Again to Jerusalem

Galatians 2:1-10 (1-3) Again to Jerusalem

Paul had returned to Jerusalem three years after his conversion. After a few days with Peter and James, he entered Syria and Cilicia--Antioch and Tarsus--where he preached and taught. Now, fourteen years after that first visit, he returned once again with purpose to the city that served as the center for the church in the earliest days. One wonders what is going through the mind of Paul each of the five times he returns to Jerusalem during his ministry. On his first short-term visit to the city following his conversion and time in Damascus and the Arabian desert, he had tried “...to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.” (Acts 9:26). Thank God for those who stand beside us in our earnest endeavors for the Lord, the Kingdom, and Christ’s church. Thanks to Barnabas, who spoke up regarding Paul’s conversion, Paul was enabled to move about the city and its churches, “...speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.” That’s when the brethren sent him home to Tarsus. Jerusalem had enough turmoil due to the divisiveness of the message of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. There are times when being out of the “center of things” is a healthy move. Paul and Barnabas return to Jerusalem before they begin their mission journey that leads to Galatia as they deliver offerings, taken in the church in Antioch, to support the Jerusalem believers during a time of famine in Judea. So, it is evident the “again” of Galatians 2:1 does not mean “the next visit” but simply means “once again”.

Paul’s trip to Jerusalem in this instance was the result of a revelation. A revelation is an “uncovering” and means a truth that is shared by God to man, a truth that man never knew. Paul’s whole ministry is filled with revelation: 1) the revelation of Jesus Christ the Lord; 2) the revelation in types and symbols of the Old Testament/Word of God, 3) the systematic revelation of God’s will and purpose in each step of his life. Revelation as Paul understands it and as we must understand it is the act of God the Holy Spirit uncovering the Word of God in such a way that we have the ability to understand God’s Word and through it, God’s purpose in our life as we walk in the steps of Jesus. Hearing the Holy Spirit is sometimes difficult. Martin Luther, the great reformer, said of uncovering God’s truth, “What makes matters worse is that one-half of ourselves, our own reason, stands against us. The flesh resists the spirit, or as Paul puts it in another place, “The flesh lusts against the Spirit.” Be careful with “revelations”. Make sure there are others of spiritual maturity (Barnabas and Titus) on the journey with you or give assent to the journey but only after much prayer and investigating the Word identifying the purpose of the ministry’s result. A read of Acts 15:2 gives us insight, “And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with [some men from Judea who were teaching in Antioch that unless one is circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved] the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.” The church agreed with the understanding Paul had received and sent them to have a conference with the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Paul and those with him stacked the deck as they went… for they “described in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.” (Acts 15:3) Will the result of the journey be glory to God, bringing rejoicing to fellow believers, or getting your way and, thus, self-glory? Even Judas thought he was doing the right thing at the moment of his betrayal of our Lord.

Paul, Barnabas, and Titus made this journey to Jerusalem to meet with the leaders of the church, whose reputation carried great weight in the early churches. One would certainly want to be with those you trust for such and endeavor. The relationship between Barnabas and Paul was rich. Barnabas was a role model for the church and certainly one that had fed the spiritual life of Paul. Barnabas’ name was actually Joseph and he was of the tribe of Levi the priestly tribe. It was the apostles that changed Barnabas’ name because of the spiritual gift he continually exercised. Barnabas means “Son of Encouragement” and the apostles realized encouragement was his gift. He had encouraged the church when he sold a piece of property and gave the money to the apostles to use in ministry. Now: How did a member of the priestly tribe own property? The Law said they were not to own property. Who knows how? We do know that his gift encouraged many (Acts 4) including a couple who wanted personal praise but died in the effort (Acts 5).

Barnabas’ encouragement was not just material needs met. He also invested his life, time, and gifts in encouraging fellow believers in ministry. In Acts 9, we find Barnabas bringing Paul to the apostles and telling them how he had seen the Lord and how Paul had preached and given testimony of Christ in Damascus. Later in Acts 11, under the burden of the growing ministry of the church, Barnabas goes to Tarsus to look for Paul and bring him to Antioch where for a year they and the church’s pastoral crew (Acts 13:1) continued to make and teach new disciples with such success, that disciples were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26). Many of those first “Christians” were Gentiles (Acts 11:19-24). It was Barnabas and Paul who were entrusted to take the offering of Antioch to Judea to provide relief to the believers there-- “some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.” (Acts 11:27-30) Now think of this, these “saved by grace” Gentiles and the believing Jews of Antioch in Syria are working together as the church in Antioch and when confronted with the need that is faced by the believers in Jerusalem, most of which were Jews, “in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.” Later, as they are called of the Holy Spirit, the church will set these two aside to do the work of missions. May God give each of us those who will come alongside us and go the extra mile to enable ministry! No one should ever be alone in their labor for the Lord. Discouragement comes too easily. We should be at the ready to give to the needs of other churches as well as our own. The only fundraiser any church in the New Testament knew was the liberally given offerings of the members of the church in support of the work of their local church and of the whole Body of Christ.

Barnabas was Jewish and a believer by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. Titus was an uncircumcised Gentile and a believer in grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. Paul will later call Titus “my partner and fellow worker” and “my brother” as he writes of him 9 times in II Corinthians. Titus was probably converted when Paul preached for Paul calls him (Titus 1:4), “...my true child in a common faith.” There is no greater witness of one's ministry than the testimony of one who comes to faith in Christ as the result of grace received during that ministry. Their work together in Corinth and Cyprus enables Titus to learn much and to be prepared for a strong future in ministry. Some years after this experience in Jerusalem, Paul and Titus worked together on the Island of Crete and Titus was left there to strengthen the church. These experiences with Paul will prepare him for ministry. Paul will write a letter of encouragement to Titus as he serves on the island of Crete. Paul found a faithful friend and fellow-laborer in both Barnabas and Titus as the two worlds--Jew and Gentile--met in Christian ministry. Titus was never compelled to be circumcised under the authority of the leaders in Jerusalem although there were those who said it necessary.

Although many Jews believed that Gentiles who sought God and not idols would be saved, almost no one believed they would be adopted into the covenant on equal terms with Jews unless they were circumcised (Acts 15:22). After Paul “submitted”-laid it all out for consideration to the Jerusalem leadership: James, Jesus’ brother and pastor of the Jerusalem church; John, the beloved disciple, who cared for Jesus’ mother Mary after the cross, who later writes a gospel and three letters that reveal Christ’s love as no other could, and who writes the Revelation of Christ revealing the ultimate, unlimited victory that is in Jesus; and Peter, the outspoken disciple who was the spokesman for the gospel at Pentecost and who baptised the house of the Gentile Cornelius; all gave approval to the ministry and message of Paul! They gave the mission team “the right hand of fellowship” (v. 7-9), the confirmation of a shared gospel and ministry committed to Christ Jesus the Lord.