Paul’s Final Words: (2 Timothy 4)
In this impressive chapter, Paul (the aging warrior) brings to Timothy (his timid lieutenant) his final solemn words. Paul reminds him of some really important things that we would do well to follow today.
Paul warns Timothy (V4) that in the last days, worshippers will have “itchy ears”. In other words, worshippers will be picky and choosy about what they want to hear from the pulpit as what goes in their ears merely tickles their fancy, and does not penetrate into their hearts. Many will be unwilling to hear the truth of God’s word.
In verse 5 we find 4 responsibilities:
a) Keep your head in all situations (be alert, be sober minded)
b) Endure hardship (don’t just look for the easy option when you are in a tight spot)
c) Do the work of an evangelist (don’t be too timid to call people to come to Christ)
d) Discharge all the duties of your ministry (preachers don’t just work on Sundays!)
From verse 6 Paul shares his feelings about the end of his ministry and his approaching death. Paul is about to shed his own blood and die. He says, ‘The time has come for my departure’. He was soon to be beheaded for his undying testimony that Jesus is Lord. Yet he was not anxious or afraid. Rather Paul was excited to see each day as an adventure with Jesus, and to enter eternity to meet face to face with the Saviour, well that was the best. As Paul says in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.
In verse 7 he makes 3 comments which sum up his objectives over the years of serving Jesus.
a) I have fought the good fight (I stand victorious at the end of the battle)
b) I have finished the race (and I’ll stand on the podium)
c) I have kept the faith (& I still trust Jesus 24/7)
In verse 8 Paul explains why he is prepared to go through all this suffering. He says, its all worthwhile. God is honoured, Jesus is glorified, and to top it all off, we are rewarded for trusting him. He gives us the crown of righteousness.
In verses 9-22 we find Paul’s personal requests.
He wants Timothy to come to his side quickly as he has been (v10) deserted by Demas (who had been one of Paul’s closest associates; Col 4:14). Demas probably found Paul’s demands too onerous. A contrast is made between Demas, who loved this present world, and those who love Christ’s appearing (v8).
Paul’s only companion now is Luke the doctor.
Paul tells Timothy, “get Mark and bring him quickly, because he is helpful for the ministry; he is profitable and useful for me”.
We would benefit greatly to discover the background to Mark’s story.
- Barnabas was his cousin.
- His parent’s home was central to the early church in Jerusalem.
- Peter had made his way there after his miraculous escape from prison.
- Home church every week
- Probable venue for last supper & the upper room where 120 disciples were gathered on the day of Pentecost
- Mark was the son of that home
It was possible that Mark was a secret disciple of Jesus. Do you remember that mysterious young man in Mark’s gospel who was in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested. He was almost taken into custody himself when a soldier grabbed hold of him. Mark managed to undo his cloak and run away naked into the night.
Mark set out with Paul & Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Things went well for a while until they arrived at Perga in Pamphillia. Mark was frightened and homesick so he left Paul &Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
What was happening for Mark?
- Has he deserted Paul & Barnabas?
- Has he given in to Satan’s temptation?
- Does he feel that he has failed as a disciple?
- Does he feel guilty and ashamed?
Mark was standing at the crossroads and had to make a decision: Do I stay with Paul and Barnabas, or do I leave?
I wonder friends, have you ever stood at the crossroads and had to decide whether to make a stand for Christ or just go along with the crowd? Well, Mark faced it, and in a weak moment felt that making a stand for Christ was too hard. It takes a lot of courage to make a stand for Jesus where discipleship is ridiculed. It is sometimes hard to be a Christian in a group of unbelievers – there is the fear of being unpopular; the fear that people will poke fun at you; the fear of losing something we think is more important than following Jesus at the time; & there is the fear of the unknown of taking up the cross daily. Tragically, we have all played our part in what we are saddened that Mark did. He could not handle the homesickness and fear.
In a weak moment, Mark felt that following Jesus was just too hard. He was too frightened of suffering persecution. He felt homesick and was too ashamed of it to tell Paul and Barnabas.
Can you picture Mark back home in Jerusalem. He had wanted so much to be back there. Do you think he is happy? He cannot live with himself. Words cannot express the remorse that gripped Mark when he returned.
He is unable to sleep. He paces the floor. He wonders in his mind, “where is Paul? Where is cousin Barnabas tonight?”
So, how did things go from there? Mark must have dealt with the dark night of his soul. He recommitted his life to Christ and set out in search of Paul and Barnabas again. He found them and showed his willingness to join them on their next exploit (Paul’s second missionary journey).
That’s what you’ve got to do. Leave the shame and guilt at the foot of the cross and go to that place where you know you have got to go – to make it right with you and God again.
Well, Mark found Paul & Barnabas and showed his willingness to join them again on the second epic journey. Barnabas was keen for Mark to come, but Paul would have none of it. After a heated dispute, Paul took Silas with him to revisit the places of the first journey, and Barnabas took Mark and went to evangelise Cyprus.
Mark, the coward, redeemed himself, and proved himself to be a true hero of Christ.
It would indeed be a wonderful thing if this gospel of Jesus applied only to the likes of the Apostle Paul who could say, ‘I have fought the good fight & won the battle; I have finished the race in first place; & I have kept the faith and never deserted’. But praise be to Jesus it is far more than that. As minister of this church I have the wonderful job to proclaim the forgiveness of sins, the removal of guilt, and the shattering of the power of shame.
What is the gospel?
It is hope for the hopeless. It is heroism for the coward. It is strength for the weak. It is comfort for the grieving. It is faith for the fearful. It is love for the unlovable. It is courage for the timid. It is a white shining robe for the destitute. It is a clean heart for the vilest sinner. And it is serenity for the soul that is torn with regret.
What does Jesus say when he sees you and me coming to him? Does he turn around and say, “Ah, I did not mean you!” No, not at all. Instead he say, “I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have sent me to restore to these broken people the years that the locust has eaten.” And he takes up in his arms all God’s children who come to him who have been hurt in any way. His shed blood has healed us all. “It is finished!” he says. And, “Behold I make all things new”. Do you believe that today? Have a look at your own life – the saddest, cowardly thing – the most locust eaten year you can remember – the thing that is hiding God from you at this moment. Let us bring all that and lay it down here at the foot of the cross. “I lay it down here and now! Lord, I trust you!”
How does the story of Mark end? Did Mark repair the damage he had done when he turned away from Paul? We can be sure he did.
Paul wrote to Timothy, “Get Mark and bring him with you because he is helpful for my ministry”(v11). He is useful and profitable for me! Come quickly!
What a wonderful turn around! But more than that, Mark became an evangelist. He gave the world the first ever life of Jesus. Countless millions who have never seen Jesus in the flesh have met and trusted the Saviour because of the gospel Mark wrote. Today, all around the world, this is still happening for men and women, girls and boys.
We discovered last week that we can write a gospel, not a book or a document, but in loving and gracious action, and in your godly character. You can help people see Jesus.
