Sunday: The Failed Missionary
Daily Lesson for Sunday 30th of June 2024
Read Acts 12:12. How is Mark introduced in the book of Acts?
It seems probable that John Mark, the most likely author of the Gospel of Mark, was a young man when the events in Acts 12:1-25 occurred, probably in the A.D. mid-40s. He is introduced in verse 12 as the son of a woman named Mary. She was evidently a wealthy supporter of the church and held the prayer meeting at her home, made famous in Acts 12:1-25.
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from the background are Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas looks worried and Paul looks angry.
The story of Peter’s escape from prison and the subsequent actions and then the death of Herod are replete with striking, even humorous, contrasts between Peter and the king. John Mark does not really play any role in the story, but the introduction of him at this point prepares for his later connection with Barnabas and Saul.
Read Acts 13:1-5, 13. How did John Mark get attached to Saul and Barnabas, and what was the outcome?
Acts 13:1-52 describes the first missionary journey of Saul and Barnabas, starting about A.D. 46. John Mark is not mentioned until verse 5, and his role is simply as a helper or servant. No other reference is made to the young man until verse 13, where the brief account notes that he returned to Jerusalem.
No reason is given for this departure, and the absence of any description of his feelings or emotions leaves to the imagination what motivated his withdrawal from the missionary effort, which no doubt was filled with peril and challenges. Ellen G. White indicates that “Mark, overwhelmed with fear and discouragement, wavered for a time in his purpose to give himself wholeheartedly to the Lord’s work. Unused to hardships, he was disheartened by the perils and privations of the way.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 169. In short, things simply got too hard for him, and so he wanted out.
Recall a time when you backed off from something—or even flat out failed at it—in your Christian walk. What did you learn from the experience?
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Failure is a good teacher if you are willing to learn from the experience. When I was doing my research into computer architecture, we had this theory about mapping transactions using directed dependency graphs. It was easy to write the theory but then we had to prove that it would work in practice. The problem was that I had to write programs that would run for hours to get a sufficiently large data set. Then I had to collect all the data and analyse it. I would collect data for two weeks and then notice a pattern of behaviours that showed the program was not working as expected. Back to the drawing board, again and again. My research was in the area of persistent systems and I still joke that I was the one that had to persist. But, every failure led to a better understanding and ultimate proof of concept.
John Mark failed and went back home but clearly, something happened that Barnabas thought he was worth another try. I see that it the topic for tomorrow's lesson.
I'm still learning in a sense. I experience the failure, but I don't feel a lesson has been learned. Nothing "feels" any different except, deeper fear and guilt.
The lesson asks "how did John Mark get attached to Saul and Barnabas"? Col 4:10 says that they were cousins.
Yes I can relate,,in my earlier days of being a witness I took rejection personally like it was about me but it took that to sharpen my focus on who is the main character ( Jesus not me) it took a few failures to realize it's about Jesus and to remember I cannot do the work of the Holy Spirit
We are all worth another try. Jesus does not give up on us. We should not give up on ourselves.
It's interesting that though John Mark didn't live up to expectation and abandoned his work to return home, the brethren didn't give up on him.
So it should be when our spouses, children, family and friends don't live up to the expectations of Christianity that we should not give up on them as well. With earnest prayer and supplication we can direct them back to the path that leads to heaven!!!
This needs the power of the Holy Spirit as discouragement usually sets in. As long as we remain aware that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to covert the soul.
It seems as though the hard knocks found in Paul's ministry gave JohnMark second thoughts on whether or not God was leading him into working with Paul's calling. Maybe he needed the time to reconsider and find another not go grueling course. Maybe he needed the difficult times to prepare him for a different venue. And maybe he just failed and allowed God to pick him up for more compatable fellow workers. We will find out the change in the course he took on Monday and Tuesday. I am glad we are starting with becoming acquainted with the author of the gospel of Christ through the book of Mark. Acquaintance with the author to me enhances the writings. I enjoy reading Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, for instance. What would we do without the book of Acts? God gave us what we need.
In life we will fail. The strength lies in starting again, laying all our cares on God, and not repeating the failure. It is through failure that we grow. Don’t let failure be a penalty.
Look not on your failures and their hurdles high
Take courage from this time, for the time shall pass by,
Do not be discouraged if you’re stuck in a bind,
Observe what is before you, and gather your mind.
Thanks for todays lesson.
After I was fully convinced of the rightness of the Gospel message, there was a time in my life when my love for God and His Righteousness made me a zealot for the cause of spreading His Word. My single-mindedness alienated those who had not yet come to understand the gravity of the consequences of a life lived without God.
I received a lot of rejection from those asking 'who does she think she is', instead of listening to the message I tried to convey. Though after some years of maturing in the Faith, I found that the Holy Spirit does not only enlighten the understanding of the Word of God, He also guides us in its application when sharing it.
Reading Acts 13:32-47 is intriguing; it records Paul's testimony of Jesus being the true Messiah, as well as the response by those they came to persuade of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of His Gospel. Instead of seeking God’s forgiveness through repentence, their Jewish brethren became offended and filled with envy that Paul and Barnabas would share the Word of God with the gentiles - Acts 13:32-35.
Why did John Mark leave -, maybe he was not comfortable with the manifestation of the 'Power of God’s Word' because the Holy Spirit had not fallen on him yet. The Holy Spirit puts everything into the right perspective - our 'power' vs. God's Power. Nothing regarding that which is spiritually important is revealed to man unless the Spirit of God reveals it to us.
Mark 6:4 - At one time or another we might fail at portraying God’s Gospel of Truth and Light adequately, but anyone drawn to hearing the Word of God harbors within himself the fertile ground for the Holy Spirit to ripen the seeds of God’s Word of Truth and Light to bring forth much fruit – Gal.5:22-23.
May God truly help us here , in our human weakness we tend to be judgmental and leave those we ought to pray for to fate.
Yes ,when l felt that the departments l hearded we overwhelming and when l saw no growth in my spritual life.l wanted out and gave myself a time out.Though am still learning around this experience l have learnt that am not alone in my spiritual struggle God is here to help and it is sometimes through these trying expriences that His truth is better understood
We know that Mark was from a wealthy family, so a missionary journey must have been tough. Beyond that, it's hard to guess at his reasons for turning back, though we know Paul did not consider them legitimate.
As I was reading today's verses, it just occurred to me that Mark was never set apart for service the way Paul and Barnabas were and maybe he shouldn't have been there at all? It's hard to say, but could we be guilty of putting people in positions they're not ready for? I have seen people made elders too early and when things don't go well, they never go back to it again. It's something to think about.
I remember when I first started handing out tracts, and persons would refused to accept the literature, I used to feel ‘rejection’ but I’ve come to understand that it’s not about me.
Some years ago, I really failed at my Christian walk but we have hope when we see some characters in the Bible which weren't strong like us.
We should not be discouraged when we fail. We need to learn how to count success using the "Jesus method".
Luke records Jesus giving us a subtle example when He healed ten lepers:
Luke 17:17-18. "Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”"
It is interesting to review this short story, and contemplate Jesus' attitude to rejection:
1. Jesus healed ten lepers. He knew all ten were healed. Yet He did not usurp the temporal authorities. He advised the healed lepers to go to the authorities, the temple "doctors", for official advice on their status.
2. Jesus did not follow and wait outside, demanding a reward or acknowledgement. He gave advice, then left all to decide for themselves how to act on His advice.
3. Despite the greatest miracle these ten could desire, only one was seen to be humble and grateful. Did Jesus expect more? Would He still heal them even if His return rate was nil?
3. All ten were healed equally. Jesus neither ignored or withheld healing from any. He did not cut off and "unheal" nine when they chose to ignore Him.
4. The one who did not reject Him was the foreigner, the one that onlookers, you and I, would have been automatically biased against. Our entire psyche would have been telling us to have no good expectations for this foreigner! How wrong we would be!
Jesus did not display any preconceived notions about His success rate. He gave advice, then moved on. He gave only what people were ready to accept. He did not "Bible-bash" anyone for a response. He left it entirely in the hands of each individual as to what their response to Him would be.