Mark 14:43-52
Everyone Deserted Him
43Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 50Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Acts 13:13
John Mark Leaves Paul and Barnabas
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
Acts 15:36-41
Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus on Forgiving
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
2 Timothy 4:11-12
Paul Calls for John Mark
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
Man is built with a fight or flight mechanism in the brain, that makes us want to fight or flight when we see fear...Sometimes, the fight or flight response gets messed up, or is illogical...Fleeing is not always the rational thing to do...In the Gospel According to Mark, St. Mark writes that when Jesus was arrested, everyone deserted Him and fled...In fact, one left so fast they were wearing a garment, and nothing else...When this person fled and ran so abruptly, from the scene, he lost his garment and was naked...Early in the Christian Church history, it is said that the naked runner is the gospel writer himself, St. Mark...St. Mark writes of his weakness...
It is easy to want to run when we fear things...The fight or flight response is a very powerful conditioning that God has given us...In our early days, we needed a rapid fight or flight response, when we saw a lion or a tiger and needed to react quickly...We needed to get away from the danger, and get away quickly...Our body gets filled with adrenaline and other chemicals and literally is ready for a battle, or ready to quickly flee...We are a little irrational when we are full of adrenaline...We are only thinking to fight or to flight (or flee)...Mark, or the one wearing nothing but a linen garment, chose the flight response...
After the flight response settles down and the adrenaline leaves us, we become more rational again...Mark, and all the others who fled, would have realized in a little bit better state of mind what they had done, and learned from it...But we as man are what we are, and we do sin...Mark, was a young apostle, helping Paul and Barnabas...Mark made another decision to flee Paul and Barnabas in Pamphylia on a missionary journey...Years later when Paul and Barnabas were preparing for another missionary trip, Barnabas wanted to have John Mark, or Mark accompany them...Paul got into such a disagreement with Barnabas, Paul would take Silas, and Barnabas would take Mark on a different and separate mission...Paul did not think it was proper to have Mark go with him and Barnabas, because of his earlier flight decision...
Fear, uncertainty, homesickness, stress, a trouble, an anxiety (and even now studies show a personality, such as a perfectionist personality can have an impact on the fight or flight response mechanism...But whatever the reason or reasons, Mark was forgiven...Both by Jesus and by Paul...He is loved by Jesus and Paul...Years later, Paul in the Book of First Timothy, asks and writes now how important Mark is in his ministry, and wants Mark's because he is helpful to him...
Mark, shows me, the troubles of man, yet is one of our Great Saints...He would later go on to write the Gospel According to Mark...He knew over time, we cannot run from God...God is everywhere and not far from any of us...Mark, and the teaching of forgiveness gives me hope...When St. Paul says bring me Mark, a once rejected young worker, I need his help -gives me much hope...