II Timothy 4:9-15
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. (v. 10) What an indictment Paul has laid on Demas! It’s not just the phrase, in love with this present world. It’s also Paul’s use of the word “deserted”. That’s a loaded term! To me it points to a particular need for which someone is responsible and that need is not being met. I find myself feeling sorry for Paul. Clearly he is in prison and is likely facing an imminent execution. He has needs and in this case, Demas has deserted him. He is pouring out his heart, maybe even his anger to Timothy. A sad situation…
Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. (v. 11b) This seems like a simple enough sentence, a request by Paul to have Mark join him, but it means a lot more to those of us looking on from outside. You may recall from Acts 15 (vv. 36-40), when Paul and Barnabas were headed off on their second missionary journey and Barnabas wanted to take his nephew, Mark, along. But Mark had left them part way through their first missionary journey and Paul did not want him along for this second journey. [NOTE: The NASB even uses the phrase “deserted them”.] So Paul and Barnabas separated, Paul to the north (modern-day Turkey) and Barnabas to the south (Cyprus). But today’s reading suggests that this dispute did not last forever, if Paul now finds Mark “very useful to me for ministry.” Reading between the lines, I’ve always imagined that “Uncle Barnabas” guided Mark through this difficult time and helped him “grow up”. Presumably Mark then went on to write the Gospel that bears his name.
Another small item: When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas… (v. 13a) Again I feel sorry for Paul, sitting in a dark, damp Roman prison. How many millions of Christians throughout the world today can unfortunately relate to Paul’s imprisonment, living through their own persecutions, trials, and tribulations. Sad…
Slava Bohu!