John Mark the Evangelist : Mark Acts 15:36-39 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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John Mark the Evangelist - Mark Acts 15:36-39

(ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

It's leap day! So we're taking one day off from the Gospel of Mark, to talk about the writer, John Mark. The John Mark in today's Scripture is better known as Mark. He has traditionally been viewed as the evangelist who is responsible for the Gospel of Mark. Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on what is often called the first missionary journey. When things got tough, however, Mark had deserted the work. When getting ready to go back and visit these recently established churches and do additional mission work, Paul refused to take Mark with them. The great story we learn behind this horrible split in the great mission team of Paul and Barnabas is that God continued to work in the ministries of Paul and Barnabas. Instead of one mission team, there were now two. Barnabas helped reclaim Mark and Paul involved another, bright and passionate young man in ministry and missions. Toward the end of Paul's life, Paul also asked for Mark to be with him. So God worked in their lives and brought harmony as well as extra mission power out of what would otherwise have been a human disaster. The Gospel of Mark is the great reminder that we all need a second chance, and in Jesus, we get it!

Today's Prayer

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Father, thank you for taking our petty messes and bringing something good out of them. Help me be like Barnabas and reclaim those who are discouraged and defeated. Help me be like Paul and welcome back those who have proven themselves after failure and even those who are trying to recover from failure. Give me the proper sense of balance and the proper role you have called me to fulfill in your plan for your people. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

The Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begins

— Mark 1:1 (ERV)

Peter was sleeping between two of the soldiers. He was bound with two chains. More soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. It was at night, and Herod planned to bring Peter out before the people the next day. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there. A light shined in the room. The angel touched Peter on the side and woke him up. The angel said, "Hurry, get up!" The chains fell off Peter's hands. The angel said to Peter, "Get dressed and put on your shoes." And so Peter did this. Then the angel said, "Put on your coat and follow me." So the angel went out and Peter followed. Peter did not know if the angel was really doing this. He thought he might be seeing a vision. Peter and the angel went past the first guard and the second guard. Then they came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened itself for them. Peter and the angel went through the gate and walked about a block. Then the angel suddenly left. Peter realized then what had happened. He thought, "Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued (saved) me from Herod. The Jewish people thought that bad things would happen to me. But the Lord saved me from all these things." When Peter realized this, he went to the home of Mary. She was the mother of John. (John was also called Mark.) Many people were gathered there. They were all praying.
Acts 12:6-12 (ERV)

A person {in your group} has caused sadness. He caused this sadness not to me, but to all of you--I mean he caused sadness to all in some way. (I don't want to make it sound worse than it really is.) The punishment that most of your group gave him is enough for him. But now you should forgive him and encourage him. This will keep him from having too much sadness and giving up completely. So I beg you to show him that you love him.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8 (ERV)

Do your best to come to me as soon as you can. Demas loved this world too much. That is why he left me. He went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia. And Titus went to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one still with me. Get Mark and bring him with you when you come. He can help me in my work here.
2 Timothy 4:9-11 (ERV)

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HEARTLIGHT^® Magazine is produced by Heartlight, Inc. HEARTLIGHT is a registered service mark of Heartlight, Inc. PO Box 7044, Abilene, TX, USA 79608-7044. Copyright © 1996-2008. Heartlight is supported by Westover Hills Church, Southern Hills Church, and loving Christians from around the world. Scripture quotations are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. Used by permission. All rights reserved.