Notes on Paul's relationship with John Mark:
Acts 13:4-5 -- When Barnabas and (Saul) Paul embarked on their first missionary journey, they took Mark with them. They went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cypress. When they arrived at Salamis . . . John was with them as their helper.
They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. . . . From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. (v. 13)
According to the Holman Bible Atlas, this was a very marshy and unhealthy region with a mountain road that was extremely difficult and dangerous. It looks like John Mark had found that he had bitten off more than he could chew, and the harsh conditions overwhelmed him. This may have deprived Paul and Barnabas of needed help, and made it even more difficult for them.
Acts 15:36-41 -- Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the Word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it was wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cypress, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul seemed very apprehensive of taking Mark back to the very area that was too difficult for him before, thinking that he might desert them again. So Paul and Barnabas parted, and went different ways. We know all about Paul's journeys, because he had Dr. Luke with him, who apparently wrote this Book of Acts. But since Mark had gone with Barnabas, he apparently matured in his faith and his ability to withstand hardship to be helpful.
Paul later wrote to the Colossians and to Timothy and Philemon, commending Mark:
Colossians 4:10 -- My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (you have received instructions about him, if he comes to you, welcome him).
II Timothy 4:11 -- Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
Philemon 23-24 -- Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
So, after refusing to take Mark with him, he calls him, "My fellow worker," along with others, including Luke the Physician, who wrote the Gospel bearing his name; and says of Mark that, "he is helpful to me in my ministry." And Mark went on to write the Gospel that bears his name, too.
God mended that broken relationship between Paul and Mark. And He can also mend our relationships with those with whom we are separated and cut off, our broken relationships. He is so good and great!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
