Sunday, July 20, 2014

Barnabas: A Model Joyful Follower



This past week I was studying Acts 4:36-37, where a man by the name of Barnabas is introduced for the first time. As I meditated upon those verses and also what the rest of the New Testament says about this little known Bible character I was reminded anew and afresh just how great a model for us he is.

What follows are some of the traits in his life that make him a helpful example.

1. He Was A “Regular Guy”

Some biblical characters can leave us feeling like they are out-of-our reach. The Apostle Paul is one of those. Paul was a leader among leaders, a person who rose to the top quickly and became well-known. He was like the figures we might listen to at some conference or hear on the radio. If we are not careful, we can conclude that there is little we can learn from them by way of example because we are not that kind of “superstar”.

Yet, Barnabas wasn’t like that. In fact, many of us probably have no idea who this man was. Luke, the author of Acts, introduces him as one whose real name is Joseph, “a Levite, a native of Cyprus” (Acts 4:36) who had come to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. In other words, he was a temple helper, a Jew whose was born on a small Mediterranean island. Though he was a prophet and teacher for a while in Antioch (Acts 13:1) and though he was Paul’s partner on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:2-14:28), he soon faded away into obscurity. Other than a mention by Paul some 15-17 years later to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 9:5-6)—a mention by the way that lets us known Barnabas has a strong reputation throughout the church—nothing more is said about him.

Barnabas appears to be a regular guy like us. He is not well-known, his name is not up in lights. Rather he is content simply to serve Christ whether others notice or not.

2. He Cared About People, Especially Those In Need

The reason Luke introduces Barnabas is that he serves as a concrete example of a believer who sold a piece of property and then brought the proceeds to the apostles so that they could be used to help fellow believers who were in need (Acts 4:36-37).  Then over fourteen years later he, along with Paul, took relief to famine-stricken believers in Jerusalem (Acts 11:30). More than this, when Paul was converted, Barnabas was the first one to reach out to this former persecutor of Christians and he was to the first to extend fellowship to this one who desperately needed it and to encourage others to do the same (Acts 9:27).

This same compassion was also shown to his own cousin, John Mark (Col. 4:10), who deserted Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:13). Barnabas wanted to forgive him and have him continue in missions work and Paul did not. So sharp was their disagreement that Paul went on this second missionary journey with Silas and Barnabas teamed up with Mark (see Acts 15:39-40). Without taking sides here on who was right and who was wrong, we cannot help but admire the mercy and compassion of Barnabas towards all kinds of people who had needs of various kinds. What is also of note is that that this future author of a Gospel that bears his name (Mark) was eventually reconciled with Paul by the early to mid sixties A.D. (Col. 4:10; Philemon 24; 2 Tim. 4:11). Though it may be going too far to suggest that Barnabas had something to do with that reconciliation, I don’t think it far-fetched to conclude that Barnabas’ willingness to persevere with John Mark had some impact on his future usefulness in the Church and maybe even his reconciliation with Paul!

So loving and encouraging was this man that his fellow believers did not call him by his given name (Joseph), but rather Barnabas (which means son of encouragement, Acts 4:36). In the Hebrew mindset to say that someone was a son of _ (fill in the blank) was to describe the essence of their character or being!

3. He Was Sold Out To Gospel Ministry

The love Barnabas had for others was also translated into his zeal for introducing people to the good news of Jesus and helping them live out the effects of that gospel. He encouraged the church in Antioch to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose when they first responded to the gospel (Acts 11:22-23), he spent another year teaching these new believers in Antioch along with Paul (Acts 11:25-26), he went on the first missionary journey with Paul where he preached the gospel (13:5, 6-12; 14:1, 14-18, 21, 25), he was persecuted for the gospel (13:46-52; 14:4-7), he most likely witnessed his partner and friend being stoned almost to the point of death for the gospel (14:19-20), and after that trip he stood up for the integrity of the gospel when others wanted to change it (Acts 15:1-2).

Here was just a “regular guy” who loved Jesus and delighted to follow him in all ways. What a great model for all us regular guys and gals today!

4. He Was Content With Playing Second Fiddle

When Barnabas and the younger, spiritually less mature Paul took off on their missionary journey, their ministry began in Barnabas’ homeland of Cyprus. Given the word order that Luke uses—Barnabas and then Paul (Acts 13:7), Barnabas most likely started out as the leader, but soon took a supportive role to the Apostle (see 13:13, 43, 46, 50). We have no indication this was a problem. This man wanted to serve Jesus no matter his role.

5. He Was A Good Man, Full Of The Holy Spirit And Of Faith

This final description of Barnabas comes as a direct quote, a rare word of praise Luke writes with his own pen in Acts 11:24. One of the major themes of Acts is that the coming of the Spirit upon and his filling of his people lead to fruitful ministry among others and for God’s glory. Barnabas was a man who was yielded to Jesus Christ and his Spirit.

The late New Testament scholar, D. Edmond Hiebert, in his 1973 book, Personalities Around Paul, summarizes well the life of this Spirit-controlled joyful follower:
Barnabas stands out as one of the choicest saints of the early Christian church. He had a gracious personality, characterized by a generous disposition, and possessed a gift of insight concerning the spiritual potential of others. He excelled in building bridges of sympathy and understanding across the chasms of differences which divided individuals, classes, and races. He lived apart from petty narrowness and suspicion, and had a largeness of heart that enabled him to encourage those who failed and to succor the friendless and needy. He did have his faults and shortcomings, but those faults arose out of the very traits that made him such a kind and generous man—his ready sympathy for others’ failings and his eagerness to think the best of everyone.

By the grace of God and the work of the Sprit may the same someday be said of you and me.

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