from running away to running over (ps 23:5)
“Mark my son…” —1 Peter 5:13
St. Mark has been traditionally identified with the scared young disciple in the garden of Gethsemane who ran off naked when the guards tried to arrest him: “With that, all deserted [Jesus] and fled. There was a young man following Him who was covered by nothing but a linen cloth. As they seized him he left the cloth behind and ran off naked” (Mk 14:50-52). Additionally, St. Mark has been identified with John Mark, who ran off from the first missionary journey and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 12:25; 13:13). St. Paul even considered Mark “not fit” for another missionary journey since “he had deserted them” during the first missionary journey (Acts 15:37-39). Can you imagine bearing such a tainted reputation that a leader would consider you unfit for ministry?
Mark also may not have had much fathering, possibly indicated by only his mother being mentioned in the Bible (Acts 12:12). However, St. Barnabas, Mark’s cousin (Col 4:10), provided “fathering” for Mark. Barnabas stood up for Mark so strongly that he and Paul separated (Acts 15:38-39). Barnabas took Mark on a separate missionary journey (Acts 15:39). Mark also was fathered by St. Peter, who called Mark “my son” (1 Pt 5:13). Eventually, Mark proved his worth even to St. Paul, who said that the matured Mark “can be of great service to me” (2 Tm 4:11).
Do you have a past filled with fearfully running away from problems? Did you lack godly fathering? Be encouraged by the life of St. Mark. He rose above his problems, trusted in God, and became a mighty evangelist.
Prayer: Father, “when I begin to fear, in You will I trust” (Ps 56:4).
Promise: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” —Mk 16:15
Praise: Tradition holds that St. Mark was martyred for his faith by being dragged through the streets. St. Mark, pray for us.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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