Mark grew up in Jerusalem. The church prayed for Peter in his mother's house the night an angel let Peter out of prison. His cousin Barnabas took him along on the first great mission journey with Paul. Partway through, Mark left and went home. Scripture does not say why.
When Barnabas wanted to take him again, Paul refused. The disagreement split them. Barnabas took Mark anyway. Years later, Paul wrote from prison asking for Mark by name, because he was useful. Peter called him his son. Church tradition holds that Mark wrote down Peter's account of Jesus.
“
Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
Name means
John (Hebrew), with the Roman name Mark
Home
Jerusalem, his mother's house; later Antioch, Cyprus and Rome
Role
Missionary helper, companion of Barnabas, Paul and Peter; traditionally the author of Mark's Gospel
Read in
; ; ;
John Mark's story
Leaving at Perga
Beginning
A house of prayer
The church gathers at his mother's house to pray for Peter in prison.
Low point
Leaving at Perga
He goes out with Barnabas and Paul as their helper, then leaves them and returns to Jerusalem.
Turning point
A second chance
Paul refuses to take him again. Barnabas takes him to Cyprus.
Ending
Very useful
Paul now calls him a fellow worker and asks for him. Peter calls him his son.
Starts as a young helper who went home early. Ends as a fellow worker Paul asked for by name.
Where John Mark lived and went
Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.
HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.
How John Mark is wired
Why there's no type here
Scripture shows a few moments in his life but almost nothing of what he thought or felt, so a type would be guesswork.
Strengths & struggles
What's good in John Mark
Willing to serve as a helper (). Grew into a trusted companion (; Phlm 24).
Mark's own story of failure and restoration fits the Gospel he gave us: a Savior who came to serve.
Mark's Gospel shows disciples who fail again and again, and a Lord who keeps restoring them. Its center is a servant King. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ()
Questions to sit with
1
Mark's early failure did not have the last word. What failure of yours still feels like it does?
2
Who might need you to be a Barnabas for them and give them another chance?
Study John Mark with your group
Ready-to-lead group studies with discussion questions and a leader's note are on the way.
