2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
The Apostle Paul is finalizing his letter, which will be called 2 Timothy, and it is getting very personal. So personal that he asked Timothy to be diligent to come to me quickly (2 Tim. 4:9) and to “bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas” when he comes as he is cold (2 Tim. 4:13) and he wants to do his very best to come before winter (2 Tim. 4:21). Along with these personal requests he writes about some people who are making a difference and some who have deserted him. He names specifically Demas as he had forsaken him having loved this present world. (2 Tim. 4:10)
As he writes these personal notes, he writes that “only Luke is with him.” Luke was a faithful companion of Paul and made his mark on Christianity by writing the Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles. One has to wonder what kind of conversations these two must have had.
Then Paul writes what may have been a little surprising to Timothy as he tells him to “get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” Get Mark. Get John Mark. Get John Mark and bring him with you as you come to me. Get John Mark and bring him with you for he is useful to me for ministry.
I wrote and rewrote this assignment because I think Timothy may have been scratching his head and rereading what was written. Earlier in Acts 15 Paul had (I will say it nicely) kicked Mark off the team. While we don’t know all the details, we do know that Paul made it clear Mark was not traveling with him. NOW he not only says GET Mark and BRING him with you he says bring him because he is USEFUL to him for ministry. Evidently, John Mark had grown up and Paul heard good reports about him and now he wants him with him. WOW!
Allow me to give a quick outline on 2 Timothy 4:10-11
Demas started well but finished badly.
Luke started well and finished well.
Mark started badly but finished well.
I hope you are like Luke, and I hope you are never like Demas. If you have started badly, know you can finish well, like Mark did! Most importantly I pray you finish WELL!
AN APRIL TO BELIEVE Note:
With Easter on April 20, we are reading through the gospel of John. On this April 11th, we encourage you to read/listen to John 11 where Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. The key verses regarding believing are John 11:25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” And John 11:27 She said to Him, Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world”
May this April be an April to Believe!
Continue Strong,
And remember to DATE The Word