Before March 2020, had anyone ever used Zoom before? Had anyone ever heard of it before COVID? If you have never used it before, the best description of Zoom is that it is like the Brady Bunch introduction, with many people appearing on a screen at once in a little box. Now, post-Covid, things like Zoom, Facetime, and Google Meets are normal occurrences in our world. One of the things that always amuses me with Zoom is when people come on. Everyone in the group will wave and welcome the new person that just got on. Kids love doing it; adults do, too. The end of 2 Timothy reads like a Zoom call, where everyone waves “hello.” In this case, it is Paul who does the waving, and he is waving to a variety of people, and giving updates and instructions. The only place that has more people, greetings, and instructions is Romans 16. As we see Paul wrap up his letter, I want to focus on two little known individuals, and that battle that takes place. One of them tragically loses; the other snatches victory from the jaws of defeat. Who are these people? Demas and Mark, and Paul has something to say about each of them.
“It’s time to go.” Have you ever said these words? They are the words that begin our text. Maybe you said those words when a new opportunity popped up, and it is the change you are waiting for; you gotta act and move on it. Maybe you have said those words to a child, as you get ready to leave a park, play date, or pool. Perhaps it is said in the midst of a heated scenario, or after an awkward moment took place. These words apply to Paul as our text opens. However, it isn’t Paul saying them, but someone saying it to him. “It’s time to go.” “The time of departure has come.” Paul is nearing the end, and he knows it. As Paul waits for the end, he reflects on his life, and he describes it with a peculiar phrase: “I fought the good fight,” or literally, “I have struggled the beautiful struggle.” The beautiful struggle? Is that not an accurate description of our life in Christ?
But, why call it beautiful? Well, the Lord Who called is good. The Lord makes us “good,” that is, righteous by faith. The Lord works all things for our good, and He works through you and me to accomplish His good will. It is certainly beautiful.
And struggle? We know that. Paul certainly did. His life and ministry was one big struggle that tried to shipwreck his faith. In 2 Corinthians, he mentions just some of the struggles: “countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hand of the Jews the forty lashes less one. There times I was beating with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” And this isn’t mentioning the many betrayals, injustices, and disappointments he faced. I think “beautiful struggle” is a great description of his life. It is of ours, too, isn’t it?
We have encountered our fair of struggles that wage war against our faith. We know the weight of sickness and disease; the swirl of anxiety for our family, livelihood, and nation. We know the sting of betrayal, blow of a malicious word, pain of disappointment, the stench of shame, and the tight grip of fear. And they all wage war against our faith. Beautiful struggle is a good description! But, you know what, these are just the outer struggles. The greatest, and most dangerous, is the inner struggle. Demas and Mark knew it well.
Paul says, “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” Who was Demas? Demas was a companion of Paul who faithfully stood by Paul’s side during his first imprisonment. Now, he has left him. But, Demas doesn’t just leave Paul, he leaves the faith, too! Paul says that Demas “agapes” the world; he loves it unconditionally. The lights and sounds are too attractive. Demas is like a bug heading to the light of a bug zapper. Little does he know that its pull, allure, intrigue, and glow will lead to his end! It is all too much. The world’s “advantages” and lusts took hold of his heart. He refuses the cross the cross that Jesus has laid upon him and lovingly embraces the world instead. He accepts its flaws, warts, and imperfections. He accepts it temptations, dangers, and all! It is what he wants. What a sad fate to be with Paul, and then to fall away from the Christian faith!
Mark knew the struggle, too. He loved the world as well. Tradition has Mark as the rich young ruler who departs from Jesus sad. He couldn’t follow the words Jesus said to him: “Go, sell what you possess…and come, follow me.” Tradition has Mark as the young man who flees naked when Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. That detail is only in Mark’s gospel! Luke tells us that Mark left Paul and Barnabas in the middle of a missionary journey. When Mark wanted to go on the next one, Paul refused, and Barnabas welcomed him. The two got into such a fight that Paul could not work or travel to share the Gospel with a person who wanted to bring Mark along for a second time! They tragically parted ways. Mark had his struggles, too.
What about you? Are you in love with this present world? You are in love with this present world when you resent what others have. You are in love with this world when you grumble against your leaders, and about those around you. You are in love with this world when you are cowardly instead of faithful. You are in love with this present world when you look with longing at a person who is not your spouse. You are in love with this present world when you believe a little more of blank (money, rest, vacation, sex, booze, hobbies, etc.) will solve the problem. You are in love with this world when the stuff around us has a great appeal and interest than God’s Word. You are in love with this world in some way, shape, or form. What hope do we have? Demas loved the world. Mark did, too. As we do we.
But, remember the pair, and what Paul says. One tragically loses the battle while the other snatches victory from the jaws of defeat. Or, rather, one is snatched from the jaws of defeat. Demas lost. Mark didn’t. Mark might have left Paul. Mark might have left Jesus at His greatest time of need. However, Jesus didn’t leave Mark, and that makes all the difference. Jesus snatched Mark from the jaws of sin, death, and darkness. He tells Mark, “I’m not done with you, yet!” As He forgives and restores Mark. Jesus worked within Mark to lessen his love for the world and to increase his love for Him and the saints. Jesus wasn’t done with Mark; He was just getting started. He was with Mark for life, working in Him, forgiving Him, and restoring Him.
And Paul wasn’t done with Mark, either. They eventually reconciled and had their relationship restored. He says of Mark to Timothy: “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” Jesus would use Mark in the ministry of Paul and the Church. Mark is the ultimate behind the scenes guy. He is like the spot-light operator at a play, or the sound guy. You notice if they are gone, or mess-up, but don’t realize they are there when the light works, or the sound is fine. In the New Testament, Mark is found everywhere the Church is planted, but behind the scenes. At the time of writing, Mark is around Ephesus, assisting Timothy. In the past, Mark served Peter in Rome. There, he listened to the stories that Peter told, and wrote them down. The gospel of Mark is the product of his time and service with Peter. He eventually serves Paul again, becoming a useful and helpful partner in the Gospel. You don’t see Mark’s work, but you have benefitted from it. We don’t see him in the forefront, but his work was just as important, if not more, as his Gospel is still read!
And, you know what, Jesus isn’t done with you, either. At the empty tomb, Jesus looks at you and me, saying, “I’m not done with you, yet. I forgive you all your sin. I forgive your past struggles and past loves. You are mine, and nothing will change that! I will work in you, and I will lessen that love you have for the world, and direct it elsewhere.” Jesus loves to use “Marks” in his kingdom: people who have been claimed as His, and that He works in. The work we do might be small, but it is still insignificant. This poem captures it well: “For the lack of a nail the horseshoe was lost; for the lack of a shoe the horse was lost; for the lack of a horse the carriage was lost; for the lack of a carriage the cannon was lost; for the lack of a cannon the battle was lost; for the defeat in this battle the war was lost. And all for the lack of a nail.” You might be a nail, but a nail wins the battle. You need them!
Think of a Sunday at Emmaus: you come in, and the lights on are, bills are paid, path is shoveled, bulletins printed and distributed, music prepped, choir singing, Sacrament prepared, coffee brewing, meal cooking, offering counted, prayers and support given. If these things weren’t done, or missing, we would notice! However, when they are done, we might not realize it; so much stuff goes on behind the scenes for the mission to take place! Nails are important! They are important in the Church; they are important in the world, too.
Our small acts as parents and caretakers who change diapers, vacuum, fold laundry, go to work every morning, or mowing the yard, are important works that make a difference. Our small acts as friends who listen, encourage, or help a friend in need, make a difference! Our small acts as a neighbor who aids a stranger, opens a door, cracks a smile, or shares a kind word, makes a difference.
And like with Mark, Jesus uses His Word and Sacraments to change and reorient our love. Remember 2 Timothy 1:7? “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” He works in us, to lessen our love for the world, and to direct it towards Him and those He has placed around us. Jesus will keep working in you, through you, and will keep forgiving you, just like He did with Mark!
I can’t think of a better way to end then with Paul’s last recorded words in Scripture: “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”