John Mark: Overcoming Failure

Introduction

Failure can happen to any person, and to one degree or another will be the experience of all (I Kings 19:4; John 21:3). How we respond to it is the key to what we will accomplish for God.

History is replete with people who have risen from failure to world-recognized success.

*Abraham Lincoln is acknowledged by all to be one of the greatest presidents in American history. Mr. Lincoln had to rise above personal and professional failures including debt and political defeat to achieve the highest office. What if he had not overcome failure?
*Thomas Edison was granted 1,098 patents by the U.S. Patent Office. The invention of the incandescent light came only after thousands of failures. What if he had not overcome failure?
*Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player ever, was cut from his high school team. What if had not overcome failure?

The biography of John Mark is covered in 12 verses in the New Testament (Acts 12:12,25; 13:5,13; 15:37-39; Colossians 4:10-11; Philemon 24; II Timothy 4:11; I Peter 5:13). His life is a study in how to overcome failure.

Privilege

John Mark was privileged in his ancestry. Though nothing is said of his father, his mother was a spiritual woman of means. Her home was used as a vehicle for service (Acts 12:5,12). Here John heard and saw vibrant New Testament Christianity.

John Mark had a cousin who was a model Christian. Barnabas was a man of sterling character (Acts 11:24), a selfless giver (Acts 4:34-37), a fruitful discipler and servant of God (Acts 11:23, 25-26; Acts 13:1-2).

John Mark was also privileged in his associations. He worked alongside of Barnabas and the Apostle Paul (Acts 12:25; 13:5). He observed and participated in growing, dynamic ministries.

Though we are not told the extent, he also had a special relationship with the Apostle Peter. This is substantiated by Peter's reference to him as "Marcus my son" (I Peter 5:13).

Problem

Either by request or invitation, John Mark joined Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). The opportunities were abundant (Acts 13:5). The missionaries were fruitful (Acts 13:6-12), but for some unstated reason, John Mark decided to return home long before the journey was complete (Acts 13:13).

Though we do not know his reason for quitting, it was unacceptable to Paul (Acts 15:37-39). Was it the lack of a call (Acts 13:2)? Paul and Barnabas were unmistakably called. John Mark's name is conspicuously absent in that verse. Was it a lack of courage? The Taurus mountains had to be crossed. Similar to our Rockies and inhabited by bandits who preyed on travelers, they presented both a physical and emotional challenge. Was it a lack of commitment? Was he attracted by curiosity more than anything else? Without a call and courage and commitment, the likelihood of failure increases significantly.

Priority

Though the text does not specifically state when and where, it is safe to assume that John Mark made it a priority to get back to God. Somewhere, he confessed his failure and renewed his commitment to God.

If we have failed in any God-given responsibility, here are four suggestions in how to return to fruitful living and service:

• Be honest with yourself and God. It is easy to make excuses and rationalize, but these will only confirm your self-pity and failure. Confess your sin and forsake it (Proverbs 28:13; I John 1:9).
• Don't dwell on the past (Philippians 3:13). Christians need to have a good forgeter. Learn from the failure, but don't dwell on it. When God forgives, He forgets (Psalm 103:12; I John 1:9).
• Look at the opportunities before you (John 4:35). In this great harvest field of the world, there are places and ministries where God wants to use you. There is much that God can accomplish in and through you for His glory.
• Associate with those who are doing something for God (Acts 15:37-39; I Peter 5:13; II Timothy 4:11). The vision and ministry of Barnabas, Peter and Paul opened great avenues of fruitful service to John Mark. Initially, your association should begin in a local church and through it to other ministries.

Prosperity

The story of John Mark has a happy ending. He overcame his failure. In Philemon 24, Paul speaks of John Mark's restoration to service by calling him his "fellow laborer."

Not only was John Mark restored, but he was respected. Again Paul says, "he is profitable to me for the ministry" (II Timothy 4:11). Though at one time Paul could not serve with him (Acts 15:36-40), now the soon-to-die apostle joyfully acknowledges God's hand upon John Mark.

John Mark was productive. Did you ever wonder why there was no gospel according to Peter? It is because he wrote it through John Mark. Nearly all scholars agree that Peter's reminiscences of Jesus were gathered by John Mark to form the basis of the earliest gospel account. A book of the Bible is quite a legacy to leave behind for one who failed so visibly (Acts 13:13; 15:37-39).

Conclusion

There are many reasons why it is wrong for a believer to quit in any God-given responsibility:

• God hasn't quit. When He does, we should. When God stops blessing His Word, quit! When He stops hearing and answering prayer, quit! When He stops saving souls, quit! Christ said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17). We would do well to emulate that spirit.
• There's too much at stake. It is one thing when a student drops a class, a politician withdraws from an election, an athlete quits on his team, or a marriage partner dissolves the union. As serious as these may be, they are only in the realm of the temporal. But a believer deals with the eternal. The consequences of quitting are infinitely more serious.
• If we don't do the job, who will? Could it be that one reason the harvest is plenteous and the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37; Luke 10:2) is because too many have quit prematurely? If so, don't join their ranks.
• The influence upon others (Joshua 14:7-8). Ten myopic spies influenced a nation to quit on God. Unfortunately, they felt their God was unable to defeat giants. How big is your God? Can He do the impossible? If not, read Luke 1:37.
• It so easily becomes a habit. When we quit, it becomes easier to do so again. All too soon, we have established a pattern. For some, the only thing you can depend on them for is that you can't depend on them for anything.
• The example of Christ (John 17:4b; 19:30). Christ-likeness is the essence of Christianity (Ephesians 4:13; II Corinthians 10:12). As difficult as the Father's will was, Christ finished the task. We are unlike Christ when we quit prematurely.
• The Judgment Seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10). Someday each believer will have to give an account of life and service to Christ. Will the excuses that sound so acceptable to us today, be valid on that day? When we see Him who persevered for us, how will we feel if we have quit on Him. Today we can change this disposition. Sadly, on that day it will be irreversible.
• The promises of God. When we have the promise of His presence (Matthew 28:20), power (Acts 1:8), provision (Philippians 4:19), and prosperity (I Corinthians 15:58), quitting should be unthinkable. The cure for discouragement is not quitting, but sowing more seed, for there can never be a harvest without it (Galatians 6:9).