John Mark (6) - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

Mark, Barnabas's cousin, concerning whom ye have received orders, (if he come to you, receive him).

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen.

Take Mark, and bring him with thyself, for he is serviceable to me for ministry.
Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11

John Mark (6)
Mark was restored to the Lord but needed to be restored to service too, like Peter in John 21. Paul takes the lead. The Colossians would have known he had not agreed to take Mark on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:38), and might have been reticent to put their confidence in him if he had visited them. So Paul not only passes on his greetings but prepares the way for him—the word "orders" may refer to this: they were definitely to receive him.

In Acts 15:38 Paul reminded Barnabas that Mark had "not gone with them to the work," but now we read in his letters to the Colossians and to Philemon that he regarded him as a fellow-worker. Paul had little fruit to show for his love to his fellow Jews, and he valued the few who had become "fellow-workers for the kingdom of God"; so it is beautiful to find Mark among the three he says have been "a consolation to me" (Col. 4:10, 11).

Second Timothy 4:10-11 are bittersweet verses. Paul writes, "Demas has forsaken me, having loved the present age." This is a warning to us all. Paul had included him with Mark in his list of fellow-workmen in Philemon 24, but now he is going in the wrong direction. How good Paul can turn to Mark and write, "He is serviceable to me for ministry." This is proof positive of the complete power of God's restoring grace in Mark's life. Paul not only commends him to the Colossians but wants him for himself, and he instructs Timothy to "bring him with thyself." This restoring grace is available to you and me too.

Simon Attwood