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Two Very Different Men: Demas & Mark
2 Timothy 4:9-11
2 Timothy 4:9-11 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”
In the stories of Demas and Mark, we’ll find ourselves facing a sobering warning and looking at hope filled encouragement. We’ll see that it’s possible to begin well but end in disaster. We’ll also see it’s possible to begin in failure but to end in faithfulness.
Demas’ life provides a sobering warning because he began well but ended in spectacular failure. Mark’s life is the opposite and points to the hopeful news of forgiveness and restoration. His story began in failure but ended in faithfulness.
Where do I see my refection in the lives of these men? Who do I most identify with? Demas or Mark? Where do I need to be warned? Where do I need to find encouragement?
1. Demas started well but ended in disaster. We must beware of the perilous and sinful pull of the world’s values.
2 Timothy 4:10 (ESV) –
“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.”
2 Timothy 4:9 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come to me soon.”
2 Timothy 4:10 (NLT) –
“Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica.”
The world’s values and the call of discipleship pull in opposite directions. Picture a tug of war.
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV) –
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
James 4:4 (ESV) –
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
2 Timothy 4:10 (ESV) –
“For Demas, in love with this present world...”
Colossians 4:14 (ESV) –
“Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.”
Philemon 24 (ESV) –
“...and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.”
Demas is listed with Luke and Mark as fellow workers with Paul. He was a member of Paul’s missionary team which leaves us asking – What happened?
We’re facing a serious warning. Demas began well but faithful service in the past doesn’t guarantee future faithfulness. Whatever his specific reasons were, his love for this present world and the things it offers led him to abandon Paul. He turned away from an eternal perspective and things of eternal value.
2 Timothy 4:13 (ESV) –
“When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.”
Demas’ story prompts us to consider – What do I ultimately treasure? We need to beware of the seductive pull of the world’s values.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) –
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV) –
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
Matthew 13:22 (ESV) –
“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”
1 John 2:19 (ESV) –
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”
2. Mark’s life and experience provide a hopeful picture of forgiveness and restoration. Past failures don’t guarantee future ones.
Colossians 4:10 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“...and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him)...”
Acts 12:12 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.”
Acts 13:2-5 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.”
At the beginning of Paul’s first missionary journey John (Mark) was along to help but as the story continues, we see this wasn’t his finest hour.
Acts 13:5 (ESV) –
“And they had John to assist them.”
Acts 13:13 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem...”
John Mark left, abandoning them in the middle of this missionary journey, this was not good at all.
Paul and Barnabas had a serious disagreement over Mark. Barnabas wanted to take Mark along on a second missionary trip, Paul didn’t.
Acts 15:36-41 (ESV) –
“ And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 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, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
Paul and Barnabas had such a sharp disagreement over how to respond to Mark’s failures that they separated. This was a practical disagreement over what was the wise course of action.
People who love the Lord can disagree sharply. Moving forward, what happened actually resulted in one ministry team being transformed into two.
This isn’t the end of the story because years later, Paul spoke very favorably about John Mark.
Colossians 4:10 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him)...”
Philemon 24 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“...and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.”
2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV) –
“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”
Remember these words complementing Mark are set against the backdrop that we’ve already considered and unpacked. We need to see that one failure doesn’t mean a lifetime of failure.
Romans 3:23 (ESV) –
“...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...”
We’re sinners. Failure doesn’t need to be the end of the story because of grace. There is always a path of faithfulness to the Lord from where we stand.
1 Timothy 1:13-16 (ESV) –
“...though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”
2 Timothy 4:9 (ESV) –
“Do your best to come to me soon.”
2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV) –
“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me...”
Things had changed; Mark had demonstrated his commitment to missionary work. Paul forgave him. Ask – Where do I need to do the same?
Luke 23:34 (ESV) –
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Acts 7:60 (ESV) –
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
3. The lives of Demas and Mark are opposites. Demas began well only to end in disaster – a sobering warning for us all. Mark began in failure and ended well pointing to the news of forgiveness and restoration.
Consider Demas’ failure. This ought to serve as an urgent reminder to all of us! We need to remain faithful, to persevere.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) –
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Have you heard the disclaimer – Past performance isn’t a guarantee of future results. This is a sobering reminder in our walk with the Lord. Ask – Am I living my life for the Lord, today?
Mark failed at the beginning of his ministry but that’s not the end of the story. We see grace, forgiveness and restoration. Past failures don’t guarantee future ones.
Ask – What lessons do I need to learn? Who do I identify with? Demas’ life and story ought to caution all of us. Mark’s story is encouraging.
Ask – Where do I see my reflection in the lives of these men? Who do I most identify with? Where do I need to be warned? Where do I need to find hope and encouragement?