10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me. Colossians 4:10-11
There are three states of being, not yet to be, in the process of becoming, and to have become. The three people mentioned here proved, that is, had become, an encouragement to Paul. Aristarchus was a fellow prisoner, Mark was now useful and a fellow partner, and Jesus called Justus, from his nickname having something to do horses, a fellow horseman. These men were battle-tested and by his side. What’s more, they were “fellow workers for the kingdom of God,” with a common religious heritage as Jews. It would be similar to all heralding from the same hometown.
As background, Aristarchus was dragged from a Thessalonians theater (with Gaius) for his Christian testimony (Acts 19:29), and endured the shipwreck with Paul. Mark overcame his earlier failure on Paul’s first missionary journey, and his reputation, to finish strong, and Justus was important enough to the Apostle to mention (only here), and, as his nickname indicates, was by his side.
We can learn from these men. Would it be that at this stage of my life I have become, but there is no shame in becoming. Act as if it really matters for you to be at the Lord’s side when the time comes, and that he uses a few extra drops of ink to say, “well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21,23)
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