“Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:11
This verse is a wonderful encouragement that the Gospel can also heal broken relationships between believers. There was a time when Mark had so thoroughly failed Paul that Paul refused to travel with him. Indeed, Paul’s feelings were so strong about Mark that in Acts 15 he parted ways with his long-time partner in missions and ministry, Barnabas, rather than work with Mark.
Nonetheless, by the end of his life, Paul considered Mark very useful in his ministry! Clearly, things changed dramatically between the two men. We’ll never know the details this side of heaven, but it’s a wonderful proof then when a relationship between Christians is broken, it can also be healed by Christ.
Too often in our culture, we permanently slam the door on a relationship after a significant failure or falling out. We repeatedly remind ourselves of the wrong they did and allow our hearts to become embittered. However, as Christians, the Gospel that reconciles us to God also means Jesus died to empower us to reconcile with one another. Rather than assuming a broken relationship must remain unhealed or become a lasting scar, we should acknowledge that God loves to bring dead things to life!
The Gospel permits us to look honestly at ourselves, our past, and our heart. It permits us to recognize and humbly confess where we own part of the responsibility for broken relationships. The Gospel empowers us to make the first move toward reconciliation, even if we believe firmly that we were wronged. God made the first move to reconcile with us and He did nothing wrong! Therefore, so can we. The Gospel enables us to go to the other person, express a desire to be reconciled, take responsibility for what we were responsible for, seek forgiveness, and offer it freely if asked.
Does this mean that every relationship will be healed? Certainly not. However, it means that we have all the spiritual tools needed to reopen doors to relationship that seem permanently closed and to invite the Holy Spirit to heal what’s been broken.