Evening star., 1923-09-08

New Testament furnishes US all the
light that we have to secure an in
sight into his career, capability and
character. The few illusions to him
are luminous. They imply more than
they express. They refer to crises in
his life and furnish us with the neces-
sary outlines to understand his rec
ord OF service. While not as great as
the three apostles, Barnabas, Peter
and Paul. with whom he was asso-
clated, John Mark Is one of the most
intensely interesting personalities
whose careers we have studied In the
development of his character there is
much to encourage the Christian
whose life has been marred by fail
ure.
our first knowledge of Mark comes
from his own pen. In his narrative of
the Masters life Mark refers to an
Hcident that occurred on the night
OF the Lords betrayal. All who were
win Jesus in the garden forsook Him
ana Hed There was young man who
followed Him as He left Gethsemane
although he had not been with Him
IN the garden. Most scholars consid-
er that Mark recalled the trivial in
cident without mentioning any names.
because 1t revealed incidentally that
ne had been with Jesus For obvious
i reasons he did not mention the name
o! the youth who fled from the SOL
dlers when they tried to arrest him,
| leaving his linen tunic in their hands.
| This harmonizes with the tradition
that he was the man bearing a
pitcher of water" who guided the dis
clples to the upper room in his moth
ers home. where Jesus observed the
- II t. Il
tCted the Lords supper. Probably
Mark was aroused from his sleep by
the approach of the soldiers, who
came seeking the Master in the upper
room. He followed them to the garden.
| " hen Jesus left Gethsemane the un-
| named youth started to follow Christ
! TO the cross. His courage failed him
| When he faced personal danger and
| ne fed like the rest of the Lords fol-
| lowers.
Fourteen years later we get a Wis
lon OF John Mark again. The fires of
persecution had broken out against
the church. Agrippa had imprisoned
Peter and planned to kill him. as well
as James. In an effort to please the
| Jews. Marks home was the head
| quarters OF the church ever since the
coming of the Holy Spirit upon the
early church at Pentecost. Although
! the leaders were absent, the members
I appeared to have held an all-night pray
er meeting seeking the help of the in
visible and invincible Christ to de-
liver Peter from danger. Mark. whom
| Peter called his SON. was certainly
| present when the servant announced
that Peter was outside seeking an en-
| trance. John Mark witnessed Peters
| entrance into the upper room the
! night the Lord freed the great apostle
from prison in answer to the prayers
OF His church. The tie that united
| Peter to that home was evidently a
| strong one. for he went directly there
| from the prison. 1t is quite probable
| that Mark had already assisted Peter
| In his ministry at Joppa and at Caes-
| area, which may account for Peter
action in seeking the home of Mary
the mother of John Mark. The events
Of that night would serve to strength
en- the ties that bound the brillian,
youth to the great leader. who had
| won him for the Masters service.
Mark had an intimate fellowship
| with the leaders of Jerusalems po-
litical, religious and social life
through his family connections. They
visited, without doubt, the home OF
his mother. who welcomed the op-
! portunity to bring the members OF
! her family into intimate fellowship
! with the best thinkers and leaders OF
her city. The spiritual. social and
intellectual atmosphere of Marks
! home. which was one of culture
| wealth and refinement. insured him a
fine preparation for Christian service
He had taken his place as follower
of Christ Jesus by this time. He may
| have given up his activities as q
Synagogue minister" and given his
time to active Christian work. Aside
from his home training he had beer
! educated Is a Levfte so that he was
| familiar with the rolls of Scripture
! and a good linguist. speaking f1uently
/! Aramaic and Greek. He had helped
Peter as an interpreter.
When Barnabas and Paul brought
| the gifts of the Gentle Christians
| to aid the poor in Jerusalem Barna- :
] bas invited his cousin, John Mark, to
| return with them to Antioch as an
| assistant minister. 1t was probably
| at this period that he took the name
! Of Mark in addition to his Jewish
! name of John. No reference is made
! to his work in Antioch. but it evident
| ly was of such a high character that
he was selected by them to be their
+, attendant in movement that has
! changed the very history of the
| world" 1t was his task to care for
! rangements for board. lodging and
| travelling" on their missionary trip.
He may have baptized the converts.
He probably served as secretary for
| Paul He may have preached at times
| and helped train the converts:
| When they reached Perga John de-
| parted. There is sting in the use
! of John in place of Mark in speaking
of his failure in their need. Paul re-
sented his apostacy: possibly there
| was a personal difference between
| them. as Paul had taken the leader
! ship in the work. Mark may have re-
| quested this change. Possibly 1t was
| cowardice as they proposed to face
| the hazards of the mountains with
| their perils of rivers. robbers and
| wild beasts. He may have been home
| sick when he started for Jerusalem.
where he heard the story OF their sue
| cess when they narrated their victo-
ries to the mother church and the
apostles. +.
We next find Mark again in An
tioch, where he may nave come with
| Peter He proved to Barnabas that
| II he were given a second chance