What Do You Do When You Fail?

Have you ever made a mistake that everyone seemed to remember? When I was in fifth or sixth grade I played basketball for a short season. My career is a baller came to an abrupt end one evening. In the middle of a game, I became excited by all of the action, shot at my own basket, and scored. It was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Let me assure you, no one forgot it.

Acts 15:36–41 tells the story of another failure that has not been forgotten to this very day. The man at the center of the account is John Mark. His failure had likely taken place about two years earlier during Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey, yet it remained fresh enough in the minds of the church that it became the source of a serious disagreement between two godly men.

To understand the passage, we must go back to Acts 13 and the beginning of the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. After ministering in Cyprus, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned home. Luke records the fact but does not provide all the details surrounding it. What is clear, however, is that his departure was remembered, and its consequences lingered.

Now, John Mark was no insignificant figure in the early church. We believe that he became the author of one of the four Gospels. But how did he come to possess the material? Papias of Hierapolis, writing around A.D. 130, stated that Mark’s Gospel reflected the preaching and testimony of Peter. This connection is not surprising. In 1 Peter 5:13, Peter refers to “Mark, my son,” suggesting a close spiritual relationship.

Mark also came from a prominent Christian family. Acts 12 tells us that when Peter was miraculously released from prison, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. The church in Jerusalem gathered there in his mother’s house. Mark was also the cousin of Barnabas. Given these family and ministry connections, it seemed entirely natural that Paul and Barnabas would take him along on their missionary journey.

Yet despite these advantages, Mark failed. The passage before us teaches us how to think about failure, especially when failure becomes public and has lasting consequences.

When You Fail

Mark failed, and everyone seemed to have an opinion about it. The seriousness of the matter is reflected in the language Luke uses. Barnabas “wanted” to take Mark on the next missionary journey, but the word translated “wanted” is stronger than a simple preference. It is related to the word boule, often referring to a plan, purpose, or determined resolve. It is the word used to describe God’s plan. Thus, Barnabas was strongly committed to giving Mark another opportunity.

Luke also describes Mark’s earlier departure with a verb related to aphistēmi, a word often associated with desertion or apostasy. Now, it would be a mistake for us to think that Luke is accusing Mark of doctrinal apostasy, he is not, but the language underscores the seriousness of his abandonment of the work. Mark had failed, and his failure was remembered.

The reality is that failure often leaves a mark on our reputation. People notice. People remember. Sometimes they form judgments that persist long after the event itself has passed. And when that happens we can either give in and live according to our failures or we can determine to be faithful in the face of ridicule and the tendency of others to relegate us to the waste bin determining that our usefulness has been, well, used up.

When You Become the Source of Division

The timing of this disagreement is striking. Acts 15 records one of the greatest moments in the history of the early church. The Jerusalem Council had settled a major doctrinal controversy. The gospel had been defended. The churches were being strengthened. Many preachers were proclaiming the Word of God.

It was likely in this atmosphere of encouragement that Paul proposed revisiting the churches planted during the first missionary journey. Yet the shadow of Mark’s earlier failure still remained. So, when Barnabas strongly desired to take Mark, Paul disagreed.

Paul’s response is revealing. Luke says that Paul did not consider Mark worthy or fit to accompany them. Some may bristle at such language and respond, “Shouldn’t grace have erased all of that?” Well, that may well have been a response, but grace does not eliminate consequences.

Interestingly, the tense of the verb suggests that Paul’s judgment was based upon Mark’s past actions rather than a final condemnation of his future usefulness. Paul was evaluating the evidence available to him. He was not declaring that Mark could never serve again. Rather, he believed that Mark had not yet demonstrated sufficient reliability for this particular assignment. Put simply, Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance immediately, while Paul believed that more time and evidence were needed. The result was a sharp disagreement.

There is a simple lesson here. Failures have consequences. We do not hear much from Mark for a time afterward. Yet we should avoid two opposite errors. First, we should not vilify Mark. His failure was serious, but there is no indication that he abandoned Christ or departed from the church. He appears to have remained within the fellowship of believers. Second, we should not treat him as a victim. The difficulties described in the text arose because Mark had deserted the work. The consequences were connected to his actions.

When the Church Is Silent

Many readers assume that the church took no position in this dispute. Paul and Barnabas simply separated and pursued different ministries. But the text may suggest otherwise.

Notice the contrast in verses 39–40. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and departed, “having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.” Luke explicitly mentions the church’s commendation of Paul and Silas. He says nothing similar about Barnabas and Mark.

Some argue that we should not draw conclusions from silence. That is certainly a fair caution. Yet it is difficult to ignore the asymmetry. If both parties had received the same commendation, Luke could easily have said so. The fact that Paul is commended does not mean Barnabas was rejected. Nor does it mean Mark was under discipline. However, it may indicate that the church agreed with Paul’s assessment and was not yet prepared to place its public endorsement upon Mark.

There is wisdom here for the church today. Sometimes churches and church courts are too quick to place men into positions of leadership. A man may need time. He may need observation. The church may simply lack enough evidence to make a positive judgment. To say, “You are not ready,” is not the same as saying, “You are disqualified forever.” Mark was not disciplined. He simply was not commissioned. At that moment, the church appears to have concluded that he was not yet ready.

What Do You Do Next?

The most striking part of Mark’s story is what happened afterward. The New Testament provides glimpses of his later life. Peter loved him and considered him a spiritual son. Mark eventually gave the church one of its four Gospels. In Colossians 4:10, Paul instructs the church to welcome Mark. By that point, Mark was engaged in gospel ministry once again.

Most significantly, near the end of Paul’s life, he writes to Timothy and says, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). The contrast is remarkable. Earlier Paul did not regard him as ready for ministry alongside him. The judgment was suspended pending further evidence. Now Paul says he is useful.

What happened?

Mark put his head down and did the work. He did not spend his time complaining. He did not appeal to Peter for special treatment. He did not leverage family connections. He did not insist that everyone recognize his gifts. Instead, he fixed his eyes on Christ and remained faithful.

Years ago, I asked one of my pastors how he handled criticism and negative press. His answer was simple: “Be faithful.” That is exactly what Mark did.He trusted that faithful obedience over time would speak louder than explanations, excuses, or self-defense. And eventually it did.

This passage is not primarily about scandal, church office, or public controversy. It is about where we place our eyes day after day. Every believer fails in some way. Every believer experiences consequences. Every believer faces moments when opportunities seem lost and reputations seem damaged. The example of Mark teaches us what to do. Be faithful. Fix your eyes on Christ. Continue in the work He has given you. Let time, perseverance, and obedience tell the story. By the grace of God, failure does not have to be the final chapter.