I Believe in You
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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. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 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; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Viktor Frankl, the author of Man’s Search for Meaning, may have put it best when he said:
“If we take man as he is, we make him worse. If we take man as he should be, we make him capable of what he can be.”
In her book called Balcony People, Joyce Landorf Heatherley differentiates between two types of people: “balcony” and “basement.”
Basement people evaluate others. With their critical judgments of people’s words and actions, they tear away at others’ souls. They make people feel like they are being compared to some unspoken ideal or standard.
Balcony people, on the other hand, affirm others. They cheer others on and energize them with their affirmations. They are genuinely interested in other people’s lives and always believe the best about others.
Whichever category you fall in, think about this…
You have the power inside you right now to take someone to a higher level.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
There are people in your life that need you to believe in them– your spouse or partner, your employees… even your boss.
There are people in your life that need you to believe in them– your spouse or partner, your employees… even your boss.
There are people in your life that need you to believe in them– your spouse or partner, your employees… even your boss
Below are a few suggestions that will help them build self-confidence and summon the courage to overcome challenges.
The New American Commentary: Acts 1. Parting Company with Barnabas (15:36–41)
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
The New American Commentary: Acts 1. Parting Company with Barnabas (15:36–41)
The reason for their going their separate ways was not a happy one and involved a major disagreement between them (vv. 37–39). John Mark was the center of contention. He was Barnabas’s cousin, and Barnabas suggested that he accompany them as he had on their first mission (13:5). Paul did not think this a wise move since Mark had abandoned them on that occasion (13:13).
Acts 13:
And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Acts 13:
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Acts 13:1
On their first missionary journey together, John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, accompanied them. Along the way, however, John Mark decided to return to his home in Jerusalem. The reason for his departure is not specified in the sacred text.
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
, accompanied them. Along the way, however, John Mark decided to return to his home in Jerusalem. The reason for his departure is not specified in the sacred text.
, accompanied them. Along the way, however, John Mark decided to return to his home in Jerusalem (). The reason for his departure is not specified in the sacred text.
Later on, when a second campaign was planned, Barnabas proposed taking Mark as a helper, but Paul resisted the idea. The New Testament record indicates that a “sharp contention” developed between them ().They could not reach an agreement, and so they split up.
Barnabas had patience with other people's failures.
This is the foremost instance of Barnabas patience with the failures of others. He is the son of encouragement
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
). He wants to give John Mark another chance and he wants to do it now.
He wants to give John Mark another chance and he wants to do it now.
Paul disagrees. The disagreement is so deep that it cannot be resolved, and these veterans whose friendship goes back at least 15 years, and who owe each other so much, part company. Neither will yield.
“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”
Some have speculated about the possibility that Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem to alarm the church, reporting that Paul received Gentiles apart from going through the synagogue. It is definitely of worth to note that the conversion of Sergius Paulus came right before Mark’s decision to leave. If Mark did in fact alarm the church, it may have stirred up the controversy we find later in .
All of this is of course speculation, and whatever the details may be, we know that Paul felt Mark’s leaving them at Perga revealed a defect in his character.
Mark joining a journey lead by Paul at this point would have been unwise. For right or wrong, Paul couldn’t trust him, and therefore Mark could not have been effective under his leadership.
Mark likely felt guilty about abandoning the journey to Perga and wanted an opportunity to redeem himself. Perhaps the Jerusalem Council’s decision had a large enough impact to give him a new perspective from the one he held back in . Barnabas wanted to give Mark this chance at redemption.
To be fair, we must note that Mark and Barnabas were cousins (), but it’s doubtful this was the only reason Barnabas wanted Mark to accompany them. Perhaps Barnabas recognized Mark’s full potential and wanted to give him a chance to develop and mature in his walk.
We know Mark ended up close with Peter () and wrote one of the four gospels. These two landmarks cannot be ignored. The one who once neglected to serve, wrote a gospel emphasizing Jesus as the Great Servant. But what about his relationship with Paul? What happened there?
The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
) and wrote one of the four gospels. These two landmarks cannot be ignored. The one who once neglected to serve, wrote a gospel emphasizing Jesus as the Great Servant. But what about his relationship with Paul? What happened there?
and wrote one of the four gospels. These two landmarks cannot be ignored. The one who once neglected to serve, wrote a gospel emphasizing Jesus as the Great Servant. But what about his relationship with Paul? What happened there?
We know Paul developed a respect and love for Mark later in life (), and we know Mark worked closely with Paul during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Philippians 2:3.
But perhaps the most touching of Paul’s references to Mark comes in 2 Timothy. When Paul wrote his second letter to the young pastor he was literally in the bottom of a pit–a dungeon. This wasn’t like his earlier house arrest in Rome where he could freely wonder about. Here, chains shackled him to the grimy wall behind him and if he could see any daylight at all, it was very little. Paul knew his execution was imminent and he had only a short time left in his earthly body before he would permanently unite with his Savior. He wrote 2 Timothy to set his affairs in order and to give his “last words” to Timothy who would carry on Paul’s ministry after his death. Only Luke was there with him. The letter is highly personal and should be read as such.
But perhaps the most touching of Paul’s references to Mark comes in 2 Timothy. When Paul wrote his second letter to the young pastor he was literally in the bottom of a pit–a dungeon. This wasn’t like his earlier house arrest in Rome where he could freely wonder about. Here, chains shackled him to the grimy wall behind him and if he could see any daylight at all, it was very little. Paul knew his execution was imminent and he had only a short time left in his earthly body before he would permanently unite with his Savior. He wrote 2 Timothy to set his affairs in order and to give his “last words” to Timothy who would carry on Paul’s ministry after his death. Only Luke was there with him. The letter is highly personal and should be read as such.
Towards the end of the book Paul gives a list of personal instructions–mainly comprised of several people to greet and one person in particular to dodge. Among the names listed, we find a final reference to Mark by Paul in verse 4.11.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
In Paul’s final hour he requested only five things: for Timothy to come soon (v 9), for him to bring Mark with him (v 11), and to bring his cloak, his books, and the parchments (v 13).
In Paul’s final hour he requested only five things: for Timothy to come soon (v 9), for him to bring Mark with him (v 11), and to bring his cloak, his books, and the parchments (v 13).
2
Paul writes, “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” In Paul’s final hour he requested only five things: for Timothy to come soon (v 9), for him to bring Mark with him (v 11), and to bring his cloak, his books, and the parchments (v 13).
Despite everything that happened at Pamphylia () and the emotionally violent disagreement over Mark in , Paul, at the end of his life, found Mark to be very useful for ministry. The man he wanted to leave behind years before had become highly valuable to him. What a change! And this isn’t a change that would have come lightly. Mark must have undergone significant character enhancement since he had last been with Paul, and Paul had grown in his capacity to forgive and recognize the sanctification process in others. It is a beautiful picture of love, grace, perseverance, and restoration.
Here we have this man, John Mark, who clearly failed in his abandonment of Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. How easy that might have been for everyone to give up on him. But instead Mark ends up becoming so much more than a failure. God uses the time Mark has alone with Barnabas to mold him into a champion of the early church and a dear friend of the man who once rejected him. How good is God’s process of sanctification?
What Can We Learn?
What Can We Learn?
Our past mistakes don’t have to define our future. God constantly works within us to make us more like him. No matter the extent of our failure, we should learn from it, and allow God to continue to work out his sanctification process in us. It’s never too late.
If you fail in ministry, or in life, don’t ever feel like you can’t get back in the game.
Mark was a late bloomer, as are some of us. Sometimes God works in people for years, with many falls along the way, before they are ready for ministry. Be patient.
It’s never too late to reconnect with someone you’ve let down.
We’ve all failed someone in our past. Time spent being sanctified can be a powerful healer.
It’s never too late to forgive someone who let you down. Just as we’ve all failed someone else, we’ve also had someone fail us. Sometimes people go years without speaking because of a falling out. Someone hurts us and we assume they’ll always be that type of person–unchanging. But we need to always remember that if we can change over time, so can someone else. Reach out to them. They just might surprise you.
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;
But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
And with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we could be.”
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.
William Arthur Ward.
Speaking of someone’s potential builds leaders. Behind the development of every great leader was someone who believed in them when they didn’t believe in themselves.
We can do a lot of wonderful things in life. We can be a career builder, a home builder, or a company builder. That’s all great. But the thing that’s going to last is the investment we make in other people.
When I reach the end of my days, I’d like people to say that I helped them go higher and made them feel better about themselves.
Jesus believed in all of us. He thought we were worth saving. He interceded on our behalf. He believe in us enough to die for us!