Have you Heard about John Mark’s Second Chance?

 I enjoy reading the stories on the Internet about prominent people sharing their stories about God giving them a “second chance.”  Today we read in Acts chapter 13 that John Mark assisted Paul and Barnabas on a mission trip. After they had ministered in a couple of towns, John Mark left them and returned home to Jerusalem. We don’t know why he left he could have been homesick.

Later in Acts chapter 15, we read that Paul and Barnabas were going to leave on another mission trip. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin, John Mark along again, but Paul strongly disagreed since he had deserted them on their previous trip. After their sharp disagreement, Barnabas separated from Paul taking John Mark with him and Paul took Silas. Paul wasn’t sure that he could trust John Mark for leadership since he had left them on the previous trip. Barnabas felt that John Mark had potential and that he could be helpful in the ministry.

Later Paul did give John Mark a second chance taking him along and sailed to Cyprus. In 2 Timothy 4:11 we read that Paul wants Mark to come, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”

We don’t read in Acts about why John Mark’s left on his first trip with Paul. We know that he is the same one who wrote the Gospel of Mark, the first gospel written of the four gospels. I was inspired by this story because it was an example of how God gives people a second chance and blesses them.

Many grandparents are discouraged as they see their grandchildren make bad choices. However, I would like to encourage them to pray for them and tell them you love them because God can make something good out of their lives; he is an expert life transformer. We read in God’s Word, “If we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all wrong”. ¹ “God can transform them into a new person”. ²

Pray your grandchildren will be drawn to Jesus with gentle cords of love and experience the reality of Jesus Christ in their lives, as they grow in their faith. Don’t give up praying for your grandchildren and their parents. Jesus is waiting to give them a second chance just as the father of the prodigal son.

¹ I John 1:9       ² Romans 12:2

To learn more about the prayer ministry of Christian Grandparenting Network go to https://christiangrandparenting.net/grandparents-at-prayer/

By Lillian Penner, Co-director of the prayer ministry of Christian Grandparenting Network, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net