As we find, the entity was born during that period which
would be known as the sixteenth year of our Lord; his parents
were Mary and Marcus, his sisters Rhoda and Mary. He was
close to, and a relative of, Chloe and Lois, Josie; all
relatives of Mary, the mother of the Lord, of the tribe of
Judah; of the household of Marcus; hence sometimes referred
to as Marcus, or son of Marcus. In his twelfth year he was
healed from an infirmity by the associations with John, the
cousin of the Lord, and the Lord. He was one at whose house
Peter the apostle came when released from prison, and was a
companion of Peter in travels. Later he was an associate and
companion with Paul the apostle and Barnabas, and one that
returned from the first missionary journey of these two,
acting in the capacity of the secretary to Barnabas. He was
the first compiler of a letter that later became the gospel
known as Mark, collaborating (as it would be termed in the
present) with Peter and Barnabas. He became a helpmeet to
many of the early martyrs, suffering martyrdom himself in the
latter portion of his experience at that time; being,
however, the martyrdom of expulsion and traveling in the
latter portion of the experience (after the writings in Rome)
to those eastern lands with Andrew, the brother of Peter, who
had escaped from those same characters of martyrdoms as those
that had been sent on to Rome; being sent by Peter AND by
Paul as an emissary to carry the messages of Paul and of
Peter to those people whom Andrew was ministering to, rather
in what is now called Persia, aiding oft in the STRENGTHENING
of the brethren in the various centers where churches or
established organizations had been builded by the efforts of
Paul, Barnabas, Silas and the other ministers during that
period. Oft he was a companion with Luke, who was an
associate and companion of Paul oft in his travels. Luke
being rather of those peoples that were free (as he was not
of the Jewish descent), this aided John Mark in his abilities
to go and come rather at ease; hence after becoming more
stable (than as a young man) was of so much aid to the
peoples during that period.
As yet there are little of the writings or letters of John
Mark, or son of Marcus, other than that contained in the
gospel known as Mark. This was written during the
fifty-ninth year, or during the thirty-fourth year of the
entity's experience in that plane.
He assisted Barnabas in the establishing of the church in
northern Africa, or Alexandria, where so MUCH persecution
LATER was shown in the activities in that center. Much that
was compiled by the entity in this land was destroyed in or
during the second century. This had been compiled in the
great library in Alexandria. There are still intact some
writings that may yet be reclaimed, in some of the ruins
about the place; as well as in some of those cities in
Chaldea and Persia where the entity in the last days went in
company with Andrew.
In poetry there was little, as we find, save the
reconstruction of some of the psalms that were used in the
dedicating of those places of meeting, and in the services at
times in these various places.
As has been given regarding the entity that now manifests in
the earth's plane, much of that in the stability of purpose
and intent is gained by that experience of the entity in that
sojourn; much of that which (as may be termed) rings true to
the gospels that WERE given in word by those that were the
companions of, the disciples of, the apostles of, the Lord -
the Master.
Ready for questions.
(Q) Was the whole Gospel of Mark written by him, or was the
last part added on?
(A) The whole Gospel was written rather in collaboration
with Peter and Barnabas. This, as given, was the first of
the WRITTEN words respecting the acts, the life, the deeds of
the Master; while it is shorter in words, there is more in
body content of the acts than in most of the other writings.
It is nearer in accord with that in Matthew, but not an
abridged condition or abridged writing; for Matthew was
written from the churches in Pamphylia, while Mark wrote from
Rome. There had been some distribution, or a portion had
been carried to many of the various groups before Mark's was
accepted, and before Matthew's was given; for this was
written some ten to eighteen years later.
(Q) Did he associate with the Christ?
(A) As a child.
(Q) Was John Mark a cripple in boyhood, and how was he
healed?
(A) As given, he was lame in the left limb and healed by
first the approaching of John, called the Baptist; later he
was healed entirely by the Master during the first year of
His ministry.
(Q) Give any information that would be interesting
historically.
(A) These that have been given may be followed and found to
be in accord with that which took place during those periods,
when there was consternation among many. John Mark also in
young manhood was among those that were fearful, gaining in
stamina and strength as persecutions became the greater.
We are through for the present.
[EC took nap immediately after above rdg., and on waking said
he felt better. GC had given him suggestion for his health
at end, and he had ans'd "Very good!"]
Copy to Mrs. [255]
Copy to File
BACKGROUND
See
452-1 on
1/16/32 and subsequent reports and rdgs.
11/18/32 Mother [
255] sent questions for 452-5 and
452-6,
asking that the rdg.
452-6 be gotten first.
11/25/32 EC didn't feel very well and decided he should get
452-5 (Ck. Life on John Mark) first.
REPORTS
11/29/32 See
452-6, Mental-Spiritual in re his [[
452]'s
present] life and work.
12/09/32 Mother's ltr.: "The rdgs. of [
452]'s were
wonderfully interesting, and he thought so too."
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation