When Brothers Disagree

Recount history of the decree from the Jerusalem council. Note Silas comes with Paul and Barnabas to bear the glad news.

The church rejoices over the decree and Barnabas and Paul continue teaching and preaching for a time in Antioch.

But soon it was time to go again and confirm the churches which had been planted in Asia. So Paul and Barnabas are packing their bags.

It was probably something like, they’ve got their luggage going down the terminal to get on the plane, and Paul looks over and Barnabas has got way too much luggage.

There a disagreement, and what a disagreement! They are upset!

Now, the reasons for this disagreement are not all known. All we know is this, John Mark is a young man that went with them on the first voyage to Cyprus, helping in the ministry. But for some unknown reason, after they arrived in Asia, he left them there and returned to Jerusalem.

One thing is certain, however, he had failed in some way and Paul was not ready to let him accompany them again.

Notice a few facts about this disagreement between Paul and Barnabas:

It violated Biblical principles

1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV 1900

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 16:14 KJV 1900

14 Let all your things be done with charity.

It displayed no grace (on either part)

It was caused by minds that were already made up (no mention of prayer involved)

It broke fellowship between two fast friends

These kind of arguments are dangerous. They threaten to overshadow the ministry and hinder the blessings of God.

I do not condemn Paul and Barnabas for separating, after all, it seems it was the best thing considering such a sharp argument. But it would have been much better to have settled the matter without the contention.

I’m not exactly sure what occured for John Mark during this part of his life, but I’m sure of one thing; he didn’t allow this to define his life.

When you fail, do not stop

Proverbs 24:16 KJV 1900

16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: But the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Never be convinced that God is finished with you because of failure.

Romans 5:20 KJV 1900

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

There is hope for failed people through Christ.

Press forward regardless of the past.

Philippians 3:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Glean from Godly examples

John Mark had the privilege of gleaning from some of the best known men in all of human history, Barnabas, then Paul, then Peter. You might think that this was wasted, but you’d be wrong.

John Mark went on to travel the world preaching the Gospel and became known as Mark the Evangelist.

Be careful, we often watch our examples and instead of learning from them, we think, “I could do it better.” Giving in to that temptation will rob you of the opportunity to mature, grow, and learn from wiser people.

Mark learned from these men, and he even wrote the Gospel of Mark, which records to experiences of the apostle Peter, who called Mark his “son.”

1 Peter 5:13 KJV 1900

13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

Be ready to restore and forgive

But what about Paul? Well, you’d think he would stay bitterly opposed to anything Mark did or said. And maybe too that Mark would be angry about his rejection.

Yet neither of these conclusions seem to be true. After the heated moment and some time had mellowed his thoughts. Perhaps also God had pricked his heart about the hardness there.

Paul began to watch Mark grow into a useful and mature young preacher. He acknowledged him in Colossians by recommending him to the church and in the later years of his life, specifically requested that Mark join him in Rome before his ministry ended.

2 Timothy 4:11 KJV 1900

11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

None of this is possible without the grace of God for Paul, Barnabas, and Mark. They were men just like you and I and made mistakes. Yet they loved and followed Jesus Christ and His Word faithfully and they couldn’t go astray for long without Christ correcting their steps.

For us, I encourage you to avoid contention. But also to adopt the attitude and fortitude of this young man. He failed, but he was restored and gleaned from Godly examples. He made a hard choice to do the right thing next time. And God used Him in an amazing way.