“Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul did not think if wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.” Acts 15: 37-38
Paul was intoxicated by the aromatic shrubs of laurel and myrtle that grew in abundance on the Mediterranean coastline of Antioch. The tulips were in bloom all along the plain, causing him to think of the churches that they planted in Asia Minor. Then he told Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”
“Great idea!” thought Barnabas. He wanted to take John Mark, his kinfolk, along with them, as they had done before. “No way!” thought Paul. He deserted them in Pamphylia. He quit on them and the Lord. He was unreliable. This small missions team required unanimity, trust, and mutual support, and every man must pull his own weight. Paul was adamant; no room for laggards and quitters. Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply on this issue that the two friends parted company.
John Mark sheepishly hid in a corner, knowing that it was because of his failure that these two respected men of God were arguing about. He wished the floor would open and swallow him whole! Tears of shame ran down his cheeks as he muffled a cry.
It was then he remembered something Mary, his mother, had told him: “God is sovereign and over-rules human failures. She read from the book of Jeremiah: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house,…Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” Jer.18: 2-6
A new beginning! “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer.29: 11)
Then Barnabas found John Mark, and said: “Would you like to come with me to Cyprus?” He could not believe what he was hearing at first, but when he looked up into Barnabas’ affirming gaze, John Mark nodded enthusiastically. Barnabas wrapped the grateful young man with a bear hug, and he could barely hear him whisper, “Thank you, Lord.”
Barnabas took John Mark with him, and they sailed away to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, a Hellenistic Jew and a Roman citizen who met him during the Jerusalem council and had traveled back to Antioch with Barnabas and Paul. Paul and Silas constituted a second missionary team from the Antioch church. They took a land route through the Amanus Mountains to Cilicia.
Barnabas drops from the scene, and we don’t hear from him again in the book of Acts. However, his legacy of encouragement lived on in the life of John Mark.
Paul was eventually reconciled with this young disciple (Col.4:10). Paul’s last thoughts in prison, on the eve of his execution: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry .“ (2 Tim.4:11) Mark had come a long way from the “quitter” whose failure had separated two friends. But it was because of a friend like Barnabas, and his ministry of encouragement, that a casualty of ministry was salvaged. The Gospel of Mark is also part of the legacy of Barnabas.
Because of the spirit of Christ in him: “Here is my Servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” Isa.42: 1-3 Thank you, Lord, for the Barnabas’ among us. May they increase!
Questions To Think About:
Paul was intoxicated by the aromatic shrubs of laurel and myrtle that grew in abundance on the Mediterranean coastline of Antioch. The tulips were in bloom all along the plain, causing him to think of the churches that they planted in Asia Minor. Then he told Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”
“Great idea!” thought Barnabas. He wanted to take John Mark, his kinfolk, along with them, as they had done before. “No way!” thought Paul. He deserted them in Pamphylia. He quit on them and the Lord. He was unreliable. This small missions team required unanimity, trust, and mutual support, and every man must pull his own weight. Paul was adamant; no room for laggards and quitters. Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply on this issue that the two friends parted company.
John Mark sheepishly hid in a corner, knowing that it was because of his failure that these two respected men of God were arguing about. He wished the floor would open and swallow him whole! Tears of shame ran down his cheeks as he muffled a cry.
It was then he remembered something Mary, his mother, had told him: “God is sovereign and over-rules human failures. She read from the book of Jeremiah: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house,…Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” Jer.18: 2-6
A new beginning! “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer.29: 11)
Then Barnabas found John Mark, and said: “Would you like to come with me to Cyprus?” He could not believe what he was hearing at first, but when he looked up into Barnabas’ affirming gaze, John Mark nodded enthusiastically. Barnabas wrapped the grateful young man with a bear hug, and he could barely hear him whisper, “Thank you, Lord.”
Barnabas took John Mark with him, and they sailed away to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, a Hellenistic Jew and a Roman citizen who met him during the Jerusalem council and had traveled back to Antioch with Barnabas and Paul. Paul and Silas constituted a second missionary team from the Antioch church. They took a land route through the Amanus Mountains to Cilicia.
Barnabas drops from the scene, and we don’t hear from him again in the book of Acts. However, his legacy of encouragement lived on in the life of John Mark.
Paul was eventually reconciled with this young disciple (Col.4:10). Paul’s last thoughts in prison, on the eve of his execution: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry .“ (2 Tim.4:11) Mark had come a long way from the “quitter” whose failure had separated two friends. But it was because of a friend like Barnabas, and his ministry of encouragement, that a casualty of ministry was salvaged. The Gospel of Mark is also part of the legacy of Barnabas.
Because of the spirit of Christ in him: “Here is my Servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” Isa.42: 1-3 Thank you, Lord, for the Barnabas’ among us. May they increase!
Questions To Think About:
- Jeremiah reminds us that the Potter remakes a spoiled vessel into something new. How does this truth challenge the belief that your mistakes make you permanently unusable to God?
- Barnabas drops from the pages of Acts, but his legacy lives on in the Gospel of Mark. How does this challenge our culture’s desire for personal recognition versus building up others?
- Paul prioritized the mission’s requirements (trust and pulling one’s weight), while Barnabas prioritized the person. How do you balance the need for accountability with the need for grace in your relationships?
- Isaiah 42 promises that Jesus will not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. How does Jesus’ gentle nature change the way you view your own spiritual burnout or weakness?
- John Mark remembered the truth of God’s sovereignty because his mother, Mary, had spoken it into his life. Who has been a “Mary” in your life, anchoring you to Scripture during your darkest moments?
Posted in The Potters House