Finishing Strong

His name was Mark, John Mark, to be exact. Like most of us, he started well. Due to the mentoring and sponsorship of his cousin, Barnabas, he found himself a team member in the first great missionary enterprise. But he didn’t last long. Be it homesickness, an undertaking that was much more than he bargained for, or something else, Mark quit almost before he had begun, and was soon on the way back to Jerusalem.

Whatever happened convinced Paul that Mark should not be part of the cast for a second run. Barnabas, ever the Son of Encouragement, lobbied for his inclusion, but the disagreement was deep, and the dynamic missionary duo parted ways. Barnabas and Mark made for Cyprus.

Thank God for those who will encourage and support us, perhaps even when others do not perceive our potential. The mentoring manner of Barnabas produced in Mark a tenacity and resilience that would later elicit from Paul a request for his presence as one helpful to him in ministry, and Peter would make note of Mark as “my son.” Then, the protégé would pen the first gospel account, having received his facts from Peter, and his theology from Paul.

Don’t you think somewhere, Barnabas is saying, “See, I told you so!” Thank you, Lord, for sending “Sons of Encouragement” along the way. Help me to be one, too!