Mark, My Son(Ric Wooldridge) Mark, My Son

Mark sat heavily as he took one of the two chairs in the small hired room that he shared with Timothy. They had traveled as swiftly as was humanly possible, as Brother Paul had asked to see them both before his execution. Timothy had made copies of Paul’s last letter and had them sent to the congregations scattered about. The older men had fled Jerusalem when Cestus Gallus withdrew his armies from around the walls of the city for some inexplicable reason, just as the Master had instructed in his prophecy. This letter from Paul, along with some others he had penned were treasures from God, and were vital to the work of bearing witness to Jesus.

Yes, the journey had been exhausting and Paul had been like a father to Timothy. Brother Paul had been a good friend of Mark’s. To find that he had been tried and executed in Nero’s gardens before they could arrive was a blow that had wearied their bones. At the moment, Timothy was in contact with the older men in Rome gathering news of the situation and, as usual, comforting those in need of it.

To Mark, the situation here was almost like that night in Jerusalem when the Pharisees and the Saducees, the Jewish religious leaders, unlawfully arrested the Master, Jesus, and falsely accused him of blasphemy and sedition.

Mark’s mother had provided the room in which Jesus and the apostles celebrated the passover on the night of his arrest. It was Mark’s responsibility, that night, to clean up after the brothers went out and he “kind” of did his job. He let nothing that would tempt the ants or such. Besides, he’s be back before long and finish.

So when Jesus and the eleven left, Mark tagged along. Then Peter, James and John went off a ways with Jesus. Mark loved these men, and while not quite approachable as their master, they usually took time to talk with him and teach him. So it was in their midst that he fell asleep.

The next thing he knew was that there were torches and jumping shadows with angry voices coming into the garden. Peering between the apostles, Mark could see Jesus approaching just as Judas appeared out of the shadows. Judas did not hesitate, but he walked up to the Master and tenderly kissed him on the cheek, saying, “Rabbi.”

Then men from the chief priest seized Jesus to take him into custody. Immediately, Peter awkwardly struck with the sword that Mark himself had heard the Master instruct him to bring. Not being any kind of a warrior, Peter’s swing was wild, so that he struck off the ear of the high priest’s slave. It was at that point that Jesus put a stop to the violence, firmly commanding, “Let it go this far. Put the sword away. The cup the father has given me, should I not, by all means, drink it?” Then he reached out and restored the man’s ear to him. Then, looking directly at Peter, Jesus said, “Those who live by the sword will perish by the sword.”

Turning back to his captors, Jesus said, “If it is me you are after, let these go.” With that the arrest continued, as they bound the Master the eleven abandoned him in confusion and fear. But Mark had tried to follow along at a bit of a distance, but he got too close at one point. The men from the chief priest and the high priest wanted no witnesses to the unlawful arrest and beating, so they grabbed hold of him by his outer garment. At that time of his life, Mark had been a thin young man and his garments had hung loosely on him, so he simply slipped out of them and got away naked. A very bad night.

Now Paul is gone and, again, we must move ahead, relying on the God and Father of the Lord Jesus to complete his work. What’s next? Mark again took out Paul’s letter to Timothy and reread the inspired words. The zeal and joy of Paul were evident with a statement of victory, “I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith.” At that point Paul had already been tried and sentenced. He’d survived one time battling lions in Nero’s gardens. He would battle until he was killed. In the games of the emperor.

Mark took these moment alone meditating on what his life had been, thinking on what options and obligations were his. In what way could he accomplish his ministry? Peter was still strengthening the brothers in Babylon, and Mark longed to go to him. Mark had already spent several years ministering to Peter and the older men of Jerusalem, and was well loved. Now, when persecution was beginning to accelerate, as Jewish zealots stirred rebellion against Rome, the central body of the Way was discreetly removed from that city. The need for younger men to minister were great.

Mark had left his wife with the congregation in Ephesus, so she could aid in spreading the kingdom message there. Then he and Timothy had hastened on to Rome.

Mark remembered the first time he had traveled with the apostle Paul. He had been so zealous and sure of himself. So self reliant. That was a problem. He’d had as teachers, Peter, James, John and even heard the Master speak on a couple occasions as a child. As it turned out he’d learned with his mind, but in his heart he had understood nothing.

He’d seen the miracles and kind, loving personalities and admired the self sacrificing love that were present in the apostles and older men. He worked hard to do that and BE that. And he became an example to the younger ones of the congregation. He was happy with the affection and confidence of his brothers and sisters. Then Paul and Mark’s cousin, Barnabas, brought him along on their first missionary tour.

He had accompanied them from Jerusalem, his home town, to Antioch. Then they took ship to Cyprus and preached in Salamis, where Paul and Barnabas slaved beyond all mental and physical strength, while Mark relied on his own resources to minister to their needs. When the magic practicer, Bar Jesus opposed them, wickedly misrepresenting them to the Proconsul of Paphos and Jehovah struck him blind at Paul’s request, through Jesus. Mark because of emotional exhaustion and fear opted to return to Jerusalem rather than go on with Paul and Barnabas from Perga.

Mark had returned home depressed, confused and full of self doubt. He knew the brothers needed him to take care of daily business so that they would be free to teach, but Mark had hit a wall that there was just no getting around. Thank the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ that it was Peter who talked to him when he returned to his mother’s house!

“John, my son! It is good to see you.”

Mark smiled at the greeting, as only his mother called him John anymore. “It is always good to see you, my Father,” he replied sincerely. Over the years Mark and his widowed mother had opened their house as a meeting place for those belonging to the Way. Peter and his family were spiritual pillars of support to all, but in a very real sense he had served as a father to Mark with true loving guidance.

“I heard you had returned and that you may have news of the brothers, signified by your early return from your assignment,” Peter stated in typical fashion, boldly to the point, yet not meaning to give offense.

“Already I have news to strengthen the brothers for the work, as the good news about Jesus prospers by the power of Jehovah’s holy spirit. Paul and Barnabas work tirelessly and faithfully to fulfill their mission.

Peter listened to the glad report that God and the Lord Jesus were being glorified among the nations and was truly glad of the news, but he could see sadness and much sorrow in Mark as he delivered his experiences. Why? Peter loved this young man as a true son and treated him so. When Mark finished his description of events since his departure from Jerusalem he fell silent.

Peter smiled warmly and commended him for his part in the work. He praised the relief that Mark had brought the older men by his ministrations, and then he waited silently as if meditating on the news. Then Peter said, “When you catch up with the brothers you’ll be able to relate the joy of the congregation caused by your good report.”

Mark had wanted so much to avoid this conversation. But, straightening his shoulders and taking a deep breath he said formally, “Brother Peter, I am not qualified to be part of the missionary work. Jehovah has left me!”
The words came out in a sob. The next several minutes Mark was unable to speak of his feelings of shame and inadequacy, his heart tearing as he wept.

“Mark, my son. Jehovah leaves no one that loves him. Think of David, as he was inspired to write his feelings down in the Psalms, “My God! My God! Why have you left me! Why are you far from saving me, from the words of my roaring? O my God, I keep calling by day, and you do not answer, and by night, and there is no silence on my part.” Had God cast off David? And those words were clearly prophetic of the Master, Jesus. He was certainly beloved of God. John and Mary heard him cry out these very words. What was happening that made them feel rejected and all alone?

The last thing that Mark felt like doing was being quizzed about scripture. But, submitting to the older man’s attention, he thought a moment while Peter waited patiently for an answer. Finally, after several moments, Mark said, “They each were disciplined in order to be prepared for their coming responsibilities.”

“That’s absolutely correct,” said Peter. “David became King of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God as King designate and high priest in order for the nations to be blessed with everlasting life in paradise. Solomon wrote, “The fear of Jehovah is a discipline toward wisdom, and before glory there is humility.” So, now, the question. Why do you feel Jehovah has rejected you to serve him? Have you sinned, my son?”

“I have loved Jehovah, my God, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I have worked to near collapse to aid Brother Paul and Brother Barnabas. While Jehovah’s strength is evident in them, men thirty years senior to me, yet I am not renewed. Where I have received the witness of the spirit it does not sustain me as it does the others. My joy in the ministry is dying. I feel something hindering the spirit.” Again the tears came, quietly this time.

“My son, tell me of your daily routine while working with the brothers.”

Mark quickly ordered his thoughts and then he answered, “Most mornings I would wake first and go about setting the cook fire. Then, if we hadn’t brought in water the evening before, I would get the water for cooking and washing after the meal. Then we took turns cooking the meals, while cooking we would decide on where to conduct our house to house ministry for the morning, or what marketplace we should work in, and how we would approach people.“

“Then we would have our morning prayer together and eat. While eating we would consider a passage of scripture and then we would go off to the work. Sometimes we were so busy we had no time for an afternoon meal. Paul and Barnabas would often speak to interested ones far into the evening. It would be like that day after day. And then when Paul and Barnabas were opposed by that sorcerer, Simon Bar Jesus, that terrified me, yet the brothers never even flinched. Brother Peter, how could I go on?”

Peter looked stern as he spoke, “It's written in the prophets ‘cursed is the able bodied man who puts his trust in earthling man and actually makes flesh his arm,’ and ‘as for the righteous one, by his faithfulness he will keep living.’ When the Lord gave us authority to do healing and raise up those who have died he did not put the power to do so in our imperfect flesh. The power is God’s, granted in the name of his Son, Jesus. The work we do, preaching the good news about Jesus, is God’s work. If we take it on ourselves without relying on Jehovah God we fall under the curse. Daily, hourly, as often as we involve ourselves in the kingdom work we must exercise faith, asking for God’s holy spirit and relying on it’s power and guidance. Do you understand, John?” Peter asked. “If you try to do God’s work in your own strength, he will let you, and you will fail.”

That had been years ago. At the time, Peter’s counsel had pained him deeply. But Mark was honest with himself. His prayers were repetitious and his reading of the scriptures were selective. He had recognized neither of the quotations Peter had used. In prayer he voiced his determination to change and asked for help. His prayer was answered.

Mark sighed and nodded his head, reaffirming his dedication to God. Like Peter, Paul and his companion, Timothy, the work commanded by the Lord Jesus was not only the focus but the joy of his life. The brothers here in Rome were willing to carry the good news to others as quickly as they could learn and understand it themselves. With that thought a smile crept to his lips and his eyes began to sparkle as God’s spirit moved him to discern the need of his Roman brothers and sisters.

Matthew had written his eye witness account about Jesus Christ’s life and ministry in Hebrew, for the benefit of the Jewish brothers and sisters. Luke, the beloved physician, had also set his hand to such a writing as he had sought out eye witness accounts and had written it in Greek for people in the nations surrounding Israel. In telling the good news to the Romans, many unfamiliar terms had to be explained, or comparisons were made.

Getting up, Mark quickly walked to the foot of the pallet where he slept. Opening his travel bag, he took out some of his precious writing materials, along with the scrolls and parchments that Paul had asked Timothy to bring, and spread them out on the table so he could work with them.

With joy and excitement he began to write:
“The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ.”

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