Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him).

Aristarchus was imprisoned with Paul and had been with Paul in various scenarios and there was Mark, Barnabas’ cousin, who they were supposed to welcome when he comes.

All these men have connections to Paul.

But we see Jesus’ 12 apostles abandoned him when he was on the journey to the cross (Matthew 26:56).

Jesus said that would happen (Matthew 26:31-35), but Peter was sure of himself and contradicted Jesus. But he denied Jesus thrice (Mark 14:27-31).

What happened after the Holy Spirit came (Acts 2)? He did not deny Jesus when his life was at risk, and as Jesus said, He stood the most prominent apostle and then the persecution came in waves, but he stood.

That is the difference Holy Spirit makes. We see the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus and He moved in His power (Matthew 3:16-17), and He told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would be given (John 14:16-17), that the Holy Spirit would be sent if we ask (Luke 11:13).

Jesus said that the power he displayed was by the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). As the time was close to His death, He promised to send the Holy Spirit, and on a day, the day of pentecost, He sent the Holy Spirit. He said they will receive power with the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Then the post-Jesus ascension ministry began and thousands joined the church creating an initial critical mass for what would become unstoppable movement.

I say all these to show what difference the Holy Spirit makes, and to see that people (transformed by the Spirit) were now standing firm even at the risk and reality of imprisonment, as the church movement comes into conflict with the existing socio-politico-religious structures that are hostile to the proclamation of Jesus as Lord.

The presence of Paul and Aristarchus in prison is testimony on its own. It is testimony about the trueness of the gospel, and that imprisonment could not shake off their conviction.

The reaction of the society was that these people should be taken off and put in prison. And that was the same response to Jesus (with death as a form of imprisonment) but in a more extreme way.

Jesus was killed but he rose from the dead (got himself out of the prison) and poured out the Holy Spirit, so that now He is inside everyone of us, and we are able to be infused us with the same boldness as He was.

All these men are joined together through their union with Christ, joined by a sense of missions for Jesus. Not one person on this list is living for themselves.

This fulfills what Jesus said about sending us out as the Father has sent him (John 20:21-22). In another place the Bible says we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), as Paul discussed the fact that we should not live for ourselves but for the one who died for us (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

“Living for the one who died for us” is seen in all the men mentioned as being on a mission for Christ. Either they were in prison or planning to move to Colossi, they are all slaves of Christ.

We would not do this verse justice without mentioning the great falling out (my words) between Paul and Barnabas because of Mark (Acts 15:36-41).

Paul viewed Mark unfavorably because he did not go all the way with them on a mission trip that Paul and Barnabas led. Later, there was a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas because Barnabas wanted to take Mark on another trip they wanted to go.

Barnabas and Paul parted ways because Paul did not want Mark to come, and Barnabas wanted him.

Paul is now saying that Mark should be welcomed. Barnabas sowed the seed of acceptance in Mark, and we see an harvest of Christian fruitfulness later.

Sometimes we make too much about disagreement among believers and in a way see it in the worst possible light. The only bad thing is if is someone is a false teacher, preaching about money as the savior, or embraced a love of this world.

Paul wrote that Demas left his company because he loved this world (2 Timothy 4:10). Paul advised Timothy to take a different route, to “take his share of suffering” as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, with suffering being a part of the Christian way (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

Similarly, Jesus said the one who does not carry His cross and follow Him is not worthy of him (Matthew 10:38).

Back to the story of Mark. Now we hold in our hands the bible which contains a book which bears Mark's name. It may be true that Mark was not made for the kind of ministry that Paul did and was a misfit, but he has other places for him in the kingdom of God.

Everyone has different gifts and function but the same Lord (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Different does not mean wrong, and sometimes human relationships do not go as we might have thought at the beginning.

Paul had expectations of Mark, and Mark had expectations of the mission. Those unwritten expectations were not aligned. Mark changing his mind was a disappointed to Paul, and Paul went with Silas. But Christ is all in all.