READ: Acts 14:1 - 16:5
Verses chosen for
meditation: Acts 15:37- 38.
37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John
called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them
one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to
the work.
REFLECT
Do you know that Thomas Edison didn’t like or do well in school when he
was seven? One day, when he was called “addled” (mentally confused) by a
teacher, he stormed home. After speaking with the teacher the next day, his mom
(a teacher by training), decided to home-school Thomas. With her love and
encouragement (and his God-given genius), Thomas later became a great inventor.
In honouring his mum, he wrote: “My mother was the making of me. She was so
true, so sure of me, and I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not
disappoint.”
In Acts 15, we
read that Barnabas, and the apostle Paul served together as missionaries until
they had a sharp disagreement about whether or not to bring along John Mark.
Paul was opposed because Mark had earlier “deserted them in Pamphylia” (vv.36-38).
As a result, Paul and Barnabas split, each going out to different fields of
ministry. Paul took Silas and Barnabas took Mark. Given a second chance,
Barnabas’ encouragement contributed to Mark’s ability to serve and succeed as a
missionary. Mark went on to write the gospel of Mark and was even a comfort to
Paul while he was in prison (2
Timothy 4:11).
RELATE
In their
conflict, Paul and Barnabas could not agree whether to or not to take young
Mark with them again. Barnabas wanted to give
the young man another chance. But Paul did not want to take the chance because
the work was both important and dangerous. Paul did not think it wise to take
someone like Mark whom they could not count on due his earlier failure (vv. 36-38).
Perhaps, Paul was correct and probably could have quoted the
words of Jesus, “No one who put a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for
service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
So, was Paul or Barnabas
right in their argument? We can say that both were right, because one was
looking at the work and the other at the person. Barnabas got his point when he
considered Mark to go to Cyprus (his birthplace) and had not been visited since
the churches there had been founded. For Paul, he would rather take Silas and
go into Syria and Cilicia, because the churches there needed his particular ministry.
In this context, both had their reasons behind.
Yes,
Christian service is demanding, and those who undertake it should be committed
to it to the end. On the other hand, Barnabas was looking at the gifted young
Mark. Yes, Mark could be seen as a failure like Thomas Edison. We do fail both
man and God in different degrees at some point of our lives. At such a time, we
would need forgiveness and second chance to re-start again.
Simon Peter, who
denied Jesus three times seems to be a “failure” to many. But upon repentance,
Jesus restored him. Ever since, Peter became one of the most committed disciples
of Jesus and to the end, he died as a martyr for Christ. Yes, without a second
chance, Peter would end up being a “failure”!
Notably as an
encourager to others, Barnabas here was willing to give Mark a second chance. When
we involved with people in ministry, so often we face similar situation as in
such disagreement with persons who would need acceptance, encouragement, forgiveness
and grace. I personally have "failed" Jesus many times, but yet I have experienced encouragement and restorations over and over again. Indeed, we need more of the mind of Christ and wisdom so that when we
disagree with others, we can do it in a way neither compromises God’s truth nor
His love.
REST
Grace To Grace (Hillsong Worship):
https://open.spotify.com/track/6arhFMHHQFVAKUINBs8wjQ?si=1ac1163584e3478e
Vincent
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