Walking by Faith: Mark – Getting Back Up After Letting Others Down

Arnie and the BTTB Team
Aug 8
3 min read

He started strong. He had connections, opportunity, and promise. But when the pressure increased, Mark quit. He abandoned a mission, disappointed leaders, and caused a sharp divide between two of the early church’s greatest voices.

Man fixing bicycle in park, surrounded by trees. Helmet and water bottle on ground. Casual outfit; bright, sunny day.

At one point, Paul didn’t want to work with him again.

But that wasn’t the end of Mark’s story.

Mark’s life reminds us that walking by faith doesn’t mean we never stumble. It means we get back up—and let God reshape us into something stronger than before.

A Promising Start

Mark, also known as John Mark, came from a prominent Christian home. His mother’s house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for early believers (Acts 12:12), and he was likely discipled by Peter. He had a front-row seat to the power of the gospel.

When Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey, Mark went with them (Acts 13:5). He was young, eager, and trusted by respected leaders. But at some point during the trip, Mark decided to return home.

Scripture doesn’t say why. Maybe the travel was too hard. Maybe the opposition was intense. Maybe he simply lost his nerve.

Whatever the reason, Mark left. And it hurt the mission.

A Divisive Mistake

When Paul and Barnabas prepared for their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance. But Paul refused.

“Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn… and had not gone with them to the work” (Acts 15:38).

The disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas parted ways. Barnabas took Mark. Paul took Silas.

It was a painful moment. Mark’s earlier failure didn’t just affect his reputation—it caused division among mature believers.

Some of us know what that feels like. We’ve let someone down. We've failed to follow through. And we wonder if we’ll ever be trusted again.

A Quiet Rebuilding

Though Scripture doesn’t tell us what happened in detail, it’s clear that Mark’s story didn’t end with that failure. He kept going. He kept growing.

Barnabas—whose name means “son of encouragement”—believed in Mark enough to stick with him. Over time, Mark regained credibility. He became a trusted companion of Peter (1 Pet. 5:13). He served in ministry again.

And eventually, even Paul changed his mind.

“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11).

That sentence, tucked near the end of Paul’s life, is one of the most beautiful lines in the New Testament. The same man who once said Mark wasn’t ready now says, “He’s useful to me.”

Only God can write a story like that.

The Gospel According to Mark

Even more astonishing, the same Mark who abandoned his post later authored one of the four Gospels. The Gospel of Mark is fast-moving, direct, and filled with the energy of someone who knew how urgent the message of Jesus really was.

Mark didn’t let failure define him. He let grace redefine him.

And now, through his Gospel, he continues to proclaim the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to millions across the world.

What Mark’s Journey Means for Ours

You may feel disqualified by your past. Maybe you walked away from a calling. Maybe you failed in leadership, disappointed a mentor, or abandoned a mission God gave you.

If so, remember Mark.

Your failure doesn’t have to be final. God restores people. He raises them up again. And He doesn’t merely bring them back—He often gives them greater purpose than before.

All He asks is a heart willing to return.