October 9

Day 209: John Mark

Acts 13 has Barnabas and Saul/Paul being 'set apart' for the work to which they had been called. Missionary service. Without a script or organizational history to guide them, they had to make it up as they went.

The Holy Spirit had selected them, sent them, and would go before and with them. They even had some ancillary help; a young believer named John.

With no biographical details given, for now in this chapter, it's just John. We know not why John wanted to go on this missionary mission. Maybe a spirit of adventure? Maybe a desire to be numbered among the celebrity Christian leaders? Maybe just to get away from an otherwise boring life home in Jerusalem?

We don't know. It doesn't say. But what we do know is...John didn't stick it out. While spending time in the Greek islands with the missionaries was okay, the prospect of turning north to the mainland was enough to send John packing. He left the mission, while it was still in its infancy.

John was fearful of something, real or supposed, as this mission was to advance. It could've been he didn't think himself up to the task, or the hardships, while facing his own fears. The Scriptural narrative simply does not tell us.

I've seen some (thankfully, not all) young pastors and church-planters tap out, especially if the work was harder than anticipated. Or things did not progress on schedule. Or the money couldn't sustain. Or more likely, when the in house (or outhouse) opposition became too demoralizing. Or the pastor's family had challenges.

But we do see that did leave. He tapped out. And went back home. Later we learn how when the second missionary journey was being planned out, Barnabas wanted to take John along, give him another chance; but Paul said 'no way.'

Because of John, the argument over including him or not including him caused such a rift between Barnabas and Paul that they left each other's company, going in different directions.

You could perhaps say that the silver lining was that there were now two different mission efforts, instead of the one. But you could also say that Barnabas, and his missionary efforts were never heard of again.

Of course, much later, Paul comes to see John Mark as a viable and trustworthy ally. Over time, John Mark had apparently matured and proven himself. Nice ending to the story. Even beyond the ending of the story, we also learn that John Mark even wrote one of the gospel accounts in our Bibles.

But let me let you in on a little secret. Apostolic, prophetic leaders are much afraid of dead wood, of being disappointed. We're all too quick to discount a younger leader's capacities and (the evil word "potential.")

When a leader of leaders is left disappointed by the failings of a younger, less experienced leader, the dark tendency is to cut losses. Move on. Find someone else. Because leaders are not much given to patience. And leaders don't absorb the failings of others quite well at all. We preach grace, but don't always extend grace to others.

And yet, there is some John Mark in all of us. While I may be prone to discount someone else, younger or inexperienced, I too have been afraid, failed, even (been tempted to) tap out in my own history. And there must have been some people in my life who did not give up on my (ever again evil word) potential.

Disciple-making is not a clear, unencumbered pathway. It comes with starts and stops, wins and losses. Leader development is so similar, even if the "stakes" are higher.

Leaders who make leaders are forced to be patient, to understand that seasoning and maturity come only over time; sometimes a painfully long and bumpy time.

Leaders who make leaders can only encourage the John Mark's in their lives when they see themselves in John Mark as well.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau