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Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry—[2 Timothy 4:11].

Having a winner working along-side you is every leader’s desire. Where did Paul find such a useful team member? How did their paths cross? Was Mark innately good or was his character nurtured?

Last week, we noted that Paul didn’t work alone. We sampled Demas who earlier served Paul; but later, Demas in love with this world deserted him. Now, in contrast, let us consider John, also named Mark¹—by tradition is identified as the author of the book Mark.²

Mark is actually the cousin of Barnabas.³ During the time after Herod’s death, the word of God increased and multiplied. At this time Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them Mark.⁴ Now in the church at Antioch, while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit ordered to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which they have been called.⁵ So they went. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had [Mark] to assist them.⁶ Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And [Mark] left them and returned to Jerusalem.⁷ At this juncture Paul didn’t want anything to do with Mark whom he felt might be an unreliable companion.

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them . . . Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.⁸

Do you have a Barnabas [meaning son of encouragement⁹] in your life who is willing to stand by you when you fail; walk with you for instruction and correction? Or better still, are you a Barnabas to others who are new in the faith?

During Paul’s latter years, he was reconciled to Mark, who had now grown in character; and Mark proved useful. Likewise, Peter endorsed Mark as his son.¹⁰

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified. In you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.¹¹