Were the people in the
Bible any different to us today?
00:00:03.63\00:00:06.43
Or ordinary
people like you and me.
00:00:10.31\00:00:12.47
What can we find
out from their lives
00:00:22.18\00:00:24.29
that will help us?
00:00:24.32\00:00:25.65
Find out with
Pastor Geoff Youlden
00:00:29.46\00:00:31.19
and Rosemary Malkiewycz
00:00:31.23\00:00:32.99
here on People Just Like Us.
00:00:33.03\00:00:35.20
Disagreements can
erupt between people
00:00:38.17\00:00:40.80
over all manner of things.
00:00:40.84\00:00:42.84
Today we will
hear about two disputes
00:00:42.87\00:00:45.24
in the early Christian church,
00:00:45.27\00:00:47.21
but God used these contentions
00:00:47.24\00:00:49.24
to further the gospel.
00:00:49.28\00:00:51.05
In today's program, we
will talk about Barnabas,
00:00:51.08\00:00:54.12
the son of
consolation or encouragement,
00:00:54.15\00:00:56.99
who was involved in
both of the disagreements
00:00:57.02\00:00:59.65
we will look at.
00:00:59.69\00:01:01.19
He was a faithful
believer in Jesus Christ,
00:01:01.22\00:01:03.89
a successful missionary of
the early Christian church.
00:01:03.93\00:01:07.00
He's one of my
favorite Bible characters.
00:01:07.03\00:01:10.10
So, Pastor Geoff, tell us about
Barnabas and these contentions?
00:01:10.13\00:01:15.04
Well, it's, as you said,
00:01:15.07\00:01:16.40
a very interesting character
is Barnabas, in fact...
00:01:16.44\00:01:19.14
He's such a lovely person.
00:01:19.17\00:01:20.88
Well, he is, yes.
00:01:20.91\00:01:22.24
In Acts Chapter
11, there's a statement
00:01:22.28\00:01:24.25
that I think wouldn't
be bad on our tombstone.
00:01:24.28\00:01:29.58
About describing
Barnabas, it says in Acts 11:24,
00:01:29.62\00:01:35.99
this statement, see
if you don't like this.
00:01:36.02\00:01:39.03
"For he was a good man."
00:01:40.66\00:01:42.50
That would be a good part
of your tombstone, wouldn't it?
00:01:42.53\00:01:44.00
It would.
00:01:44.03\00:01:45.37
"A good man,
00:01:45.40\00:01:46.74
full of the Holy
Spirit and of faith.
00:01:46.77\00:01:51.11
And a great many people
were added to the Lord."
00:01:51.14\00:01:54.54
That's lovely.
00:01:54.58\00:01:55.91
I think that's a very
great tribute to a man
00:01:55.94\00:01:57.75
actually and it
shows the caliber
00:01:57.78\00:01:59.91
of the man that we're
going to be talking about him.
00:01:59.95\00:02:02.42
We meet Barnabas
00:02:02.45\00:02:03.79
in the early
days of Christianity
00:02:03.82\00:02:05.52
when the church
really had its first love
00:02:05.55\00:02:08.42
and it's further for Christ.
00:02:08.46\00:02:11.86
And Barnabas was a Levite,
00:02:11.89\00:02:14.06
and he owned estates
on the Island of Cyprus.
00:02:14.10\00:02:17.53
Now, that's
interesting, Rosemary,
00:02:17.57\00:02:19.47
because the Levites
00:02:19.50\00:02:21.57
were not
supposed to own any land.
00:02:21.60\00:02:25.67
You remember when God divided up
00:02:25.71\00:02:27.34
Canaan among the tribes,
00:02:27.38\00:02:29.78
the Levites receive none,
00:02:29.81\00:02:31.71
because they were supported
by the other 11 tribes.
00:02:31.75\00:02:37.69
So...
00:02:37.72\00:02:40.19
this is a very interesting
introduction to him that
00:02:40.22\00:02:43.02
and probably illustrates
00:02:43.06\00:02:45.16
that how Israel had
departed over the years
00:02:45.19\00:02:51.17
from what God
had originally said.
00:02:51.20\00:02:54.74
So even though the
Levites didn't own land,
00:02:54.77\00:02:58.54
he not only owned land
00:02:58.57\00:03:00.88
but actually owned
it in a foreign country.
00:03:00.91\00:03:03.91
That made it even worse,
00:03:03.95\00:03:05.58
which again shows how
far Israel had departed
00:03:05.61\00:03:08.22
from what God
originally gave them.
00:03:08.25\00:03:10.49
You see, in ancient
times Cyprus was known
00:03:10.52\00:03:12.55
for its
vineyards, its wheat fields,
00:03:12.59\00:03:14.46
its oil and figs.
00:03:14.49\00:03:16.19
It was a very secular country,
but a very, very rich one.
00:03:16.22\00:03:20.63
And only a small island.
00:03:20.66\00:03:22.23
Yes, well, anyone who owned land
00:03:22.26\00:03:24.00
on Cyprus was well
often quite influential.
00:03:24.03\00:03:27.57
And so during these times,
we read here in the Bible,
00:03:27.60\00:03:30.41
many men sold their possessions
00:03:30.44\00:03:32.41
and put their money
at the apostle's feet,
00:03:32.44\00:03:35.24
to be used in helping the
people in the early church,
00:03:35.28\00:03:38.75
but Barnabas out did them all.
00:03:38.78\00:03:41.05
There were a lot of
people who were very poor,
00:03:41.08\00:03:42.75
so those who had extra...
00:03:42.78\00:03:44.75
Yes.
00:03:44.79\00:03:46.12
So Barnabas here,
00:03:46.15\00:03:47.49
the Bible tells
us he sold everything
00:03:47.52\00:03:49.32
and became a landless Levite,
who gave away all he had.
00:03:49.36\00:03:53.76
And so, the first thing
we notice about Barnabas here
00:03:53.80\00:03:57.67
is that he was a
very, very sincere man.
00:03:57.70\00:04:01.00
In fact, in the Acts
4:36, he makes this statement.
00:04:01.04\00:04:07.74
Acts 4:36, it says
00:04:07.78\00:04:09.14
"And Joses, who
was also named Barnabas
00:04:09.18\00:04:12.31
by the apostles."
00:04:12.35\00:04:13.68
So in other words,
his nickname was Joe.
00:04:13.72\00:04:16.08
We'll talk to our good
old Joe, down the road.
00:04:16.12\00:04:19.75
Or Joses,
00:04:19.79\00:04:21.52
which is translated
son of encouragement,
00:04:21.56\00:04:24.49
"a Levite of the
country of Cyprus."
00:04:24.53\00:04:27.46
So he was such a
good and generous man
00:04:27.50\00:04:30.70
that the disciples
actually renamed him.
00:04:30.73\00:04:34.24
They gave him another name.
00:04:34.27\00:04:36.67
And he was originally
called Joseph or Jose,
00:04:36.71\00:04:38.37
as we have noticed
00:04:38.41\00:04:39.74
but the apostle
called him Barnabas,
00:04:39.77\00:04:41.18
which means son
of encouragement.
00:04:41.21\00:04:43.38
What a good name that is.
00:04:43.41\00:04:44.81
It shows the
sort of person he was
00:04:44.85\00:04:47.25
that they would call him that
00:04:47.28\00:04:48.72
because he was a person that
00:04:48.75\00:04:50.89
he would have brought
peace into a situation.
00:04:50.92\00:04:52.89
I've known people like that,
00:04:52.92\00:04:54.26
they're so full
of the Holy Spirit,
00:04:54.29\00:04:56.29
there'll be contention in a room
00:04:56.32\00:04:57.69
but they'll walk in
and suddenly there's peace.
00:04:57.73\00:05:00.96
Yes.
00:05:01.00\00:05:02.33
Well, the Cypriot Levite became
known as we know him today,
00:05:02.36\00:05:07.74
as Barnabas, the
son of encouragement,
00:05:07.77\00:05:11.64
encouraging everybody.
00:05:11.67\00:05:13.14
And I think what a
great name that he had.
00:05:13.17\00:05:16.58
Now it was Barnabas,
00:05:16.61\00:05:17.95
who introduced
Paul to the apostles.
00:05:17.98\00:05:22.05
It was now what three
years after Saul's conversion,
00:05:22.08\00:05:26.09
and nobody knew
where he had gone,
00:05:26.12\00:05:28.26
I mean, there
were rumors around,
00:05:28.29\00:05:29.92
rumors such as that
he had been abandoned.
00:05:29.96\00:05:33.93
No one knew for sure.
00:05:33.96\00:05:35.30
Maybe they
thought he'd been killed.
00:05:35.33\00:05:36.67
Yes.
00:05:36.70\00:05:38.03
That he just
completely vanished.
00:05:38.07\00:05:39.40
And, but the saints
in the Christian church
00:05:39.43\00:05:40.94
were delighted.
00:05:40.97\00:05:42.30
Oh, yes.
00:05:42.34\00:05:43.67
Because he had been
mercilessly persecuting them
00:05:43.71\00:05:46.71
in the early days
and so they were glad
00:05:46.74\00:05:49.44
that for the last three
years he hadn't been around.
00:05:49.48\00:05:51.81
They've had peace.
00:05:51.85\00:05:53.18
But now Saul was back
and he was back in Jerusalem
00:05:53.21\00:05:56.28
of all places.
00:05:56.32\00:05:57.65
And even worse,
00:05:57.69\00:05:59.02
he wanted to join the
fellowship of the church.
00:05:59.05\00:06:02.82
So you can imagine
the unease in the church,
00:06:02.86\00:06:05.29
I mean, the people
were frightened beyond,
00:06:05.33\00:06:07.60
I mean, you can understand that.
00:06:07.63\00:06:09.46
And they didn't
want him near the church.
00:06:09.50\00:06:11.20
Some said he was just
getting a list of the members,
00:06:11.23\00:06:14.27
and then he
would exterminate them.
00:06:14.30\00:06:16.40
That's what you would expect.
00:06:16.44\00:06:18.27
Well, Saul to
the Christian church
00:06:18.31\00:06:19.87
was like Hitler to the Jews.
00:06:19.91\00:06:22.41
Nobody would speak to him.
00:06:22.44\00:06:23.88
And, I mean,
when he went to church
00:06:23.91\00:06:25.25
no one shook his
hand, I can assure you.
00:06:25.28\00:06:27.28
They kept a long,
long way away from Paul.
00:06:27.32\00:06:30.39
They probably went
the other direction
00:06:30.42\00:06:31.75
and went home so he
wouldn't be able to...
00:06:31.79\00:06:33.86
Recognize them.
00:06:33.89\00:06:35.22
See who they were
and put them in prison.
00:06:35.26\00:06:36.66
Yes, well in Jerusalem,
he was the most hated,
00:06:36.69\00:06:38.53
the most feared,
00:06:38.56\00:06:39.89
and the most
friendless man of all,
00:06:39.93\00:06:41.80
with the blood of
so many Christians
00:06:41.83\00:06:43.33
still red on his hands.
00:06:43.37\00:06:45.13
And it's no wonder
that every door in Jerusalem
00:06:45.17\00:06:47.57
was bolted against him.
00:06:47.60\00:06:49.97
And there were
many of the Christians
00:06:50.01\00:06:51.34
who believed that he
was an evil Sanhedrin spy
00:06:51.37\00:06:55.28
who was there to find out
00:06:55.31\00:06:56.64
who was making the church.
00:06:56.68\00:06:58.41
Well, even the apostles
were afraid to meet him.
00:06:58.45\00:07:00.88
Yes.
00:07:00.92\00:07:02.42
Now this is where we get
00:07:02.45\00:07:03.79
the first glimpse
of Barnabas's character
00:07:03.82\00:07:05.85
and his stature.
00:07:05.89\00:07:07.52
Barnabas of all Christians
00:07:07.56\00:07:09.36
was the first to
open the door to Saul.
00:07:09.39\00:07:12.56
James the Just,
the brother of Jesus.
00:07:12.59\00:07:15.86
He was the chief elder,
00:07:15.90\00:07:17.23
you remember of
the Jerusalem church
00:07:17.27\00:07:18.93
would have
nothing to do with him.
00:07:18.97\00:07:21.20
And Peter,
00:07:21.24\00:07:22.57
he would have
nothing to do with him.
00:07:22.60\00:07:23.94
Neither would John have
anything to do with him.
00:07:23.97\00:07:26.88
And Andrew,
00:07:26.91\00:07:28.24
who always
introduced people to Christ
00:07:28.28\00:07:30.71
would have
nothing to do with him.
00:07:30.75\00:07:32.15
So...
00:07:32.18\00:07:33.52
And as far as
Doubting Thomas was concerned,
00:07:33.55\00:07:35.95
he was convinced now
about Jesus' divinity,
00:07:35.98\00:07:38.55
but unless he could have
real tangible positive proof
00:07:38.59\00:07:42.76
that could be demonstrated
00:07:42.79\00:07:44.53
he wanted
nothing to do with Saul.
00:07:44.56\00:07:47.86
And so Barnabas
on the other hand
00:07:47.90\00:07:49.66
as we read the record
here in the Book of Acts,
00:07:49.70\00:07:52.37
opened the door to Paul.
00:07:52.40\00:07:54.20
He took him in and
sat him at his table
00:07:54.24\00:07:56.50
and listened to his
story and believed Saul.
00:07:56.54\00:07:59.37
Do you think...
00:07:59.41\00:08:00.74
you know, that's another reason
00:08:00.78\00:08:02.11
why we see that they called
him the son of encouragement,
00:08:02.14\00:08:04.88
because he even took in
Saul who was friendless.
00:08:04.91\00:08:08.85
Saul who was hated,
00:08:08.88\00:08:10.82
but Barnabas was able
to see good in people.
00:08:10.85\00:08:15.12
I think that's a
wonderful character.
00:08:15.16\00:08:16.66
See potential in people,
recognize because it says that
00:08:16.69\00:08:20.26
in the verse you read before
00:08:20.30\00:08:21.63
that he was filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:08:21.66\00:08:23.37
And the Holy
Spirit would have led him
00:08:23.40\00:08:25.47
to accept Saul.
00:08:25.50\00:08:28.50
Yes, well, then the
scene shifts to Antioch.
00:08:28.54\00:08:32.14
This was the third largest
city of the world at that time,
00:08:32.17\00:08:35.61
after Rome and Alexandria.
00:08:35.64\00:08:37.98
And it was here
that many Gentiles
00:08:38.01\00:08:39.88
were converted through
the preaching of the gospel.
00:08:39.91\00:08:42.75
I never realized how big it was.
00:08:42.78\00:08:44.35
No, well, today
there's a lot of ruins there
00:08:44.39\00:08:46.42
that's worth visiting to
00:08:46.45\00:08:47.79
if you're visiting in that area.
00:08:47.82\00:08:49.49
When news
finally got to Jerusalem
00:08:49.52\00:08:51.46
about what was
going on in Antioch,
00:08:51.49\00:08:53.50
the Jerusalem church
chose Barnabas to go and see
00:08:53.53\00:08:57.37
what actually was
going on in Antioch.
00:08:57.40\00:09:00.10
In fact, in
Chapter 11, I think it is.
00:09:00.14\00:09:03.51
Let me just check Chapter 11
00:09:03.54\00:09:06.47
and verse down here in verse 23,
00:09:06.51\00:09:09.14
it says, "When he came
and had seen the grace of God,
00:09:09.18\00:09:11.81
he was glad, and encouraged them
00:09:11.85\00:09:14.48
all that with
the purpose of heart
00:09:14.52\00:09:16.48
that they would
continue with the Lord.
00:09:16.52\00:09:18.82
For he was a good man,
00:09:18.85\00:09:20.29
full of the Holy
Spirit and of faith.
00:09:20.32\00:09:22.29
And a great many people
were added to the church."
00:09:22.32\00:09:25.83
So it didn't take
Barnabas too long to work out
00:09:25.86\00:09:28.46
that the work in Antioch
00:09:28.50\00:09:29.83
required someone
stronger than him
00:09:29.86\00:09:32.37
to guide the church there.
00:09:32.40\00:09:34.57
Now, the question was, Rosemary,
00:09:34.60\00:09:36.44
who was he gonna go to?
00:09:36.47\00:09:38.44
Because...
00:09:38.47\00:09:39.81
who was he going to recruit?
00:09:39.84\00:09:41.91
He thought of Peter.
00:09:41.94\00:09:43.38
But no, he thought
he's too impulsive.
00:09:43.41\00:09:46.72
Then he thought about James.
00:09:46.75\00:09:48.65
But no, he was
too rigid, he thought.
00:09:48.68\00:09:52.25
Or what about Thomas?
00:09:52.29\00:09:53.89
Nah, he's too skeptical.
00:09:53.92\00:09:56.36
And what about John?
Well, he thought too emotional.
00:09:56.39\00:10:01.36
And what about
Philip the evangelist?
00:10:01.40\00:10:04.07
He's no longer in Jerusalem.
00:10:04.10\00:10:05.67
He's out down at Caesarea now,
00:10:05.70\00:10:07.67
living in Caesarea
and he'd be too busy.
00:10:07.70\00:10:11.07
So Barnabas couldn't
think of anyone in Jerusalem
00:10:11.11\00:10:15.68
that could fit the bill.
00:10:15.71\00:10:17.55
And
unfortunately, Stephen was dead.
00:10:17.58\00:10:19.58
And he would have thought that
00:10:19.61\00:10:20.95
Stephen would
have done a good job
00:10:20.98\00:10:22.32
but he was dead.
00:10:22.35\00:10:23.69
So then he thought
about Saul of Tarsus.
00:10:23.72\00:10:27.99
And in verse 25,
it goes on to say,
00:10:28.02\00:10:31.49
"Then Barnabas departed
for Tarsus to seek Saul.
00:10:31.53\00:10:35.36
And when he found him,
he brought him to Antioch.
00:10:35.40\00:10:38.40
And so it was
that for a whole year
00:10:38.43\00:10:41.60
they assembled with the church
00:10:41.64\00:10:42.97
and taught a great many people.
00:10:43.00\00:10:44.54
And the disciples were
first called Christians
00:10:44.57\00:10:47.54
in Antioch.
00:10:47.58\00:10:48.98
To know that Saul
obviously left Jerusalem
00:10:49.01\00:10:52.51
and went to Tarsus 'cause
he was from Tarsus, wasn't he?
00:10:52.55\00:10:54.68
Yes.
00:10:54.72\00:10:56.05
So he went home to try
and reach the people at home.
00:10:56.08\00:10:59.35
Yes, well instead
of going to Jerusalem,
00:10:59.39\00:11:01.66
you would think that
if you're in a crisis
00:11:01.69\00:11:04.03
that you'd go back to
the headquarters church,
00:11:04.06\00:11:06.13
but he didn't do
that he went to Tarsus.
00:11:06.16\00:11:08.60
And he actually did
it without reference
00:11:08.63\00:11:10.37
to the authorities in Jerusalem.
00:11:10.40\00:11:12.27
Because it was,
00:11:12.30\00:11:13.64
I believe the Spirit
of God had impressed him
00:11:13.67\00:11:16.97
to that decision.
00:11:17.01\00:11:18.34
So Saul and
Barnabas worked together now
00:11:18.37\00:11:20.31
as we just read for about a year
00:11:20.34\00:11:22.38
in Antioch to
evangelize the city,
00:11:22.41\00:11:25.25
and to encourage the believers.
00:11:25.28\00:11:28.72
And as we notice too
in the verse, Rosemary,
00:11:28.75\00:11:30.82
this is where the pagans
00:11:30.85\00:11:32.72
first coined the name
Christians as a nickname.
00:11:32.75\00:11:37.06
That wasn't a
good name by the way,
00:11:37.09\00:11:39.19
that wasn't a kind name,
00:11:39.23\00:11:40.56
that was a
nickname, one of derision.
00:11:40.60\00:11:44.03
And so there was
something else to that
00:11:44.07\00:11:47.37
Barnabas must have known
00:11:47.40\00:11:49.10
that in bringing in Paul,
00:11:49.14\00:11:50.71
he was bringing in a
man bigger than himself.
00:11:50.74\00:11:54.51
Bigger in genius, I
mean, bigger in talent,
00:11:54.54\00:11:58.41
and bigger in preaching,
and of course bigger in vision.
00:11:58.45\00:12:02.28
And to have the heart
00:12:02.32\00:12:03.89
and the mind to pull
a man in to your work
00:12:03.92\00:12:08.19
who you know is
greater than you,
00:12:08.22\00:12:11.69
takes a big man.
00:12:11.73\00:12:14.36
And that again illustrates
the greatness of Barnabas.
00:12:14.40\00:12:21.20
He's willing to
have someone else
00:12:21.24\00:12:22.77
above him in
ability working with him.
00:12:22.80\00:12:26.37
He doesn't want
to be the top dog.
00:12:26.41\00:12:28.04
No.
00:12:28.08\00:12:29.41
One man once said, who
was a preacher, he said,
00:12:29.44\00:12:31.61
"I would rather have a
little of Barnabas's grace
00:12:31.65\00:12:34.32
than all of Paul's genius.
00:12:34.35\00:12:36.42
And it was C. S. Spurgeon
who said it takes more grace
00:12:36.45\00:12:39.75
than I can tell to
play the second fiddle well.
00:12:39.79\00:12:44.13
And it's true.
00:12:44.16\00:12:45.59
And it shouldn't be surprising
00:12:45.63\00:12:46.96
as we read here in the record
to learn that a dispute arose
00:12:47.00\00:12:50.67
between some teachers who
had arrived from Jerusalem
00:12:50.70\00:12:53.70
and the Gentiles at Antioch.
00:12:53.74\00:12:55.90
The issue simply
was that the teachers
00:12:55.94\00:12:58.01
from Jerusalem said
00:12:58.04\00:12:59.51
that the Gentiles
had to become Jews first
00:12:59.54\00:13:04.01
and follow all the
rituals of the Jewish religion,
00:13:04.05\00:13:06.61
and then they
could become Christians.
00:13:06.65\00:13:09.35
And Paul said, "Absolutely not.
00:13:09.38\00:13:12.72
And that ritualism
has now come to an end."
00:13:12.75\00:13:17.29
And believe me, as
you read the record here,
00:13:17.33\00:13:19.69
there was a fiery dispute.
00:13:19.73\00:13:21.73
Well, that's number
one dispute, isn't it?
00:13:21.76\00:13:23.47
Yes.
00:13:23.50\00:13:24.83
And Barnabas played a key role
00:13:24.87\00:13:26.77
in helping to
moderate these two factions.
00:13:26.80\00:13:30.17
Because the potential now
was for the church to be split
00:13:30.21\00:13:33.41
between the
Gentile church led by Paul,
00:13:33.44\00:13:36.71
and a Jewish
Hebrew Christian church,
00:13:36.75\00:13:39.28
that will be led by
Peter and some of the others.
00:13:39.31\00:13:42.35
And in between these
two hot headed individuals,
00:13:42.38\00:13:45.95
Paul and Peter,
00:13:45.99\00:13:47.39
they needed a
moderate man to mediate
00:13:47.42\00:13:51.03
and that man
turned out to be Barnabas.
00:13:51.06\00:13:55.16
And so this
dispute was finally settled
00:13:55.20\00:13:58.33
at the Jerusalem conference.
00:13:58.37\00:14:00.67
And they decided that
00:14:00.70\00:14:02.10
there were not
going to be two churches,
00:14:02.14\00:14:03.64
there where not be
going to be a Jewish church
00:14:03.67\00:14:05.11
and a Christian church.
00:14:05.14\00:14:06.47
Oh, Jewish and Gentile.
00:14:06.51\00:14:07.84
Gentile church.
00:14:07.88\00:14:09.21
There will only be one church.
00:14:09.24\00:14:10.58
And that was good news.
00:14:10.61\00:14:11.95
And they brought
that back to Antioch.
00:14:11.98\00:14:14.35
And the work flourished
00:14:14.38\00:14:15.72
and Peter became
00:14:15.75\00:14:17.12
able to see the
issue very, very clearly.
00:14:17.15\00:14:19.82
I think it's a big thing for...
00:14:19.85\00:14:22.22
As you were saying
before with Barnabas,
00:14:22.26\00:14:23.86
because he knew that
he needed help in Antioch.
00:14:23.89\00:14:28.06
He knew that the job was too big
00:14:28.10\00:14:30.13
for just himself.
00:14:30.17\00:14:31.50
He could have got
someone of lesser ability.
00:14:31.53\00:14:34.54
And being in charge,
00:14:34.57\00:14:35.90
but he got Paul
00:14:35.94\00:14:37.27
and then the two
of them together,
00:14:37.31\00:14:38.74
were able to go to
the Jerusalem Council,
00:14:38.77\00:14:41.64
because of the
dispute that had risen over
00:14:41.68\00:14:44.61
the Gentiles becoming Jews first
00:14:44.65\00:14:46.88
before they could be Christians.
00:14:46.92\00:14:48.88
And God worked to
bring about His solution
00:14:48.92\00:14:53.02
to the problem
00:14:53.05\00:14:54.59
because Paul and Barnabas
were willing to be used.
00:14:54.62\00:14:58.69
Well, then again, later
00:14:58.73\00:15:00.50
certain of these
Jewish Christian leaders
00:15:00.53\00:15:03.63
came again from
Jerusalem to continue teaching
00:15:03.67\00:15:06.84
this false doctrine of
having to become a Jew first
00:15:06.87\00:15:09.60
before they could
become a Christian.
00:15:09.64\00:15:11.97
And Peter, and this is where
00:15:12.01\00:15:13.61
something
interesting now happens.
00:15:13.64\00:15:15.31
Peter, to keep
on side with James
00:15:15.34\00:15:17.78
went along with
them, incited Barnabas.
00:15:17.81\00:15:21.32
So for the first
time we see a crack
00:15:21.35\00:15:24.12
in Barnabas's character
00:15:24.15\00:15:26.65
because Paul gave Peter
00:15:26.69\00:15:28.66
the biggest dressing down
of his life for his cowardice.
00:15:28.69\00:15:32.69
And as you read the record,
00:15:32.73\00:15:35.83
Paul never said a
word to Barnabas about it.
00:15:35.86\00:15:39.07
Even though Barnabas had
taken the same side that Peter,
00:15:39.10\00:15:43.10
Paul only has a go at Peter.
00:15:43.14\00:15:46.17
And he proposed
that they set out
00:15:46.21\00:15:48.48
on their second
missionary journey,
00:15:48.51\00:15:51.61
and Barnabas and Paul agreed.
00:15:51.65\00:15:56.79
But then there
came a second crack
00:15:56.82\00:15:59.85
that was evident
in Barnabas's life
00:15:59.89\00:16:02.12
and once again it
illustrates the fact that
00:16:02.16\00:16:03.89
all men...
00:16:03.93\00:16:06.83
No man is perfect.
00:16:06.86\00:16:08.20
And Barnabas certainly wasn't.
00:16:08.23\00:16:10.30
And the issue was
either whether John Mark
00:16:10.33\00:16:13.80
would come with them.
00:16:13.84\00:16:15.64
Now Barnabas wanted
to take his young nephew
00:16:15.67\00:16:19.74
along despite the fact
00:16:19.77\00:16:21.21
that John Mark's failure
00:16:21.24\00:16:23.04
on the first missionary journey.
00:16:23.08\00:16:24.98
Yes, he didn't live
up to Paul's expectations
00:16:25.01\00:16:27.82
on the first trip.
00:16:27.85\00:16:29.18
No. It was a very sad thing.
00:16:29.22\00:16:32.29
He was only a young man.
00:16:32.32\00:16:33.66
We've got to
give him some leeway.
00:16:33.69\00:16:36.26
And Paul would
have been expecting
00:16:36.29\00:16:38.29
him to do well.
00:16:38.33\00:16:41.60
Paul was somebody
00:16:41.63\00:16:43.40
who he would expect
people to do things his way
00:16:43.43\00:16:49.34
'cause his way worked.
00:16:49.37\00:16:51.11
Well, Paul was just
that type character.
00:16:51.14\00:16:53.34
He probably frightened
John Mark a bit too much.
00:16:53.38\00:16:57.78
And John Mark found it too hard
00:16:57.81\00:17:00.05
to do what he
was expected to do.
00:17:00.08\00:17:01.42
Yes.
00:17:01.45\00:17:02.78
Well, you gotta understand
Paul was a big man, I mean...
00:17:02.82\00:17:07.69
He was a doer.
00:17:07.72\00:17:09.06
And he deviated
00:17:09.09\00:17:11.19
not to the left or to the right.
00:17:11.23\00:17:12.89
He was a man of singular vision
00:17:12.93\00:17:16.13
and any wavering he
had a little tolerance for.
00:17:16.16\00:17:19.60
Yes.
00:17:19.63\00:17:20.97
And that became
evident with his handling
00:17:21.00\00:17:23.30
and taking on John Mark.
00:17:23.34\00:17:27.24
And so, Paul would
have nothing to do with it.
00:17:27.28\00:17:29.54
In fact, in
Chapter 15, I think it is,
00:17:29.58\00:17:31.78
let me just have a look here.
00:17:31.81\00:17:33.62
Chapter 15.
00:17:33.65\00:17:35.15
And over the end of the
chapter verse 39 it says,
00:17:35.18\00:17:39.75
"Then the
contention became so sharp
00:17:39.79\00:17:43.79
that they parted
from one another.
00:17:43.83\00:17:46.59
And so Barnabas took
Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
00:17:46.63\00:17:52.53
Rosemary, the
word contention there
00:17:52.57\00:17:54.50
that's used in the version
00:17:54.54\00:17:57.14
I'm reading from is
not really strong enough.
00:17:57.17\00:18:01.88
The contention is really
00:18:01.91\00:18:05.38
it was the original Greek there
00:18:05.41\00:18:07.78
it talks about
an outburst of rage
00:18:07.82\00:18:10.99
that took place.
00:18:11.02\00:18:12.35
This is not just a
little bit of a difference now.
00:18:12.39\00:18:14.59
This was really hot on,
00:18:14.62\00:18:16.83
a real dingdong
argument we would say.
00:18:16.86\00:18:19.39
Well, it says
contention became so sharp
00:18:19.43\00:18:21.86
but even sharper than
the impression we get here.
00:18:21.90\00:18:27.37
Well, as you can appreciate
00:18:27.40\00:18:29.57
when things
like that take place,
00:18:29.60\00:18:31.37
in the Christian
church sides are taken.
00:18:31.41\00:18:33.38
And that no doubt led to people
00:18:33.41\00:18:37.45
taking sides with Paul
00:18:37.48\00:18:39.38
and some took
sides with Barnabas.
00:18:39.41\00:18:42.48
Now who was right?
00:18:42.52\00:18:47.26
That's a good
question to ask, who was right?
00:18:47.29\00:18:49.72
Because you can understand
00:18:49.76\00:18:52.63
from the point of view
of John Mark's situation,
00:18:52.66\00:18:55.40
young, inexperienced.
00:18:55.43\00:18:58.40
He'd already shown
himself to be coward.
00:18:58.43\00:19:00.74
Yeah, and Paul
on the other hand,
00:19:00.77\00:19:02.74
who was just singular,
00:19:02.77\00:19:04.94
and nothing would stop him.
00:19:04.97\00:19:06.84
And he had little time.
00:19:06.88\00:19:09.74
And I've tried to imagine
00:19:09.78\00:19:11.58
the discussion that went
on between Barnabas and Paul.
00:19:13.31\00:19:18.25
And Barnabas says to Mark,
00:19:18.29\00:19:23.83
he says, "Is my nephew, Paul.
00:19:23.86\00:19:27.10
And I feel that I
must look after him.
00:19:27.13\00:19:30.27
You know, it would
be a terrible thing
00:19:30.30\00:19:32.67
to work for others and
not care about my own family."
00:19:32.70\00:19:37.41
He said, "I
admit that Mark failed
00:19:37.44\00:19:39.27
on our first missionary journey.
00:19:39.31\00:19:41.84
But we all have failures too.
00:19:41.88\00:19:44.41
And sometimes we
have more than one.
00:19:44.45\00:19:48.72
And can we not at least
00:19:48.75\00:19:51.55
give Mark credit for the fact
00:19:51.59\00:19:53.39
that he volunteered
in the cause of Christ?
00:19:53.42\00:19:56.86
I mean, at least
he started the journey
00:19:56.89\00:19:58.76
when thousands of
others stayed at home.
00:19:58.79\00:20:02.36
And now aware of all
the difficulties and trials
00:20:02.40\00:20:06.10
he wants to have another go.
00:20:06.13\00:20:08.90
He has told me
many, many times, Paul,
00:20:08.94\00:20:11.34
of his regrets for giving up.
00:20:11.37\00:20:14.11
Surely, we can just give
him one more opportunity.
00:20:14.14\00:20:18.68
And I mean,
Jesus accepted Peter,
00:20:18.71\00:20:22.58
gave him three opportunities
as the cock-crowing.
00:20:22.62\00:20:25.85
So, and I can hear Barnabas
appealing to Paul and said
00:20:25.89\00:20:30.33
"Look, let's give
this man one more chance."
00:20:30.36\00:20:34.80
He's willing. Yes.
00:20:34.83\00:20:36.67
Let's go with that.
00:20:36.70\00:20:38.27
And our heart starts
to side with Barnabas
00:20:38.30\00:20:41.20
as we listen to that because...
00:20:41.24\00:20:43.51
And here again,
00:20:43.54\00:20:44.87
you can see that son
of encouragement and...
00:20:44.91\00:20:47.78
They're very
gentle and loving spirit.
00:20:47.81\00:20:49.94
Yes, and it's lovely.
00:20:49.98\00:20:51.61
That's what makes
Barnabas what he is.
00:20:51.65\00:20:54.58
But Paul wasn't having too much
of what Barnabas was saying.
00:20:54.62\00:20:59.95
And I can imagine
this is what he said
00:20:59.99\00:21:01.59
in reply to what Barnabas said.
00:21:01.62\00:21:03.73
"Barnabas, I've got to
confess that I'm deeply moved
00:21:03.76\00:21:07.80
by all that you have to say.
00:21:07.83\00:21:10.70
I remember how
gracious you were to me.
00:21:10.73\00:21:13.94
And if it wasn't for you,
00:21:13.97\00:21:16.30
and your kindness, I'm not sure
00:21:16.34\00:21:17.84
where I would be today.
00:21:17.87\00:21:20.21
And because Mark is your nephew,
00:21:20.24\00:21:23.08
I wish that I could
agree with your position.
00:21:23.11\00:21:26.48
But there's a danger
in allowing family ties
00:21:26.51\00:21:30.29
to influence and
cloud our decision.
00:21:30.32\00:21:33.05
The cause of
Christ has got to be
00:21:34.19\00:21:36.06
above family relationships."
00:21:36.09\00:21:37.86
And, you know, you can feel that
00:21:40.50\00:21:43.57
Barnabas is
sighing in the background
00:21:43.60\00:21:47.34
because he's realizing that
Paul's not going to go along
00:21:47.37\00:21:50.04
with what he's saying.
00:21:50.07\00:21:51.77
And then he says "Mark,
00:21:51.81\00:21:53.78
I'm sure can be of
great service to Christ
00:21:53.81\00:21:56.34
in other areas.
00:21:56.38\00:21:59.35
I know how good
he is with words,
00:21:59.38\00:22:01.38
let him write an
account of the life of Christ
00:22:01.42\00:22:04.12
for everyone to read."
00:22:04.15\00:22:06.29
And, of course, he
did that, didn't he?
00:22:06.32\00:22:09.79
Yes, he did, the Book of Mark.
00:22:09.82\00:22:11.16
The Gospel of Mark.
00:22:11.19\00:22:13.80
But this missionary
journey requires a cool head
00:22:13.83\00:22:17.57
and an iron
nerve, and a steady hand.
00:22:17.60\00:22:21.34
Mark is totally
unequipped for this journey.
00:22:21.37\00:22:26.51
He deserted the cause right
when he was needed the most.
00:22:26.54\00:22:30.58
Right when difficulties
and dangers loom the largest.
00:22:30.61\00:22:33.58
Can you hear Paul
saying this? I can hear Paul.
00:22:33.62\00:22:36.35
Yes, I can.
00:22:36.38\00:22:37.72
And poor old
Barnabas is sitting there
00:22:37.75\00:22:39.09
getting a bit of a lecture now.
00:22:39.12\00:22:41.42
And he says,
00:22:41.46\00:22:42.79
"Look, Barnabas,
00:22:42.82\00:22:44.16
we cannot afford to
run that risk again.
00:22:44.19\00:22:48.86
To have a
missionary play the coward
00:22:48.90\00:22:50.90
before pagan converts,
00:22:50.93\00:22:53.44
who are faced with the
world's bitter hostility
00:22:53.47\00:22:55.87
would be disastrous.
00:22:55.90\00:22:58.07
It would put
Christ to open shame
00:22:58.11\00:23:00.74
and be a mockery to the cause.
00:23:00.78\00:23:04.05
Because people would say,
00:23:04.08\00:23:06.08
why don't we
practice what we preach?
00:23:06.11\00:23:10.32
They would then say,
00:23:10.35\00:23:12.19
we expected them
00:23:12.22\00:23:13.56
to face up to
opposition and difficulties
00:23:13.59\00:23:17.39
which we ourselves shrink from.
00:23:17.43\00:23:19.79
Barnabas, I must admit that
00:23:19.83\00:23:23.57
I see this as a major
problem in taking Paul.
00:23:23.60\00:23:26.74
Now... Mark.
00:23:26.77\00:23:28.10
To Mark.
00:23:28.14\00:23:29.47
I admit Barnabas
00:23:29.50\00:23:31.47
that I have forgiven Mark
00:23:31.51\00:23:34.54
long, long ago for this.
00:23:34.58\00:23:37.05
And I pray for him
00:23:37.08\00:23:39.11
and long to see him
greatly used of God.
00:23:39.15\00:23:42.08
He's got such a
wonderful, gentle spirit.
00:23:42.12\00:23:44.62
Everyone loves
him for his sincerity
00:23:44.65\00:23:47.22
and his
sweetness of disposition,
00:23:47.26\00:23:49.79
and for his
willingness to work for God.
00:23:49.82\00:23:52.53
And I believe it would be unfair
00:23:52.56\00:23:54.86
to expose Mark to situations
that might be beyond him.
00:23:54.90\00:24:00.17
And that the Spirit of God
never intended him to face.
00:24:00.20\00:24:04.97
I think it would
be wrong Barnabas
00:24:05.01\00:24:07.41
to expose Mark to
the kind of situation
00:24:07.44\00:24:10.25
we faced together at Lystra.
00:24:10.28\00:24:11.81
You remember that?"
00:24:11.85\00:24:13.18
Yes, they were stoned.
00:24:13.21\00:24:14.55
For instance,
00:24:14.58\00:24:16.12
where we were first worshiped,
00:24:16.15\00:24:18.32
and then we were stoned.
00:24:18.35\00:24:19.85
Barnabas, I foresee
a great difficulties
00:24:22.86\00:24:25.59
arising in the future.
00:24:25.63\00:24:27.40
I see us having shipwrecks,
we'll be among robbers,
00:24:27.43\00:24:31.90
they'll be perils
of our own countrymen,
00:24:31.93\00:24:35.64
they'll be
perils of the heathen,
00:24:35.67\00:24:39.14
perils in the city, as
we've already experienced,
00:24:39.17\00:24:42.04
perils in the wilderness,
00:24:42.08\00:24:44.55
and perils among false brethren.
00:24:44.58\00:24:47.68
I foresee weariness,
I see pain coming to us,
00:24:47.72\00:24:52.19
hunger, and
thirst, and fastings,
00:24:52.22\00:24:56.83
and cold, and nakedness.
00:24:56.86\00:25:01.53
I just don't think
00:25:01.56\00:25:02.90
it's right to expose
John Mark to these things.
00:25:02.93\00:25:07.60
And that's that."
00:25:07.64\00:25:10.41
And Barnabas realized then that
00:25:10.44\00:25:13.61
what Paul had said was final.
00:25:13.64\00:25:18.35
And, you know, we
can ask the question,
00:25:18.38\00:25:21.68
who was right?
00:25:21.72\00:25:23.05
Well, I've always
thought that Barnabas was right
00:25:23.08\00:25:24.95
and that Paul
was being too strong
00:25:24.99\00:25:26.62
and could only look at
the errors of the past.
00:25:26.65\00:25:28.62
But when you put it that way,
00:25:28.66\00:25:31.63
I can say that Paul
was being realistic.
00:25:31.66\00:25:35.36
And Barnabas was not
looking at those things.
00:25:35.40\00:25:40.60
Well, you can
understand his point
00:25:40.64\00:25:42.14
that it would bring great shame
00:25:42.17\00:25:45.04
upon the Christian cause.
00:25:45.07\00:25:48.78
Here they are
appealing to these pagans
00:25:48.81\00:25:52.58
to become Christians
00:25:52.61\00:25:53.95
and the
difficulties that brought.
00:25:53.98\00:25:58.65
And here John Mark
is turning his back
00:25:58.69\00:26:03.16
on the very things
that Paul and Barnabas
00:26:03.19\00:26:06.13
are trying to encourage
the new believers to follow.
00:26:06.16\00:26:08.16
Maybe they were both right.
00:26:08.20\00:26:11.57
Maybe.
00:26:11.60\00:26:13.07
Well, as it turned
out, Paul won the day...
00:26:13.10\00:26:17.21
And so...
00:26:17.24\00:26:19.91
It actually split
their work though.
00:26:19.94\00:26:22.54
Yes, but maybe a good
thing came out of that.
00:26:22.58\00:26:25.21
Rosemary, I'm not sure
00:26:25.25\00:26:26.78
that the Lord's
hand wasn't in this,
00:26:26.82\00:26:29.68
because Paul
teamed up with Silas.
00:26:29.72\00:26:33.52
And Barnabas took John Mark.
00:26:33.56\00:26:36.22
And so instead of there being
two or three, now there's four.
00:26:36.26\00:26:39.43
That's right.
00:26:39.46\00:26:40.80
And that was a good thing.
00:26:40.83\00:26:44.10
You know, what I love
00:26:44.13\00:26:45.53
about these Bible characters
00:26:45.57\00:26:47.30
as we study them together,
00:26:47.34\00:26:48.67
week by week, is
that God writes it up
00:26:48.70\00:26:51.61
just as they are.
00:26:51.64\00:26:53.17
He doesn't sort
of sugarcoat over
00:26:53.21\00:26:56.21
the frailties of human beings
00:26:56.24\00:26:58.71
because that would be
very unrealistic for us.
00:26:58.75\00:27:02.22
And we have a true
picture of them warts and all,
00:27:02.25\00:27:05.89
whereas when we
write up history,
00:27:05.92\00:27:08.16
human beings, we
tend to be biased.
00:27:08.19\00:27:10.23
Yes, very much so.
00:27:10.26\00:27:11.59
And we write up For or against.
00:27:11.63\00:27:12.96
Yes, that's right.
00:27:12.99\00:27:14.33
But God doesn't.
00:27:14.36\00:27:15.70
And I think that
that's a wonderful study.
00:27:15.73\00:27:17.83
I just love studying
these Bible characters.
00:27:17.87\00:27:20.14
They're so wonderful.
00:27:20.17\00:27:21.50
Because we can learn
And we can learn so much.
00:27:21.54\00:27:22.87
We do, we learn so much,
00:27:22.90\00:27:24.24
and we see ourselves
often in those characters.
00:27:24.27\00:27:27.74
And so once again,
00:27:27.78\00:27:30.61
Barnabas is a
wonderful character.
00:27:30.65\00:27:32.18
He certainly is,
00:27:32.21\00:27:33.55
and he's one of
my favorite ones.
00:27:33.58\00:27:34.92
Today we found
that even good men
00:27:34.95\00:27:36.62
can have disagreements.
00:27:36.65\00:27:38.19
But in the situation
between Paul and Barnabas,
00:27:38.22\00:27:40.42
God used it to form two
powerful evangelistic teams
00:27:40.46\00:27:43.73
instead of only one.
00:27:43.76\00:27:45.09
He also brought John Mark
to maturity as a missionary.
00:27:45.13\00:27:49.36
We hope that you've enjoyed this
00:27:49.40\00:27:50.87
and we look forward
00:27:50.90\00:27:52.23
to talking about
another character
00:27:52.27\00:27:53.87
just like us.
00:27:53.90\00:27:55.24