PETER'S POSTSCRIPT No. 4.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 31, Issue 8, 1 October 1940, Page 1

PETER'S POSTSCRIPT No. 4.

"It came to pass m those days that Jesus came . . By M.E.P.

> From that day, Mark had a new idea of what his writing was to beUp to now he had only thought of it as a -narrative, m which he would have to make very sure that he gathered the details accurately, and set them down clearly. Now since Peter had told of the first meeting by Jordan, Mark's eves were opened to the greatness of his opportunity, and its responsibility. Simon Peter, he saw, had become an old man since Paul's death. He had fallen into an old man's habit of reliving the past m memory. He would often so lose himself \in the experiences he was recalling, as to forget where he was, forget Mark, forget everything and everyone, except his Master as he had seen and heard him on a long ago day m Palestine. And at such times he would not so much tell the story, as watch, as though he saw it all happening, and speak m a low dreamy monologue, like one half asleep. . Mark was careful not to interrupt with questions'. He had notes of the stories as Peter had been telling them ever since he came ,to Rome m- the swift Vivid language that was natural to himjs and it was that, Mark knew, that best caught and held the atten- , tion of these men, men of action, most of them like Peter himself. They had loved the way Peter went on with a rapid "straightway" from- one incident to anpther, so that you were carried along m the movement. He must keep that style Mark decided. But whenever 'the old man was inclined, to re-teli the . incidents m his own way, he,. Mark, would

listen arid catch all he could of Peter's vivid memories' to illuminate what he had written, without interrupting with questions about details. After all, said Mark to himself , what did details of fact matter, compared with this opportunity-T-the last ; as it might prove— of passing on to others the actual living impression of what the Lord was like m daily ,Mf c from the one who live so closely with him day by day for so long.

John Mark was a young man with ■ the very gifts, for the work. First of all he had the strong filial instinct of the best sort of young Jew. In affection, sympathy , tender consideration he could be more like a daughter than a son. to an old man to. whom he devoted himself. This gift had been early encouraged m him by. the uncle who had believed m him and had. been served by him long before,., his uncle Joses whose marked gift for, .''encouraging" the young, the weak, the inconstant, the

down-hearted, had gained him the nickname of rt Barhabas"— - "the Son of ■ Encouragement." (

-■ Mark's nature had needed that genial warmth m which to ripen its best, capacities, and the full value of that ripening was being made clear now, m his gentle affectionate attendance upon the rugged old apostle, who without such a son would have been out of his element m Home;

And now for many years Mark had had training more exacting than that of Barnabas under Paul, it had involved developing a gift for languages and a sound early education until he was a really competent interpreter and secretary. Paul's own standard was a high one, his intellect made demands on a secretary who would serve him m place of eyesight.

Paul, too, was a Roman citizen, a gentleman, whose provincial birth had not deprived . him of familiarity with the usages of Roman society of the -first rank, nor of Greek, culture and taste m. literature and style. John M£rk might have been by now a valuable secretary m a great house, or even at Court, but God had a better thing for him! He was to be privileged to write' Peter's postcripV to his circular letter, and to his whole life! .