Mark's Story Page 7

  Mark noticed that the milling crowds from every nation were confused, because they seemed to hear this group speak in their own languages.

  They marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?”

  Peter said, “Look! Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those from Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—they all hear us speaking in their own tongues of the wonderful works of God!”

  All looked amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others, mocking, said, “They must be full of new wine.”

  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only nine o’clock in the morning! But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

  Mark was so proud of Peter he feared he would burst. They had only recently come across this passage, and now Peter was able to quote it from memory, and all around were able to understand him, apparently in their own languages. Who was this man who had so fearfully denied his Lord and now boldly proclaimed the truth about Him?

  “Men of Israel,” Peter cried out, “hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

  “For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

  “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

  “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

  More quoting of the Scriptures! And as Mark watched, astonished, the crowd appeared troubled and cut to the heart. They approached Peter and the rest of the apostles and said, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

  Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

  With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”

  Mark wanted above all this remission of sins, forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit. He could not keep from joining the throng that crowded around Peter and the rest, lining up to repent and be baptized. He had long considered himself a secret believer in the Christ, of course, but now he wanted everyone to know he was counting himself among all the souls who were added to this new church that day.

  And while Mark milled about with all these new believers in Christ—Peter would inform him later that they numbered three thousand—who should appear in the crowd but his cousin Joses, in his Levite garb, taller and thinner since Mark had last seen him. Joses embraced Mark and exulted that he too had become a believer in Christ.

  For the next several days the new Christians excitedly assembled with the disciples for teaching in doctrine, for fellowship, for the breaking of bread, and for prayer. Joses quickly established himself with the disciples as devout and sincere, and—like Mark—a student of the Scriptures.

  Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles, and all who believed shared with one another all that they owned as anyone had need. Every day they met in the temple and broke bread from house to house, eating with gladness and what Peter told Mark appeared to be simplicity of heart, praising God.

  Most impressive was that these people were so happy, they didn’t initially even run into trouble with Jewish leaders or the Romans. They seemed to have favor with all.

  Daily Joses and Mark met in the city and wondered at the power of God that had been showered upon the apostles for the bold proclamation of the truth of Christ.

  And every day more were saved and added to the church.

  NINE

  Mark felt free, forgiven, filled; he suddenly found himself immersed in the things of God. Joses stayed with him and his mother for several days, and the cousins enjoyed following the disciples all over the city and seeing and hearing what was going on. They spent their evenings poring over ancient texts and marveling at how the Scriptures were replete with references to the Messiah.

  Joses seemed unable to quit grinning. “How can anyone doubt that Jesus fulfills all the prophecies of the Chosen One?” he said.

  Because Joses was there, Mark’s mother was less concerned about Mark being away from home and in the middle of everything going on in the city. “The authorities must be up in arms,” she said, “with so many becoming Christians.”

  “Not so far,” her nephew said. “Everyone seems so happy and joyous that the religious leaders and the Romans probably see no reason to interfere.”

  It seemed that every day, Peter took one or more of the disciples with him to the temple for one of three prayer times—at nine in the morning, noon, and three in the afternoon. One day Mark and Joses followed as Peter and John approached the temple for the three o’clock session. As they watched, a lame beggar at the temple’s Beautiful Gate sat pleading for alms from all who entered. Mark had seen this man, who appeared to be in his early forties, in the same spot every day for his entire life and recalled that when he was a child, his mother lectured him about not staring at the man’s gnarled feet and grotesquely malformed ankles.

  Seeing Peter and John, the man whined, “Please, sirs, for a humble man, crippled from birth…”

  The disciples stopped, and Peter stooped to gaze at the man. “Look at us,” Peter said.

  The beggar’s face lit and he reached for whatever Peter and John would offer.

  But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

  And with that Peter took the man by the hand and lifted him. As Mark watched, the man’s feet and ankles were immediately restored, and he leapt up and wal
ked into the temple with them.

  “Praise God!” he cried. “Praise God!”

  Instantly a crowd pressed in, people murmuring and amazed. “It’s the one who sat begging alms at the gate of the temple!” they called out, and first hundreds, then thousands gathered to see. The healed man clung to Peter and John, and as they moved onto Solomon’s Porch, Mark and Joses found themselves in the middle of a massive crowd that pointed and cheered, clearly stunned.

  Peter extended his arms to quiet them. “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up in the presence of Pilate, though he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And it is faith in His name that has made this man strong. Yes, the faith which comes through Jesus has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of all of you.

  “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did this to Jesus in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things God foretold through His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before. For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

  “Yes, all the prophets from Samuel and those who follow foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

  Again Mark was amazed that this was the same man who had been so fearful at the time of the arrest of Jesus. This weak, very human fisherman now seemed to speak with the very authority of God. But what was this? Here came the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees!

  “Stop! Stop!” they shouted, stepping in front of Peter and John. “Dare you teach the people that in Jesus there is resurrection from the dead?”

  “Let them speak!” the crowd roared. “We believe! We believe!”

  And as the officials grabbed Peter and John and hauled them away, many who heard believed. As Mark watched, others of the disciples began working their way through the crowds, which by now had grown to many thousands, and began praying with new believers.

  “Mark,” Joses said, “there must be five thousand men alone here who have become believers!”

  That night in the upper room the remaining disciples prayed for Peter and John and their announced public trial the next day. Mark’s mother was troubled. “You and Joses will tell me everything that happens tomorrow, will you not?”

  Wild animals could not have kept Mark away. What could the authorities do to such bold men who were clearly acting under the power of God and seeing thousands join their number daily?

  The next day Mark made sure that he and Joses were there early when the rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, and the family of the high priest gathered and set Peter and John in their midst. Not far away, Mark noticed, the healed beggar stood tall and beamed.

  The authorities demanded of Peter and John, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

  Mark looked at Joses, who raised his brows. The question could not have been more perfect if Peter himself had written it! Peter, his voice ringing out, said, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by which he was made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that this man stands here before you whole by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead. He is, as the Scriptures say, the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

  The authorities looked dumbfounded, scowling, squinting, and shaking their heads. Mark heard one mutter, “Are these not uneducated and untrained men? But what can we say when the man who has been healed stands right there?”

  “Leave us to confer!” the high priest said, and Peter and John and the healed man, along with the crowd, moved away.

  Moments later the rulers called them back in. The high priest cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, that a notable miracle has been done through you is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But we deduce that spreading such further among the people would accomplish no good purpose. Therefore, by the power vested in us, we command you in the name of God not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

  What? Mark wondered what possible bad thing could come of a miracle of healing.

  Peter said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

  The crowd roared, glorifying God because of the disciples and what they had done. It was clear the rulers were concerned about such support, but the high priest quieted them. “You have our ruling. Now you may go, but you must obey or dire consequences will result.”

  Peter and John were immediately surrounded by the other ten disciples, and many of the other more than a hundred from Galilee, plus Mark and Joses, pressed close. John led them all back to the upper room at Mark’s home, then led them in prayer, saying, “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said, ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’

  “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness we may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

  When they had prayed, the upper room began to shake, and Mark felt power surge through him. He realized that all had experienced the same, and they rose from their knees filled with the Holy Spirit and eager to speak the word of God with boldness. They immediately took to the streets of Jerusalem again and began preaching the Word of God and the salvation of Christ.

  Enthusiastic believers appeared again to support and encourage them, and multitudes more who believed seemed of one heart and one soul. As if they had all thought of it at once—though Mark knew God had put it in their hearts—everyone began to exclaim that nothing they possessed was their own, but that everything they owned should be shared in common.

  Joses said, “Mark, I want to sell my land and give the proceeds to the disciples and their ministry.”

  Mark laughed, wondering if his mother would let him do the same with their estate.

  Over the next several days the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and grace was upon them all. Everyone knew the authorities had to be concerned, but for a time the Christians were protected, nor was anyone among them lacking. All who possessed lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and they distributed to each as anyone had need. Peter informed Mark’s mother that she had, in essence, already given her property to the Lord for the apostles’
use, and so she should not trouble herself by trying to sell it.

  When Joses came forward with the proceeds from the sale of his land, Peter embraced him and said, “From henceforth, young man, we shall call you Barnabas, which is translated ‘Son of Encouragement.’”

  TEN

  This new movement, a church based on the teachings of the resurrected Jesus, swept the city of Jerusalem and now threatened the city’s way of life. Everyone had to wonder how long it would be permitted to flourish. Mark assumed the others, as excited and enthusiastic as he, had to have at the back of their minds the danger posed by the local rulers. Peter and John had been warned, and yet from that time until now, they had done entirely the opposite of what they had been commanded by the authorities.

  Meanwhile, the disciples and their many followers moved back and forth between the upper room and the temple to pray three times a day. On their way there and back they preached boldly the message of the Christ. More and more became believers and gave the disciples everything they owned.

  One afternoon, following the return to the upper room of the disciples and more than a hundred others, a man who identified himself as Ananias poured out a bag of cash at the apostles’ feet.

  “My wife Sapphira and I,” he said, “have decided to give you all the proceeds of the sale of a parcel of our land.”

  “Bless you,” someone said, but Mark perked up when Peter seemed to cloud over while counting the money.

  The room fell silent when Peter suddenly said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? Was the land not your own?”