at John Mark’s mother’s house after escaping his captors. What an exciting time in his life! We can only speculate as to the excitement he personally felt in seeing Peter’s appearance after such prayers. Are we being prayerful?

Later, in that same chapter, he leaves Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey to spread the gospel (Acts 12:24-25). He must have been a brave and eager man to leave home and teach the gospel in a foreign land. While on this journey he was credited as assisting Paul and Barnabas in proclaiming the truth to the Jews (Acts 13:5). However, he did later part company with the men in Pamphylia, return to Jerusalem in Acts 13:14, and did not finish the journey. It is not recorded why he left the journey early, we only know he did want to return to such work later. Barnabas wanted him to join the journey again, with Paul, to travel again to those cities. In Acts 15:36-39, Barnabas showed his faith in John Mark, while Paul did not think him up for the job. Barnabas gave him the opportunity to grow in his faith and work for the Lord, together as they left for Cyprus, parting company for a time with Paul. Are we forging on to spread the word?

John Mark was a worker that showed his commitment to the gospel. Paul, who did not want to travel again with this young man, recognized his efforts and called him “…my fellow worker… and… a comfort…” (Colossians 4:11, ESV). Paul later referred to him as “…profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11, ESV). This was at the end of Paul’s life and he called for the young man who had left him in Pamphylia many years earlier, a man that was a close friend, John Mark. Are we fellow workers in the spread of God’s word?

Remember Peter, whom John Mark prayed earnestly for in Acts 12? He called (John) Mark his “son” in 1 Peter 5:13. How much time they must have spent together! This showed the strong relationship between these Godly men, one built of love for proclaiming the good news of Jesus and spreading hope to the world. Are we treating our fellow Christians as family?

Throughout his life, John Mark benefited in having a positive influence from Barnabas, Peter, and Paul. He was nurtured in the truth, and became a great worker for the Lord. These men took time with him, and the evidence of their efforts was great. Are we encouraging to others in proclaiming the gospel?

John Mark exhibits the qualities of a person who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. Sitting at the feet of those who walked with Jesus, to hear of Christ as he went about performing miracles, and then his crucifixion, death, and resurrection; Mark learned. The author of one of the books chronicling the life of Christ; he spent his life praying, assisting the work, a fellow worker in the ministry, a comfort and author, all for the cause of Christ and proclaiming the gospel. Are we using our skills?

It is our duty to continue proclaiming the truth, to encourage the young, teach them, help them, guide them, make them family, hold them up and cultivate that love of the Lord like we see in John Mark. Be a John Mark.