Second Chance Paul

It is somewhat surprising to find the name of Mark listed as one of the cellmates of Paul as he writes his letter to the Colossians from prison.  John Mark as he is often called was an early member of the group which was sent out with Paul and Barnabas by the church at Antioch.  (Acts 13:1-3)  The only problem was that the young cousin of Barnabas did not have the kind of stick-to-it-tiveness and ended up leaving and heading back to Jerusalem.  The Apostle Paul saw him as a deserter and later on he and Barnabas would have a parting of the ways over Barnabas's desire to bring his young cousin along once again. (Acts 15:36-40)

 

Apparently, something happened between the anger and companionship in prison.  Colossians 4:10 says, "Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas..."  Exactly when and how the reconciliation took place is not shared, but the fact that it happened is obvious from the words of the Apostle.  Paul may be judged as a hard man for the conflict he had with Barnabas, but it must also be said that Paul was a man who gave people second chances.

 

Maybe chance is not as good a word as opportunity.  Maybe what Paul gave and what we need to be quicker to give is another opportunity for someone to prove themselves.  Most of us can look back over the span of the years and remember some folks who disappointed us, let us down, or proved themselves unfit for a task and when we see them we see them through the lens of the failed past instead of through the lens of a changed future.  Certainly, Jesus was one who was willing to give messed up, fallen people like you and me another opportunity.  Somehow that part of the heart of Jesus took root in Paul so that he could forgive one who had let him down.  Maybe it is time for us to do some of this heart work ourselves.