One verse is all we are provided about Mary the mother of John Mark (See Acts 12:12). It’s not a lot and yet I believe it’s enough to tell us that she was a faithful believer in the promises of God. Here’s what we do know:
1. She was a mother who set an example of faith to her son who would become an activist in the early church. She herself was involved in the early ministry of the church and personally interacted with the disciples who had first hand known Christ. Perhaps she herself had known and learned from Jesus. Her son would follow her example and travel with Paul and Barnabus spreading the gospel throughout the land.
I believe she claimed this promise from Proverbs:
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Many believe that she was a single parent, likely a widow and yet I believe she was a very strong and stable force in her son’s life.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. -Khalil Gibran
I believe that as a mother she saw the fulfillment of this proverb as well:
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25
2. We know that she gave of her resources to minister to others. Many believe that she was a woman who had some degree of wealth in that time period and opened her home to others. She exemplified this Scripture: Romans 12:13: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” To those of us who take the resources the Lord has blessed us with and use those resources for the benefit of others, there are many promises of hope we can certainly share in common with Mary and find true today.
Acts 20:35:”In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Hebrews 6:10: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
Hebrews 13:16: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
She believed in the promises of God to hear the prayers of His people.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.” Psalm 34:15
When Peter was miraculously led from prison by an angel of God, he knew where to find the faithful who were praying on his behalf. He headed straight for the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. And Mary saw God’s promises fulfilled and provisions granted.
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”
Psalm 34:7
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."”
John 16:33
