There’s a lot going on in Acts chapter 13. In the 13th verse something is mentioned almost in passing. It says: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. Then the story just keeps moving forward. Until Acts chapter 15. Paul and Barnabas decided to go on another missionary journey. Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark, but Paul was dead set against it. This resulted in a split between Paul and Barnabas. So John Mark’s action of walking away from the ministry that he had a part in had a deeper impact. It caused a rift between two brethren that had worked hard together and had a powerful ministry.
John may have not gone back into ministry with Paul, but he did go back into ministry. We know that he and Barnabas went together to Cyprus. We know that later Paul would write Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry (2 Timothy 4:11 NET). So we know that John Mark did return to ministry. We know that he and Paul were reconciled. What else do we really know about John Mark’s ministry? How effective was he after walking away from a ministry that he was involved in? Well we know him today as Mark the writer of the Gospel of Mark.
You see, just because we mess up, just because we fail, does not mean that God can no longer use us. He is a God of restoration. Think about Peter, he failed miserably and preached on the day of Pentecost.
You may have had something that you were involved in. It may have been exactly where God wanted you. Maybe like John Mark you walked away. Maybe you failed and maybe even caused damage to others in the process. That doesn’t mean that God won’t still use you. Don’t give up on what God can do with you. Let Him mold you into what He wants.
Proverbs 24:16 KJV
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Jeremiah 18:4 NET
Now and then there would be something wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay with his hands. So he would rework the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit.
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