Learning from Past Mistakes

What did you learn from your last mistake? Mistakes can be effective teachers, because the consequences have a way of making lessons painfully clear. But those who learn from their mistakes gain invaluable wisdom.

John Mark, with the help of some time and encouragement, became a wise learner. Although he was eager to do the right thing, he had trouble staying on task. In his Gospel, Mark mentions a young man (probably himself) who fled in such fear during Jesus’ arrest that he left his clothes behind (Mark 14:50-52). This tendency to run showed up again later in Mark’s life when Paul and Barnabas took him as their assistant on their first missionary journey. Early in the trip, Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 12:23-13:13).

Paul didn’t appreciate Mark’s desertion. Two years later, Paul wouldn’t even consider letting Mark try again. As a result, the team split up (Acts 15:36-39). Barnabas took his cousin Mark as his traveling companion, while Paul chose Silas.

Barnabas was patient with Mark, and the young man turned out to be a good investment. In fact, Paul and Mark were later reunited. The older apostle became a close friend of the young disciple (2 Timothy 4:11).

Mark was able to watch closely the lives of three Christian leaders-Barnabas, Paul, and Peter. Peter probably provided much of the information in Mark’s Gospel. As his helper, Mark had a chance to hear Peter’s stories of he years with Jesus over and over. Mark became one of the first to put Jesus’ life into writing.

Mark’s experience can remind us to learn from our mistakes and to appreciate the patience of the others. Who is the Barnabas or Peter in your life? How has he or she encouraged you?

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