Mark was not one of the twelve apostles. John, surnamed Mark (Acts 12:12, 25) — called also Marcus — was the son of Mary, sister to Joses Barnabas. Both he and Mary were of the tribe of Levi, but natives of Cyprus. She was now probably a widow, dwelling at Jerusalem, and opening her house for the disciples to meet in. This was Mark’s home.
Peter calls Mark “my son” (1 Pet. 5:13), so he may have been the means of his conversion from Judaism to Christ. Mark may have been with him at Babylon just then.
Early Christian writers also tell us that Mark wrote his Gospel under Peter’s superintendence, or call him Peter’s amanuensis (letter writer). Be that as it may, Mark, who was not apparently one who had companied with the Lord, does record details which may have been recounted by Peter, always remembering, however, that Mark and other writers of the Bible wrote “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” and that God often inspired them to relate what they had not seen.
Of Mark’s conversion or death, Scripture tells us nothing, nor does church history enlighten us thereon. His Gospel was written after most of the epistles, about A.D. 68 — possibly after the deaths of Peter and Paul. He comes upon the scene first, in Acts, at Jerusalem, which city he left in the company of Saul and Barnabas (12:25). He seems to have remained with them as their servant (13:5) and to have accompanied them to Cyprus, and thence to Perga, in Asia Minor (13:13), where for some reason he left them and returned to Jerusalem. One false step may lead to sad consequences, as will be seen in Acts 15, for Mark lost the blessing of the company of Paul and the prayers of the brethren, and went instead with his uncle to their native island of Cyprus. It is, however, encouraging to learn that God restored the soul of His servant and again called John Mark into happy fellowship and service with Paul, who, when in prison at Rome, with Mark near to him, expressed his approval of his desire to visit Colosse (Col. 4:10, Philem. 24). And again when Paul was in prison a second time he wrote to Timothy to bring Mark with him (2 Tim. 4:11), alleging that he valued him for his service.
Mark’s Gospel is the shortest, but the one which records many details in the life of the Lord, who is here presented to us as the Servant proclaiming the Word, and the Teacher instructing. His birth is not mentioned, but we may follow Him from the time He was 30 years old to His ascension, observing, as we do so, the rapidity which characterizes Mark in passing from one event to another, and yet the detail; “straightway,” “immediately,” strike us, and he tells us of a “pillow,” and “green grass,” etc. The events and testimony resemble those in another Gospel, but in Mark we have more Christ the Prophet, who is serving and who is rejected. At the end we have a complete, though brief, picture of the close of the Lord’s life on earth. Let us read it and learn of Him!
Glory before thee,
Pilgrim, press on;
Share now the sorrow,
Share soon the crown.
Tell forth the Saviour’s fame,
Honor His holy name,
Bear now His cross and shame,
Pilgrim, press on.
ML-08/29/1976