Paul and John Mark

Earlier in their ministry, Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement about John Mark. Paul didn’t trust him — Mark had deserted them in a previous mission, and Paul wasn't ready to forgive that failure (Acts 15:36–40). But something changed.

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By the end of his life, Paul writes from prison, asking Timothy to bring Mark — “because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” That’s more than a logistical request. It’s reconciliation.

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Bitterness often shows up in broken relationships. When trust is damaged, we can write people off. But the gospel invites us to restoration, not just separation. Sometimes that means time. Sometimes it takes space. But grace is always working in the background.

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Forgiveness doesn’t always mean things go back to how they were. But it opens the door to a new kind of friendship — one marked by humility, grace, and shared purpose. In a world that often cancels and discards, reconciliation shines with kingdom light.