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Barnabas: Son of Encouragement
By Loren M. Chamberlain
The name “Barnabas” means Son of Encouragement. Over and over again faithful Barnabas would prove that he was appropriately named.
Most everyone has watched marathon races and cheered for the runners who not necessarily won the race, but for those who never gave up and continued on to the finish. As the runners near the finish line their legs are aching, throats are on fire, and their whole body is crying out to stop, and give up. This is when friends and fans are most valuable. Their encouragement helps would be losers to push through the pain and to persevere to the finish. In the same way, Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between finishing well and collapsing along the way. Barnabas was just such an encourager. He was sensitive to the needs of others and he supported them by encouraging words, actions and his own faithful life.
Investing in the Future
We are first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4: 36 where we find him engaged in an act of generosity. “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
The actions of Barnabas were crucial to the early church. Most are surprised when it is brought to their attention that Barnabas was responsible for making possible a large part of the New Testament. God used the relationship Barnabas had developed with Paul and also Mark to keep these two men going when either might have failed. Barnabas performed wonders with his encouragement. It should not be surprising the apostles were all afraid of Paul (formerly Saul). But Barnabas stepped out in faith making a big investment in Paul introducing him to the Church. He took the time to explain to the apostles Paul’s experience with Christ and that Paul was now one of them. Barnabas laid his reputation and credibility on the line. Paul was a big risk, he could have been lying and Barnabas could have lost his friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, along with his reputation.
Look at the dividends that we have from this investment. Barnabas looked at the potential of Paul, took the risk, invested courageously in him, and now we have 13 books in the New Testament that Paul wrote. The Book of Romans is probably the greatest theological treatise of all time. Paul accomplished three of the greatest missionary journeys of all time. He introduced Jesus Christ and planted churches in the five major areas of the ancient world, all across the ancient world, in less that ten years. He went from Syria to Italy, and many believe on to Spain as well. He explained as well the doctrines of repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection, eternal judgment, and the meaning of going on to perfection. If it had not been for Paul we probably would not understand Grace either. Did Barnabas make a wise investment? Indeed he did.
Invest in the Body
“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lords hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch” (Acts 11:19-22).
Barnabas’ trip to Antioch was possibly the most important moment in the history of the church. The reason for its importance was because when Barnabas came back to Jerusalem he could have said yes or no to the Gentiles coming into the church.
When Barnabas arrived, which was after a 325-mile trip, probably on a mule with a wooden saddle, he encouraged the people and sent word to Jerusalem that there was nothing to worry about; people were learning about Jesus Christ. Barnabas made another investment; to stay and invest his time. He also set off on another 100-mile trip to Tarsus to get Paul. When he found Paul he took him to Antioch and they invested a whole year of their lives turning people to Christ. It was at Antioch the followers of Jesus were first called Christians.
Why is the Body of Christ the Best Investment? Because it is a stable investment, and it has been around for 2000 years. It is a long, long term investment. This investment will last for Eternity.
Mark The Understudy
“When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark” (Acts 12:25). You might say that Mark was Barnabas’ second understudy, Paul being his first. When we first meet Mark it is not exactly an auspicious introduction. “A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind” (Mark 14: 51).
Mark was a church member and when the angel rescued Peter out of prison Peter went to Mark’s house. “When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying” (Acts 12: 12). Mark was one of the kids that grew up in the church, just like all our young people today. He was a follower of Jesus and a member of the church.
We are a little taken aback when we find out Mark was a quitter. No details are given, but this is not the end of the story. “From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John (Mark) left them to return to Jerusalem” (Acts 13: 13). Whatever happened, Paul was very angry.
Paul decided they should visit all the brethren in every city in which they preached. Paul and Barnabas had a bitter battle over Mark, because Mark had deserted them. But in the end, they put together two teams, opening up two missionary endeavors instead of one. Barnabas wanted to “invest” in this young man, and he chose Mark over Paul. After Mark became an investment of Barnabas, they went together to Cyprus on a missionary journey and Mark became a worker. “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark” (1 Peter 5:13). Mark had been brought back into the apostles’ group and worked with them. Mark also became a contributor. Even the apostle Paul changed his mind about Mark. Paul admitted Mark was helpful. “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4: 11). Mark also became an author. He wrote the Book of Mark, thanks to Barnabas investing in him and giving him another chance.
Guidance for Growing Christians
Barnabas, besides being an encourager and an investor in people, was a growing Christian just as we are. The power to lead a godly life comes from God. Barnabas did not gain the resources to be truly godly by himself. We of ourselves do not have the resources to be truly godly. However, God allows us to “share in His divine nature” in order to keep us from sin and help us live for Him.
Barnabas must have really applied himself and put forth the effort to get to know Jesus Christ through prayer and study, and drawing upon the Holy Spirit. We also, if we want to enjoy the privileges Jesus Christ offers us freely, must “come to know Jesus,” our God, Lord and Savior, better and better.
The faith Barnabas exhibited was more than belief in certain facts. Faith must result in action, growth in Christian character and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die. We must be willing to live a life of faith because it will lead to learning to know God better. We will gain the virtues such as self-control, patient endurance, godliness, and loving others. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). Barnabas possessed these qualities. He was a generous, loving, caring person, who encouraged people wherever he went. He invested in people and in the body of Christ. He invested in the future and his investments will last for Eternity. i
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