Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-09-07
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 9
JOHN MARK

LESSON TExT-Mark 14:5l52: Acts
1919: 25-13:5; Acts 15:36-40; II Tim.
All.
1 GOLDEN TEXT-"Whatsoever thy
| hand fndeth to do, do it with thy
might. t."-Eccles. $40.
PRIMARY TOPIC-John Mark. One
| of Paul's Helpers.
JUNIOR TOP1C-The Man Who
Failed and Tried Again.
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
! lC-Warning and encouragement From
the Life of Mark.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| Marks Contribution to Christianity.
| |. Marks Home Life (Acts 10 :12).
| lie had the wholesome influence Of
a Christian home, for his mother was
n godly woman. There is no heritage
/ to be compared to that of godly
home. Nothing has "uch a farreach-
ing influence upon the life of young
man as the memory of a praying moth
er. Even when it was SO perilous to
be known as follower of Jesus, she
was not afraid to have prayer meet
| ing in her home.
II. Mark With Jesus in Gethsemane
(Mark 14:51. 52).
AT the sight of the Roman guard,
the disciples "all forsook Him and
fled" This timid lad still followed
the Lord till laid hold on by the young
men. He then fled, leaving behind
him his linen garment, This Geth-
semane experience doubtless had a
| decided effect upon his life.
III. Mark Servant of Paul and
Barnabas (Acts u ;25-13 :5).
| Mark was with the company when
Peter told of his wonderful release
from prison. This, doubtless, made a
/ great impression upon him and was
the beginning of his desire to accom-
pany the missionaries of the cross.
He was not missionary on the same
| footing as Paul and Barnabas but an
attendant upon them to look after
their needs.
! ~. Mark DESERVING Paul and Barna-
bas (Acts 13: :13)
We are not told the cause of this
desertion. Three conjectures, one or
all Of which had bearing upon his
action, are offered.
|
easy circumstances If not wealthy. AS
they were carrying the gospel into the
rough, mountainous country, occupied
by rough, half-civilized people, the
mettle of this young servant was tried.
We ought not to condemn him too
readily, for we know how trying 1t Is
to leave home when struggling against
the rough world. While sympathizing
with him, we must remember that
duty Is stronger than the tender ties
of life. The time comes when the SOL
dler must spurn the ties which bind
him to father, mother, wife and chill
dren, in response to the call of duty.
The missionary must turn his back
upon home, native land, and friends In
his devotion to his Lord
.. Disbelief in Foreign Missions.
There was common prejudice among
the Jews against taking the gospel to
the Gentiles. When he saw that these
missionaries were going to the re
gions beyond" his prejudice may have
caused him to turn back.
3. Cowardice. The dangers before
them We're not imaginary but real.
The missionary today faces awful dan
gers: climate, wild beasts, deadly SER
pents and insects, and savage and can
nibalistic men. However, fear Is no
excuse for cowardlce because we are
linked to the Almighty by faith; there
Is nothing In heaven or on earth that
can harm us. Courage is required Of
those who would do the Lords work.
v. Mark With Peter In Babylon Il
Pet 5:13).
Some years after Marks desertion,
when Paul and Barnabas were arrang-
ing for second evangelstic tour,
they had sharp dispute over the
question Of taking Mark with them.
Paul would not consent to Marks ac-
companylng them, so "they departed
asunder one from the other" Mark
went with his uncle. By this time he
must have been cured of his cowardlce
for we see him associated with Peter
In Babylon.
vi. Mark Honored by Paul (II Tim.
AID.
Paul is now an old man in prison.
Mark is middle-aged man associated
with Timothy at Ephesus. Mark had
proved himself, for Paul gives the
pleasing testimony that "he is profit
able unto me for the ministry" Mark
is an example of one who made good
in spite of his early backslding.