10. My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
11. Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
We find out more about Aristarchus from Acts 19. He came from the Macedonia church. There was an uprising in the city. A riot developed. They grabbed Aristarchus and another disciple. He was beaten almost to death, because they couldn't find Paul. Aristarchus also went with Paul to Jerusalem and traveled with Him to Rome. That means he was also subjected to the shipwreck, the hardship on the Island of Maltus, and he was referred to as a fellow prisoner. In addition, he also was put into chains because of his faithful and forceful witness. Paul was not the only Christian prisoner, just the one we hear most about, because of his writings.
John Mark has a story all of his own. During that first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas they took Mark along who was a cousin of Barnabas. Mark left the team shortly after they began. The only thing Acts 15 tells us was, when Paul and Barnabas were getting ready to go on their second journey, Barnabas wanted to bring Mark along again and Paul told him "No way." He left at once. He was not willing to give him a second chance. They got into a heated argument over that. They split company over the issue of Mark.
Maybe this was God working out their personal problems so His ultimate plan could be better served. He allowed their dissension to result in two missionary teams and to the further on the job training of Silas with Paul and Mark with Barnabas. Paul later learned that Mark was very valuable help. He welcomed him and was willing to forgive and forget.
What a reminder of the God of the second chance! Some may have muffed things badly in a ministry or a failed area of their life, but God is gracious and offers a second, third, and fourth chances.
Jesus the Justus has little said about him. I would like to think he represented the hundreds and thousands of Christians who get little or no recognition. They are known to God for their faithful labors. We have people in this church who I accidentally catch doing something, fixing something, giving something, that nobody knows about. Recognition isn't important, but being faithful to God is important. All these folks will be rewarded.
Application: Look for ways to provide emotional support for your church leaders, others in the body of Christ, family and all those you encounter.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for those you have put in my life who spend time with me, understand me, pray with me, and support me in my Christian walk. Help me to do that for others.
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