2 Timothy 4:11
Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
Tag: Knowing your are valuable!!!
The above passage is written toward the end of the letter Paul writes to Pastor Timothy, who was the Elder at Ephesus. The letter would be read, after Timothy's private reading, to the entire church. That was the custom. Imagine you are young Mark, sitting in the congregation, listening to the letter being read by Timothy. Years earlier Paul wanted nothing to do with John-Mark. Note his words to Mark's cousin, Barnabas:
Acts 15:36-41
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
There "arose a sharp disagreement" between them and John-Mark was the reason. Now Paul, years later, writes to Timothy, send him to me, he is "very useful to me." The Gospel, in the hands of men who know the truth, can make anyone "profitable" (the Greek word means "useful"). It is used of Onesimus in the book of Philemon. Paul tells Philemon the same thing, that Onesimus is "profitable." The name "Onesimus" actually means, "useful." When men are submissive to the Gospel they become value to the Kingdom. Those without the Gospel have value in this world, but not in the Kingdom work. Barnabas worked with John-Mark and helped him to become useful to Paul. Paul worked with Onesimus and helped him to become useful to Philemon. This IS the work of the Gospel for the Kingdom.
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