John Mark

[tonychanyt]

Early church fathers, Papias and Irenaeus, suggested that John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark based on Peter’s teachings and eyewitness accounts. He was a cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10). Some think that he recorded himself at the arrest of Jesus in Mk 14:51 when he ran away naked out of fear

An angel led Peter out of prison in Ac 12:

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark,

"John" was his Jewish name, and "Mark" was his Roman name, a common practice among Hellenistic Jews in the Roman Empire.

where many were gathered together and were praying.

John Mark's (JM) family home was a kind of underground church. He sometimes met Peter in his home.

25 Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

JM accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Ac 13:

4 Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.

However, he left them early in the journey and returned to Jerusalem.

13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem.

He didn't finish the first journey. For the second one, Ac 15:

36 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.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

Barnabas wanted to give his cousin another chance to learn.

38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

JM couldn't handle the hardship and opposition of being a missionary. He wasn't tough enough.

39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Neither Barnabas nor JM were with Paul in his second missionary journey.

Some years later, they were reconciled. 2Tim 4:

9 Make every effort to come to me quickly, 10 because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.

JM was transformed from a deserter to a trusted co-worker. He founded the Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt, and is venerated as a saint in various Christian traditions.