Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia
Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,
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But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.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,
Searching the scriptures did not reveal any reason why John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. Speculation will only expose those things we might consider ourselves if we were in John Mark’s place. It says more about ourselves than John Mark.
Assumptions can be made about Paul’s thoughts also. Once again we place ourselves in a position to reason things as if we were Paul. The same can be said of Barnabas and his desire to take John Mark with him. Note that Colossians 4:10 identifies John Mark and Barnabas as cousins. A familia connection might have been enough to create a difference in opinion. Maybe, and that too is a supposition.
So let us do just exactly that, let us look within ourselves and ask ourselves what it is that keeps us from serving with others within the ministry. The list may be longer than this list..
I am not called.
I am not worthy.
I am not talented.
I am not trained.
I am not wanted.
I am not needed.
I am not included.
Add your own thoughts.
Now ask yourselves what can be done in your own circumstances to remove the word not so that you too can be of service to God?