Mark's life is remarkable.  John or Yohanan was his Jewish name, meaning Jehovah is gracious.  Mark was his Roman name meaning a large hammer.  He was also called Marcus.  He probably  first heard Jesus at the enigmatic age of fifteen or sixteen.  Touched by His teachings, he followed Jesus wherever he could.  He befriended Peter and learnt a lot from him.  "Jesus is a great teacher, uncle," he would say and Peter would correct him saying, "Not only that but He is the Son of God!" Thus faith was planted in his young heart.  He was closely following Jesus and when He was arrested in Gethsemane, he quickly wrapped himself in a blanket and ran out to witness the scene.  When somebody caught his blanket, he left it in his hands and ran away (Mk 14:51).  He wept through the night.  The news of Jesus' crucifixion shattered him but when he heard about His resurrection, his heart danced.  He kept himself close to Peter uncle.

His mother Mary was a rich widow in Jerusalem with a commodious house, so much so, it became the meeting place of believers (Acts 12:12).  His mother's brother Barnabas, a Levite,  known for his winsomeness, was in Cyprus.  He sold his possessions and gave them to the church (Act 4:36,37).  He used to stay in Mary's home whenever he visited Jerusalem and made deep impressions on Mark, who was now a handsome young man. 

News came as a blow that his favourite friend Peter uncle was arrested by Herod and incarcerated.  It was Peter uncle who led him to a saving knowledge of Christ and taught him a lot about Jesus (1 Pet 5:13).  His fate was sealed, or so they thought, because of the precedence of James' martyrdom (Acts 12:1-3).

Mark, being a lone young man in the crowd of women in his home, locked himself up in an inner room to pray for Peter uncle.  Oh, what a joy it was when he stood before him!  So Peter continued to mentor Mark.  Brought up as a good Jew, he grew up as a good Christian by the teachings of his mother and supported by his uncle Barnabas.   His uncle being active in ministry in Antioch had come down to Jerusalem with Saul to handover offerings for the poor saints in Jerusalem, sent by Antioch believers.  So they visited Mary's home. 

"Hello, Mark, what are you doing here, idling?  Why don't you come along with us to Antioch?  You will be great help to us and also learn a lot."  Barnabas threw the ball in Mark's court.  "Go, Mark, you should get out of the house." This was Mary. The new uncle Saul looked hard-boiled  to Mark.  But he thought it was worth the trial and threw up his backpack and started.  "This is not what I want to do, but for the present this seems to be a good option," was his logical conclusion(Acts 12:25). 

So they took up the journey to Antioch.  The muscular Mark helped carry their luggage and did all odd jobs.  The church at Antioch was new to Mark, comprising more of Gentile converts.  Uncles Barnabas and Saul were prominent members, teaching the new converts about Jesus Christ and the salvation He gives. There were other prophets and teachers too, like Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch.  He was getting used to a cosmopolitan crowd.  Now, one prophet prophesied that Saul and Barnabas must be sent forth for the work of God.  Evangelists and pastors were lacking in Antioch.  The prominent members had observed Barnabas and Saul always chasing people to give the Goodnews.  So they decided to let them go around as evangelists and if they were successful, pastors could be appointed for the new churches.  That way they would have evangelists and pastors in the Antioch church. So hands were laid on them and they were sent forth.  John Mark could not be left by himself in Antioch.  So he had to packup and follow suit. 

Luke did not think it significant to mention Mark.  He was considered a nobody, a chota, only an assistant. "The two of them," writes Luke (Acts 13:4).  They traveled from inland Antioch to Seleucia the seaport and thence by ship to Salamis in Cyprus island, maybe because it was Barnabas' place and it would be easy to start work.  All was new experience for Mark.  In Salamis they preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews, moving from one Synagogue to the other.  John Mark was their assistant,  doing things like arranging for their journey, running about to buy things, booking tickets and carrying their luggage (Acts 13:5). 

He carefully gave ear to the preaching of Saul and Barnabas.  "I have never heard all these things about Jesus.  I have heard only a few things.  If these historical facts were not written down, they'd float in the clouds and be gone," he thought.  Something which seemed like a distant dream was stirring within him.  The thought was so outlandish that he kept it to himself.  So when Barnabas and Saul slept in the night, Mark sat up with a candle in a corner and began his project by writing down whatever he knew and heard about the life and teachings of Christ.  Barnabas would get up in the middle of the night and ask Mark, "What are you doing?  Put off the candle and go to sleep.  Tomorrow is going to be a heavy day." Reluctantly Mark would go and lie down.  Nevertheless, beating in his chest was a determined young man's dream to write a book about Jesus. But neither Barnabas nor Saul had an inkling about the seed that was germinating in the heart of Mark.

The team had gone through the island and reached Paphos.  They found a sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew called Bar-Jesus.  He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man.  He was desirous of hearing the word of God and sent for Barnabas and Saul.  Now, Mark had to go with them uninvited and feeling awkward. "Is this what I am here for?  he'd  ask himself.  And more and more, the answer was, 'no.' The sorcerer was jealous and discouraged the proconsul from accepting Jesus as his Saviour.  Paul scolded him and struck him blind.  Mark was stunned.  The proconsul now believed (Acts 13:6-12). 

Paul and his party left by ship from Paphos and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia.  This was too much for Mark who was homesick and missed his mother dearly.  He had thought he'd go to Antioch and be back to his mother's lap in a short while.  But there seemed to be no end to his footloose uncle's wanderings.  Moreover this was not what he wanted to do.  Something else was looming large in his mind.  "Preaching is good, but if all that could be written down and given to people, would that not be better?  There would be no anxiety about forgetting.  People would have it in their hand for ready reference.  I am left with no time to work on my vision," thought Mark. Life was lacking in adrenaline for young Mark. He wanted to go back to Jerusalem.  He broached the subject to uncle Barnabas.  "But we are counting on you, Mark!" was all he said.  Paul's face was screwed up.  "We cannot count on these youngsters," he muttered under his breath. Mark was firm and booked his ticket to Jerusalem. 

Mummy was taken by a big surprise to see her darling boy with bag and baggage at the door.  "Whatever happened, Marky? Why are you back?" asked mummy with eyebrows raised. "Nothing mom, I have a few things to do here," was all he said. Mary thought it was best to leave him alone.  The next day Mark was bright as a sunflower.  He set out to meet people who had been with Jesus and John the Baptist and collected information. His intellect, once hidden, was now harnessed to a worthwhile  purpose. When back home he wrote and re-wrote and re-re-wrote.  He burned the midnight oil.  People should have facts in black and white.  Word of mouth transmission is no good.  He prayed.  Something inside him stirred to life.  He felt the Holy Spirit moving him to write (Acts 13:13; 2 Pet 1:20,21). 

Mark mused, "Let my uncle and Paul uncle go preaching.  But that is not my calling right now.  The urge to write a book on the Life of Christ is burning within me and I cannot ignore it.  There is certainly some other way to reach these educated Gentiles - give them a book about Jesus.  Matthew uncle was kind enough to let me read what he had written.  I said, "Very good, uncle," and came home.  "But phew!  He has written from a strong Jewish perspective to show that Jesus truly is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.  These Romans have no idea about the Old Testament.  How would they understand?  Luke uncle's is too long.  John uncle's is too theological.  What I have in mind is a quick, short writeup that the Gentiles can read at one sitting, something written for the man on the street." Paul or Barnabas were not aware of what was going on inside Mark.  Yes, he was interested in ministry, but he was more interested in getting the message across to the whole Gentile world.  He was working on a different dimension.

Paul and Barnabas finished their missionary trip and returned to Antioch.  Now Paul suggested to Barnabas that they go around to check on the congregations they established.  "Sure," said Barnabas, adding, "we'll take John Mark with us." He was keen on making his sister's son a missionary.  "Nothing doing; that useless fellow will desert us at the critical moment and scoot off; he's a overgrown mama's boy, a dreamer," said Paul.  "We must be ready to gamble on young people instead of writing them off. You can't measure everyone by the same yardstick." This was Barnabas.  "I am not condemning anyone.  I am being practical.  He keeps writing as if he is a professor, when there are many important things to be done," said Paul, trying to keep down his rising emotions.  Barnabas was equally hot when he said, "Each person is different.  Who knows? God may use his writings one day." "Okay Barn, you take your  professor and go. You want your cousin with you.  I'll take Silas and go." Paul put a fullstop there.  But Barnabas' face turned red and their voices grew shriller and they exploded on each other's face.  None of them was ready to compromise.  So Paul took Silas and went to Syria, while Barnabas sailed to Cyprus with Mark (Acts 15:36-41). 

Mark was feeling guilty that he was the bone of contention, but he had no voice, being much younger than them.  "I am fine the way I am," he thought, "I may be different from others, but I am fine." At least he had an uncle who could understand him and not throw him out as garbage.  Now he was afraid of Paul uncle who was a stern and strict man.  He felt the tug to run away from him, but as years rolled by, he overcame his fear of Paul and met him.  There was reconciliation and once again he became his fellow worker (Phile 24).  He started helping Paul again and became his valued colleague (Col 4:10,11).  In time, he discovered beneath the gruff exterior one of the warmest human beings.  Paul's instruction to Timothy to bring Mark with him, because he was useful to him in ministry is an impressive testimony to Mark's reinstatement (2 Tim 4:11).  The wound was thoroughly healed. 

Mark was now a mature man and his book was finally completed after many corrections and re-writings.  "Ma, read this and give me your opinion." Mark plunked the manuscript on his mother's lap.  Mary read and commented, "Good, give it to Barnabas uncle and see what he says." Barnabas' face bloomed as he said, "Super, boy.  Keep it carefully and take it to Paul uncle.  He is the best person to judge it." Mark's dogged determination had paid off in the end. Now, Timothy came looking for Mark.  "You know Mark that Paul uncle is in Rome.  I am going to see him and he wants me to bring you along.  He longs for you because you are useful to him in ministry" (2 Tim 4:11). So Mark quickly got ready, carefully packing the manuscript.  "Will Paul uncle throw it in the trash? Compared to his writings this is nothing," thought Mark.  After the, "Great to see yous," and holy kisses,  Mark carefully pulled out the manuscript and placed it in Paul's hands. What he started  scribbling  as a young man was now updated and ready. "Uncle, please go through what I have written when you have the time." "Oh, I have all the time in the world here, give," said Paul.  "I have done all I can.  Now it is up to God," thought Mark and breathed a silent prayer. 

Paul was deeply impressed by John Mark's writings.  I underestimated him.  Poor fellow.  He suffered under me, he mused.  "Mark, come here.  I want to give you a big hug.  I am sorry for the way I treated you.  You are great, boy.  This will be useful for everyone and especially for the Gentiles.  Your style is so simple and easy to understand.  Keep it safe.  Some day it will bless the world." Mark slowly wriggled out of Paul's bear hug. embarrassed, relieved and happy.  He was left with a glow of accomplishment.  The rest is history!
So what do we learn from the life of Mark? 

1. Learn to overcome life's tragedies.  Though he lost his father early in life, he rose above his sorrow to live his life to the full and became an apostle and a great historian. Learn to leap over all your limitations.
2. Have a purpose and vision in life.  Those without a vision will be wasting their life, beating about the bush.  Mark had a vision and in spite of discouragements pursued it and accomplished it to bless the world.  Never think light of the germ in your heart.  Stay on the path.  Find what you are searching for and accomplish your dreams. It is important to discern what God wants you to do with your life irrespective of what others say. "There is something in this world that every individual can do.  God has created all of us with something unique to contribute," says Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Laureate.
3. Keep yourself in good company.  The fellowship of Peter, Barnabas and Paul moulded his character.
4. People are like laser stickers.  They must be viewed at different angles to get the colours and sparkles out.  Mark never preached a sermon or performed a miracle.  He was just a helper.  He invested his one talent of helping and earned another talent of writing.  His Master was pleased and said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things.  Enter into the joy of the Lord."

So, how many marks can we give for Mark?  I will give 110/100! 

Dr. Lilian Stanley
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