Sermon -- Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist (April 25, 2025)

This sermon was preached at a chapel service at Hope Christian Academy in Westland, Michigan.

ACTS 15:36-41

ST. MARK REVEALS A SAVIOR WHO DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Without really knowing him, you probably have a great respect for St. Mark the Evangelist.  How could you fail to admire one of four writers of the Gospels?  Perhaps it would be good for you to learn the rest of the story.  You may find him disappointing.

     St. Mark was raised by a godly woman named Mary.  (His father is not mentioned.)  She was a resident of Jerusalem and was among the first Christians.  Her home was used as a gathering place for Christians to worship and pray (Acts 12:12).  Although not one of the apostles, Mark seems to have been a witness of at least some of Jesus’ ministry.  In his gospel, Mark includes an interesting note following the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane.  He wrote, “A certain young man was following him, wearing just a linen cloth over his naked body.  They seized him, but he left behind the linen cloth and fled from them naked” (Mark 14:51-52).  Many agree that this was Mark referring to himself.  If he was able to escape the guard, he might have been a pretty shifty runner.  You might be disappointed to learn that Mark would also end up running away at a later date.

     Mark had accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.  He traveled with them to the island of Cyprus.  From there, they sailed to the mainland to a city called Pamphylia, which is in modern-day Turkey.  We don’t know why, but that’s where Mark ran away and returned home.  Later, when Paul and Barnabas were planning to revisit the churches they had founded, Paul refused to bring Mark along.  That suggests that Mark’s reason for abandoning the work on the first missionary journey was inexcusable.  Mark had failed to fulfill his duties faithfully.  Although Barnabas was willing to give his cousin, Mark, another chance to serve, St. Paul was unwilling to take the risk.  To him, Mark was a disappointment and, therefore, unwelcome.

     Mark was likely a young man, perhaps even a teenager, which means that you might have a lot in common with him.  You have heard Jesus’ teachings.  You probably come from a devout Christian family.  And, like Mark, you don’t always live up to your intentions in serving the Lord.  Many of you have taken a confirmation vow.  You swore before God and his church that you would willingly suffer all things, even death, rather than turn away from your Lord.  And I have no doubt that you meant it.  That vow is easy to make surrounded by your family and the family of believers who were gathered at your church with you. 

     But once you have found yourself surrounded by people who do not share your faith, whose speech is peppered with obscenities, and who cheer for perverse behavior and think you are weird because you don’t, it is not so easy to stand firm in your faith.  That confirmation vow takes a bit of a beating.  Maybe your parents were disappointed in your choices.  Maybe you were disappointed in yourself.  You would not be the first.  There is a reason King David taught us to pray in the Psalms, “Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways.  According to your mercy remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord.” (Psalm 25:7).  Those of us who are older have prayed that prayer often.  We can still feel the disappointment of poor choices from our past.  Mark probably prayed it, too.  You are not unique in your struggles.

     If you have a desire to serve the Lord, it is because the Holy Spirit has planted that desire in you.  If you are disappointed in yourself over your sins, the Holy Spirit has planted that in you as well.  We all prove ourselves to be sinners.  You may be frustrated by it.  You may even despise yourself for it.  But it is not a reason to despair.  The Lord Jesus Christ came for sinners.  He does not disown you because you are weak.  He remains faithful to you amid your struggles.  You may not live up to whatever vows or promises, but the Lord has made a vow to you.  St. Mark recorded it for you: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). 

     You will notice that Jesus did not say, “Whoever believes and performs up to a certain level.”  He did not say, “Whoever believes and overcomes all temptations.”  He did not say, “Whoever believes and does not let me down.”  Our Lord promises salvation to all who are baptized and who trust in him.  You and I do not have the righteousness which God demands, but Jesus provides it.  Whoever believes in Jesus has it.  Whoever has been baptized into Christ is covered in it.  Therefore, you are not judged according to your merits, but according to Jesus’ merits.  Those who trust in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation will never have their hopes disappointed.

     I had said that you should know the rest of the story about St. Mark.  There is a bit more to the story.  It did not end with St. Paul’s disappointment of Mark.  Young Mark grew in faith, in maturity, and in his commitment to the Lord.  He was devoted to God’s word.  He was fed by the Lord’s Supper.  And he continued to serve the Lord in his kingdom.  The Gospel he wrote is regarded as the memoirs of St. Peter.  That means Mark accompanied Peter in his work.  Even St. Paul changed his mind about Mark.  Paul mentions Mark in his letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, showing that Mark had become a fellow minister with St. Paul.  Shortly before he was put to death, St. Paul wrote to Timothy and implored him to come to him.  He included this request: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).  Not only did Paul ask for Mark, Paul praised him for his usefulness.

     You will also continue to grow in the faith, and the Lord has use for you in his church—whether you would become a full-time church worker like Mark or whether you will support that work like Mark’s mother, Mary.  Do not let the struggles of youth sour you about your future.  The rest of your story has yet to be written.  So, be devoted to God’s word.  Partake in the sacrament as often as you can.  If you are disappointed in yourself because of your sins, go to your pastor and confess them so that he will absolve you of them.  Neither the Lord nor your pastor will ever be disappointed in a broken and contrite heart.  As you continue to receive God’s mercy and to grow in the faith, the Holy Spirit will build your courage so that you will confess the faith in your words and your works. 

     We have pondered St. Mark’s story.  But the story St. Mark would have you cling to is the one he wrote about Jesus.  Mark proclaimed to you all that the Savior has done for you so that you will find peace and purpose and pleasure in him.  You will never be disappointed in Jesus’ promises, and he is not disappointed that you are his.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Bible Matters -- Spring Session begins April 23

           Bible Matters is a topical discussion group that enables God’s people to become more comfortable in discussing matters of the Christian faith and more confident in defending the Bible’s teachings.  We encourage open dialogue and welcome bold questions.  All are welcome to consider how God’s word addresses various topics. 

          Sessions will focus on the topic: The Resurrection Accounts in the Gospels.  The resurrection of our Lord is recorded in each of the four Gospels.  Each one gives an account with different details, as each account focuses on different emphases and had different initial audiences.  Each deserves to be considered in its own context.

April 23           According to the Gospel of St. Matthew

April 30           According to the Gospel of St. Mark

May 7              NO CLASS

May 14            According to the Gospel of St. Luke

May 21            According to the Gospel of St. John

May 28            Accounts from Acts and 1 Corinthians.

Bible Matters meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

YouTube -- Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist (April 25, 2021)

Here is the service from April 25, 2021.

Sermon -- Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist (April 25, 2021)

The service for the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist was also in conjunction with emphasis on Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minnesota) and the Equipping Christian Witnesses campaign.

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-11,18

THE LORD PROVIDES USEFUL MINISTERS.

M: Alleluia. Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia.

In the name + of Jesus.

     As we consider how the Lord blessed the church through the ministry of St. Mark the Evangelist, we are also considering how the Lord will bless the church through future pastors and teachers—particularly through Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. 

     Where does the next generation of pastors and teachers come from?  They come from the same place they have always come from—from among God’s people.  John Mark came from a godly household.  His mother, Mary, opened her house up to a group of Christians who met there for Divine Services, prayer, and for fellowship.  We don’t hear of Mark’s father, but his mother’s faith—both confessed and practiced devoutly—left an impression on St. Mark.  The Christian faith also mattered to him.

     When Paul and Barnabas went on their first missionary journey, Mark accompanied them to Cyprus.  However, something went wrong.  The book of Acts noted this: “Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia.  And (Mark) left them and returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13).  St. Luke does not record why Mark left.  Was he homesick?  Did he consider encountering unfamiliar people too dangerous?  Did he think the work was too hard?  Whatever the reason, Paul did not think it was a valid one. 

     When Paul and Barnabas were preparing for their second missionary journey, “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” (Acts 15:37-39).  In short, Paul considered Mark unreliable.  Paul’s conclusion was that Mark was not fit for this kind of ministry.

     So, who is worthy of the ministry?  No one.  No one is a pastor or teacher because he deserves it.  The respect you have for pastors and teachers is appreciated and beneficial, but pastors and teachers recognize their own faults, weaknesses, and sins.  They might think, “If you saw me in high school or college, you might not want me as your pastor anymore.”  And it’s not like a diploma or a divine call has perfected any called worker.  Pastors and teachers remember their failings much more vividly than their successes.  The devil taunts people who hold a holy office: “What gives you the right to hold the office you do with your attitude and your past?”  St. Mark’s weaknesses and failings are still shared and felt by ministers in the Church.

     Such fears are not unique to pastors and teachers.  Who can boast, “I have been a perfect parent”?  Who would claim, “I am faultless as a spouse”?  Even if you think so, what would your spouse say?  We all have sins that haunt us and plague us.  There is a good reason the Psalms teach us to pray, “Remember not the sins of my youth” (Psalm 25:7).  We might conclude that our place in God’s kingdom is suspect as we realize our lives do not line up well with our confession.  If you feel that you are useless because you have failings, you can bet that it is not the Lord Jesus Christ who is telling you that.  The devil wants to drive you to despair.  But the devil is a liar. 

    Satan may accurately track, detail, and date all your sins, but he lies when he tells you that they stand against you.  For this is what the Lord says: “The blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).  The Lord has purified you through the blood of Christ which was shed for you at the cross, which was applied to you at the font, and which continues to be given to you at this altar.  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  The Lord does not remember you according to your faults.  Rather, he assures you that “as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  When the Lord looks upon you, he sees the righteousness, innocence, and blessedness of Jesus Christ.  He is pleased to call you his own.  You are chosen and precious to him.  And he will work in you to produce the very fruits of faith he seeks.  Your works may not be flawless, but they are still useful.  Even a stammering preacher like St. Paul can still get his message across.  You are beneficial to others, useful to the Church, and pleasing to Christ.  This is true for all Christians.  All of God’s people are saints.  And from all the saints, God calls some to be pastors and teachers for the benefit of his church.  The Lord provides useful ministers for his church.

     It is hard to know what Paul’s and Barnabas’ argument concerning St. Mark was about.  Yes, he had left them on their first journey, but a few years had gone by.  Perhaps Barnabas recognized that Mark had matured both emotionally and spiritually.  Paul would have none of it.  “There arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.  Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus” (Acts 15:39).  Although Paul refused Mark’s company, Barnabas insisted that Mark was useful.  They travelled on to Cyprus to serve the churches there.  The Lord provided a useful minister to his church.

     Now, St. Mark was not an apostle.  He was not chosen personally by Jesus and endowed with the gifts of an apostle.  But he was still useful to the church.  St. Mark was an Evangelist, meaning that he wrote one of the four Gospels in our New Testament.  The Church from the earliest days has credited Mark to be the author of this Gospel and St. Peter to be the source of its content.  Mark’s association with the apostles was not limited to Peter.  Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while awaiting his execution in Rome.  He wrote, “Do your best to come to me soon.  Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:9,11).  Eventually, even the apostle Paul discovered that Mark was a useful minister. 

     Either Mark had proven himself reliable over time, or Paul softened on his opinion.  After all, Paul had his own sins from the past he would just assume forget.  Peter did too.  Peter and Paul were apostles, but they were no more holy than Mark or you.  They had regrets and sins from their past, and these enabled them to have compassion on others who had also stumbled in the faith or who were ensnared in sins outside of the church.  The longer you live, the more likely you are to develop compassion on people in their sins.  You can recall your foolish choices, or moments when your judgment was shameful.  When you see others committing those same sins, rather than being judgmental, you pause and consider, “Yes, I remember doing the same thing.  I understand how you found that attractive, but I was wrong to do it, and so are you.  Repent and believe the good news.  Jesus takes away your sins and covers your shame.  You are precious to him.” 

     You and I cannot excuse sins because God doesn’t.  But when we see others commit sins, our desire is to draw them out from under them so that they will not be crushed by them.  You know what it is to be hounded by the memories of bad decisions, of using other people, or of abandoning those who were depending upon you.  You know the relief of being absolved of your guilt and the joy of being assured that the Lord does not hold your sins against you.  You know what it is to be forgiven, and you know how much this relief and joy would benefit others.  Who better than you to proclaim the mercy of God to friends and family who need it?  Whether you are a minister or not, this is most useful.

     Perhaps that is why Paul softened on his opinion of St. Mark.  Perhaps that is why Peter also welcomed Mark in his company.  They were all flawed, but they could also rejoice together in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  The Lord provided useful ministers from flawed men whose faults have been recorded for us.  The Holy Spirit revealed their sins so that we do not get the idea that only superior saints are useful in the kingdom of God.  The Lord provides useful ministers to his church, and he gives us all opportunities to serve God’s people—whether apostles, evangelists, pastors, teachers, church council officers, parents, teens, or whoever you are.

     Since we are referring to Paul’s epistle for this sermon, we ought to consider a few words about that.  Paul knew his life was at its end, and he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  We might get the impression that Paul was claiming he had earned the reward which was coming to him.  But if you look at everything Paul wrote, you would know that is not true.  Paul was saved by Jesus who took up his sins, who credited him with righteousness, who conquered death, and who make Paul his own through holy baptism.  This is true for all who believe in Jesus, who have loved his appearing.  We love our Lord who appeared upon earth to gain for us the resurrection to life and to glory. 

     Paul further expressed his confidence, taking God at his word, when he wrote, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).  Paul knew that he would face the sword soon.  He was not begging to escape that.  He was certain that he would be rescued from sin and death.  He might die by martyrdom, but he would not perish.  No curse would ever touch him.  Jesus had delivered him from his sins.  Jesus promised deliverance from the grave.  Jesus guarantees heavenly bliss to all who believe in him. This confidence is not just for Paul, but for all who believe and are baptized.

    That is why the Lord had St. Mark record for us the words and works of Jesus Christ.  And that is why the Lord sends ministers to his church—to proclaim to troubled, flawed people that Jesus Christ will rescue us from every evil deed and bring us safely into his heavenly kingdom.  Whether this message comes from pastors and teachers, from parents to their children, from friend to friend, or from one of us to another, it is most useful and most important. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Minor Festival -- The Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist

The Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist is April 25.

            Lutheran worship is liturgical.  While that often refers to an order of worship, it can also refer to the calendar of the Church Year.  The Church Year includes major festivals, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, etc...  On Sunday, April 25, we recognize a minor festival, the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist.

            St. Mark, also known as John Mark, is the writer of one of the gospels.  He was the cousin of Barnabas and was associated with him and St. Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey.  Mark, however, left the missionary team half way through the journey; and St. Paul lost confidence in him as a faithful missionary.  Later, we find that St. Mark is a close associate of St. Peter.  It has been suggested that Mark’s gospel is really St. Peter’s, and that Mark wrote what Peter passed along to him (1 Peter 1:12-15).  We also find that St. Mark and St. Paul were later reconciled, as Paul confesses that he finds Mark “helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11) We rejoice in knowing that, even though we have failed our Lord, he forgives us and is still eager to use us for his glory.