I think all of us would agree that it is right to give those who have failed a second chance. After all, where would we be if others had not extended to us a second chance? If we are honest, there are those who have given us second, third, fourth, and on and on, chances. How many times have you started out with good intentions to do something, and could not hang in there long enough to complete the task? Some people have a stronger resolve than others not to quit. I tend to have a little bulldog in me that refuses to quit, yet even at my best, I have quit on many things. How many times have you set aside time for meaningful prayer, getting up before the rest of the family, grabbing your Bible and a cup of your favorite drink, yet you find yourself gradually falling back into your old habits? Sleep seems to have such control over you that you just give in and quit. While we want others to encourage us, and help us when we are failing, we need to make sure we are extending this same opportunity to others. Today we will look at a young man who needed a second chance. Some were willing to extend another opportunity, and some were hesitant. The young man needing a second chance was John Mark. Sometimes in scripture, he is called Mark, which is probably what he was called by the Greeks, and he was probably addressed as John by the Jews. Sometimes you will see him called John Mark.
This young man is first mentioned in Acts 12:12. It appears that his father is not in the picture. We don’t know if he is deceased or just silent, but his mother, Mary, opens her home to believers to pray. On this occasion, they are praying for the release of Peter from prison, and God grants their prayers.
Act 12:12 “And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”
The next time we read of Mark he is leaving with Paul (Saul), and Barnabas to go back to Antioch. They had gone to Jerusalem to take a gift to the church. It was a tumultuous time. Peter had been imprisoned and many Christians had met at Mark’s mother’s home to pray for Peter’s safety and for the safety of the church. James had been executed, so of course, everyone was on edge, yet they refused to back down from spreading the gospel.
Act 12:25 “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.”
Now we enter chapter 13 of Acts, and Paul and Barnabas are preaching. While they were in Perga, John Mark decides to return home. This was not a move that Paul or Barnabas approved of, but Mark leaves on his own. Many have tried to guess why he left. Some say he was homesick, others believed he had a dispute with Paul, but scripture does not tell us why he left, so to speculate is of no value.
Act 13:13 “Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.”
I’m sure Mark’s decision to leave Paul and Barnabas caused problems between them. In Acts 15:36-41, we see a strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. Paul is ready to go and check on the churches they have ministered to before. Barnabas wants to give John Mark another chance to come and minister with them, but Paul is totally against it. The contention is so great that Paul and Barnabas part ways.
Act 15:36-41” And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so, Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. “
Again, we don’t have the entire story, but we know that Paul comes to value John Mark. Barnabas gave John Mark another chance, and now Paul is ready. In Philemon, Paul refers to Mark as a fellow laborer. No longer is he treating him as a spoiled child that runs home when things get tough. In II Timothy 4:11, Paul requested John Mark’s company, and he makes the statement “he is very useful to me for the ministry.” John Mark has won the favor and respect of Paul. How this came about we do not know. Did Paul have a change of heart because he refused to take John Mark with him? Maybe, or had he heard and seen the results of John Mark’s maturity, as he ministered with Barnabas. Whatever the reason John Mark is restored to full fellowship and respect with Paul.
Philemon 1:24 “and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.”
II Timothy 4:11 “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”
John Mark goes on to write the gospel of Mark. Because of Barnabas, Mark continued in the ministry. The highly respected Paul sees the value and heart of this servant, and Mark is with Paul during two of his times in prison. Paul extends a second chance to Mark.
God extends to each of us forgiveness over and over after we are saved. None of us are perfect Christians, we are perfectly forgiven. When God says I forgive you it is settled. He cast our sins as far as the east is from the west. He has told us in I John 1:9, that if we will confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He didn’t say part or a little at a time. We are forgiven of all!
Are you willing to give others a second chance, to set aside personal differences for the betterment of the Kingdom? Are you a Barnabas, trying to encourage others to keep pushing forward for Christ? How can we not give others a second, third, or even fourth chance when God has forgiven us so much? I can’t help but think of the verse in Matthew where Peter asks Jesus how many times, he must forgive others.
Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
If you are not willing to give others a second chance, don’t expect God to give you one. A part of forgiveness is extending the hand for another chance.
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
