At the end of Acts 15, we see Barnabas and Paul part company. Paul wanted to return to Asia Minor to support the newly established churches. Barnabas wanted to bring Mark. Paul strongly disagreed and said it wasn’t wise to bring him as he deserted them in their first missionary trip.
Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus and Paul chose Silas to come with him.
Parting Ways
Barnabas and Paul had a disagreement about Mark. The text says the argument was ‘sharp’, which I assume means it was serious and both parties were upset.
The root of the Greek word here is used in secular texts to describe jabbing someone in order to provoke a strong emotional response. This was a painful falling out.
However, later in the Paul’s Epistles, we see him mention Barnabas. And in the Epistle to the Colossians, he even says Mark is with him. This likely means the relationship between them all had repaired.
Even today, in church communities, there can be some ‘sharp’ disagreements, but Paul and Barnabas show that when people fall out, it can be healed by the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
Jacob and Easu
The story of Jacob and Easu reflects the right way in which to conduct a soured relationship between Christian ‘siblings’.
We see in Genesis 32, how Jacob is worried about meeting his brother. After all, he had swindled him out of his inheritance.
So he tries to make up with Esau by first sending his goods, servants and family across the river to meet Esau. He waits, remaining behind and cowering.
In this place of loneliness, Jacob meets God.
In the morning, Jacob makes his way across the river. Humbly, by himself, denuded of his trappings of wealth and status.
We then discover Esau’s response on seeing Jacob.
Genesis 33 v 4
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
Esau had forgiven Jacob. Through humility and God’s love, any broken relationship can be restored.
The Unravelling
All things end. In fact, they in some sense, unravel.
The strands which brought something into being, over time can become disconnected and these individual strands fall apart.
This pattern of unraveling occurs throughout Scripture. Creation unravels between the Fall and the Flood. Israel unravels between the Conquest and the Exile. And Paul and Barnabas’s relationship unravels between Paul’s conversion, the first missionary journey and their disagreement.
We see this pattern also, in the Book of Revelation. We see Creation itself unravel before our eyes. But the good news is that the unraveled strands mean God can make something new.
At the end of the Book of Revelation, God creates a New Heavens and a New Earth.
Think about our own lives. Can we see instances where God unraveled us and from the isolated strands made something new?
For Christians, when a relationship unravels, maybe due to disagreements, misunderstandings or even death, God can use that situation to create something new.
All we need to do is trust Him, pay attention to what He is doing and then participate.
In the case of Paul and Barnabas, even though they left each other on bad terms, this meant two groups of missionaries were then spreading the gospel, not just one. Maybe the disagreement was part of God’s overall plan.
Final Words
In this series on Barnabas, we see a devoted disciple. A man of generous spirit, who reached out to Saul, the persecutor.
A missionary who was unafraid to preach Christ in an alien pagan world. A faithful and loyal friend. A courageous Christian. An encourager of the brethren. And fearless in the face of persecution.
Definitely someone for us to emulate.
What a great series. Barney is definitely a top three favorite for me. I will meet him one day.