Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you:
for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
The verse begins, “Only Luke is with me.” Paul began with the word, “Only” which means “alone, without a companion, forsaken, destitute of help and merely” “Luke” whose name means “light-giving” and was “a Gentile Christian and companion of Paul in preaching the gospel and on his many journeys; he was a physician and author of the book of Luke and Acts in the New Testament” “is with me” or “accompanying, occupied with or joined to him”. After all those who travelled, ministered and shared the gospel with Paul, “solely” “Luke” who is known as “the beloved physician” was with him now.
The verse continues, “Take Mark, and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Paul continued, “Take” or “raise and receive up” “Mark” whose name means “a defense” and was “an evangelist and the author of the Gospel of Mark. Marcus was his Latin surname, and his Jewish name was John. He was a cousin of Barnabas and a companion of Paul in some of his missionary journeys” “and bring him” or “lead, take by laying hold of and accompanying, conduct and attached to one's self as an attendant” “with you” which referred to Timothy. Paul's desire was for Timothy to bring Mark with him when he came to visit Paul in Rome. Paul added the reason he desired for “Mark” to come, “for he is profitable” or “easy to make use of, useful or meet for use” “to me” which referred to Paul himself, “for the ministry” which means “service, of those who execute the commands of others and the ministration of those who render to others the office of Christian affection such as those who help meet needs by either collecting or distributing of charities”. “Mark” would be of “use and service” in the ministry when Timothy brought him along to help Paul.
As we think about Paul's words, we may be inclined to feel pity for him as he sat mostly alone in the Roman prison. It is interesting to note that had he not been there, we might not be reading his words today. The fact that “Luke” was with him shows deep devotion on “Luke's” part, and though physicians in those days were servants and not as exalted in position as they are today, Paul was certainly delighted to have Luke be with him. When we think about “Mark” or “John Mark”, this becomes quite another story. “Mark” was the cousin of Barnabas and had forsaken Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. (See Acts 15:37-39) Barnabas desired for “Mark” to go with them on their second missionary journey, and the disagreement was so strong between Barnabas and Paul that they separated in ministry. However, some time later, “Mark” is “profitable” to both Paul himself and “the ministry”. Not only does this demonstrate alteration in Paul, but also change within “Mark”. Incidentally, “Luke” wrote the gospel of “Luke” and the “Acts of the Apostles”, and “Mark” wrote the gospel of “Mark”. No one but Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit could add such incredible value to those who would be used to share such a glorious message. May the Lord Jesus shape, mold and make us “profitable” “for the ministry” and comfort of others as He did with “Luke” and “Mark”, and may He alter any place within us that needs to be changed before we can be mightily used by Him.
Next time Paul shares concerning “Tychicus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment