Paul, Barnabas, & John Mark

The Weekly SERMON Volume No. 2015 Issue No.30 Date: September 13, 2015 Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706 Phone: 570.829.5216 [email protected]

One of my favorite New Testament Bible characters is the missionary Barnabas. I think Barnabas had a most wonderful spirit and a quality that all of us should desire. Barnabas could see potential in someone before others could see it. However, one of the sad stories in the Bible to me is in Acts 15 when the great apostle Paul and Barnabas came to the place of sharp contention between them.

Notice the passage in Acts 15:36-40 that tells about this. “And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.(37) And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. (38) But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. (39) And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; (40) And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God." The story is plain. Paul and Barnabas were going to revisit the churches they had started in their soul- winning missionary work. However, when Barnabas told Paul that he wanted to take John Mark with them, Paul refused to allow him to go. You see, John Mark had started on a missionary trip with them earlier but for some reason had turned back and caused some hardship on them. Therefore, Barnabas decided that he would take John Mark with him. Paul chose to take Silas, and they parted ways. There is more to the story. Paul was also known as Saul of Tarsus and prior to his conversion years earlier, he had been a persecutor of the church! When Saul was converted, he was not readily accepted by the church — and understandably so. Saul was feared by all who knew of him. A few years after Saul was converted, he visited Jerusalem, and it was Barnabas who showed the church how Saul had changed after being saved so that he was accepted into the fellowship. When his life was endangered through his preaching in Jerusalem, they sent him back to Tarsus. Then when the new church was started at Antioch, it was Barnabas who went and found Saul in Tarsus and took him to the church at Antioch and spent an entire year with him. He convinced the people that Saul had great potential as a servant of the Lord.

In Acts 11:19, 25-26 we read, "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: (26) And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” You see, Barnabas believed in Saul, later known as Paul. He introduced him to the church and the people of Antioch. Because of this, Paul was able to do a most wonderful missionary work! Barnabas looked for potential in people who could become servants of the Lord. I thank the Lord for the people over the years from my youth up who have believed in me and gave me an opportunity to serve many others! Here I am simply pointing out the good spirit of Barnabas and saying, "That's the spirit I want!" So, when Paul was ready to leave John Mark behind, but Barnabas saw potential in him. Paul did not use John Mark for a time, but God did! And it was largely because of Barnabas' belief in him. May God's blessing be upon you this week as you read and meditate on the message from Psalm 122, "Let Us Go into the House of the LORD." To easily access the Weekly SERMON message, go to and click on the http:// link at the bottom of this page. In His Amazing Grace Pastor David Miklas