It was about Barnabas our pastor chose to preach about on last Sunday morning. I'm glad that he did for I came to know what a great apostle he was in the early church in Jerusalem. His name was was not mentioned as often as Paul, Peter or John in the New Testament, yet in character and service wise, he really stood shoulder to shoulder with th that ose apostles. Sometimes even stood taller than them in action and consideration.
It's for the first time I came to know Barnabas' real name was Joseph and he was a Levite from Cyprus. He must have been a great encourager for the apostles to call him Barnabas, which meant- Son of Encouragement. He also must have been a generous person for in Acts 4:36b we read that Barnabas sold his field and brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles. In the early church at that time when persecution was going around Christ followers, community living was chosen to feed and support the struggling believers. Those who owned properties chose to sell their lands and gave the money to the apostles to take care of fellow believers.
Interestingly, it was Barnabas who was brave enough to step forward and embrace Paul, the former persecutor of Christ followers and brought him to the apostles in Jerusalem and convince them to accept him as one of their own.Naturally the rest of the apostles who either heard or witnessed Paul's participation in Stephan's death as well as his threat of imprisoning and even killing Christ followers were afraid of having anything to do with him. They were sceptic about his transformed life. It was Barnabas who convinced them in telling about Paul's encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus and his true acceptance of Christ as his Lord and Savior.
At the beginning of Acts: 13, we find Barnabas' name mentioned far ahead of Paul's indicating that Barnabas stood higher in the official ranking among the teachers and prophets and held more authority than Paul at that time. But as we read along the chapter, very soon we come to see a switch over and Paul starting to take the lead. From there onwards,it was Paul, not Barnabas who appeared first in line. Did that bother Barnabas? Who knows? After all, he was the one who introduced Paul to the inner circle of the apostles and now to take up supporting role and tailing behind Paul? Any other person wouldn't have taken it lightly. Probably he or she would taken a quick exit and moved to a faraway place to start a church of his/her own. But nowhere do we read Barnabas doing that. Instead, he stood tall in his character, his heart firmly set on the big picture- to spread the Good News and serve the Lord in whatever way he could. He did not to give into envy and selfish ambition and bring division in the church. Instead, he chose to let Paul take the lead and heartily supported him on the missionary journeys.
In the same chapter of Acts:13, we find Barnabas and Paul were set apart and annointed by the Holy Spirit to go on the first missionary journey. Later John Mark, joined them as a helper on the journey but his help was short lived. Unable to withstand the strain and challenges that come with a tedious journey via sea and on foot, the young Mark soon backed out of his committment and abandoned the elder apostles and returned to Jerusalem. While Paul took Mark's action unpardonable, Barnabas, though saddened and hurt by Mark's deserting, opted to pardon and give the young man another chance.
His choice to take Mark once again on the missionary journey surely brought disagreement between Barnabas and Paul and caused them to part company. In Acts 15: 36-40, we read about their strife over John Mark and how Barnabas ended up taking Mark on his journey and sailing to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and sailed to Syria and Cilicia. Aren't we all so glad that Barnabas didn't give up on Mark? If not for Barnabas, we would have lost the chance to read the Gospel of Mark, which was written by no one, but Mark himself. Barnabas's gracious act of giving his cousin Mark a second chance ended up being so wise and worthy.
We are also blessed to learn that the strained relationship between Paul and Mark got smoothened and easened in the later years. In 2 Timothy 4:11, we read Paul writing to Timothy, "Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry." In Colossians 4:10, Paul mentions Mark to be his fellow prisoner. Aren't we all glad that in the end love overuled disagreement and disappointment? Praise God for that.
Alright, what was the take away lesson for me last Sunday? What did I learn from a man like Barnabas?
1. Be an encourager! Your friends associates may not acknowledge your gift and call you by another name to reflect your character as the apostles did for Barnabas. Yet, be an encourager anyway.
2. Step up and step forward to embrace someone with a wrong past-someone who has wronged you in the past or whose way of life and choices were so different than yours. The pack around you may not support you in the attempt to befriend someone with a wrong past, but be graceous and brave like Barnabas to embrace someone like Paul nee Saul into your circle. If not for Barnabas, road to recovery and networking with other apostles would have been impossible for Paul. Who knows whether Paul would have become who he was and written what he wrote if not for big hearted person like Barnabas, who willed to forgive the past of Paul and accept him as a fellow believer in Christ. That's a huge thing to do for anyone, especially at that time when threat of persecution was hovering all around.
Paul's teaching and ministry soon overtook Barnabas, and he became the second in command whenever the two sailed away on a missionary journey or taught to a crowd. Any other person would have got offended by the lessening of popularity in such a scenerio. After all, if not for Barnabas, Paul wouldn't have been accepted into the circle of apostles in Jerusalem. Paul's popularity should have made Barnabas to burn with hostility and envy. Hmmm..not with Barnabas! His eyes were focused on Christ. It didn't matter who got to be at the top in the ladder or got the name known for his work, as long as the Lord's work was done, Barnabas was satisfied.
4. Dispute and disagreements are sure to arise in any circle. The first apostlic church was no exception for differenct personalities of varying strength and weakness were put together for a common cause. To carry the Good News and be at God's service. It was decided that young John Mark join Paul and Barnabas as a helper in the first missionary journey and so he went along. But after sometime, Mark couldn't go along. Either the journey was strenuous or he missed his family, he decided to drop out and find his way back home.
Paul couldn't take up Mark's irresponsible action of abandoning them. But Barnabas was compassionate enough to give Mark a second chance and take him on another missionary journey. He had to fall out with his pal and co-worker Paul over this. But he did what he felt right in his mind and for a greater purpose. Barnabas didn't choose to give up on young Mark the lack of responsibility he showed on one occassion. He wanted to give another chance and allow God to use the young man in whatever way He wanted.
Such discerning ability to see the strength and good in another person inspite of their failure and weakness is a stamp of a great leader. Barnabas is such a leader,the servant leader Jesus talked about. You and I need to pursue to be such a leader than to be someone demanding to be always in the first in line to get the applauds and merits.
Yes, Barnabas may not be leader well known, but he surely was the kind of leader Jesus talked about who would be great in His kingdom. The world may not recognize servant leaders, but God does. His eyes are looking out for such men and women to work in His kingdom for His glory. So, let's pray that we'd be found worthy to fit the criteria.
