Yesterday I explained how Barnabas had gone out of his way to encourage Paul even though most of the Church of his day were afraid of him. Today we will focus on Barnabas’ showing encouragement to John Mark.

We are first acquainted with John Mark when we learn that the church met to pray in the home of Mary, his mother.

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

When Barnabas returned to the church in Jerusalem and gave them his report on the condition of the church in Antioch, Paul accompanied him. When Barnabas and Paul (formerly Saul) returned to Antioch they brought with them John Mark.

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. Acts 12:25

This missionary team began their work and traveled to Antioch, then crossed by ship to the island of Cyprus, crossed the island and then once more by ship went to Perga in Pamphylia (on the coast of modern Turkey). It is at this point that John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem. The exact reason for John Mark’s departure is unknown, but whatever his reason it did not meet with Paul’s approval.

Some 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.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but 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. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41

John Mark’s departure from Barnabas and Paul’s missionary journey and his invitation to rejoin them on a second journey caused such a problem that Paul and Barnabas “had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” Barnabas the encourager takes Mark and Paul takes Silas and they depart.

The encourager is always going to help the underdog. Previously, it was the outsider Paul, now it is the insider John Mark. True encouragers do not care who, they help those whom they see in distress. The fact that Barnabas was related to John Mark (they were cousins Col 4:10) may have had something to do with his decision, but I think it is more his nature as encourager.

In the final analysis Paul tells us that he acted to hastily and that Barnabas was right and John Mark’s rehabilitation was worth all of Barnabas’ effort.

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

Who needs your encouragement today? It may be an outsider who will stretch you beyond your own comfort zone or an insider (perhaps even a member of your own family), but someone needs your encouragement and your gift given to them will help you both, and God’s kingdom.

Individuals who come to the aid of someone they see to be in moral distress are encouragers. The great encourager in the New Testament is Barnabas, and the two most notable recipients of his encouragement are Paul and John Mark. Paul (formerly Saul) was an outsider to the church. John Mark was a church kid.

We first meet Saul in Acts holding the coats of those who are stoning Stephen, and, lest we think that Saul might have been pressed into this service against his will, Dr. Luke informs us that Saul approved of Stephen’s execution.

Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 7:58b-8:1

Little wonder that when Paul was converted, few Christians rushed to his side to rejoice. Most Christians were happy to fellowship with their new brother Paul from a safe distance. Barnabas, however, was going to Paul and then taking him and making introductions on his behalf.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:26-27

When the church in Jerusalem needed someone to go and investigate what was happening in the church at Antioch, they quite naturally chose to send Barnabas. On his way Barnabas chose to go out of his way to Tarsus and look for Saul first.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, Acts 11:25

Notice that being an encourager to Saul required Barnabas to go out of his way. This is why there are so few encouragers. With our hustle and bustle lifestyles too few of us take the time and go to the trouble to encourage others, particularly those who appear as risky to us as Paul appeared to be to the early church. Each of us needs someone who will go out of their way to come and look for us. Barnabas went about 100 miles out of his way to find Paul. The distance you need to travel to encourage someone today may be much less. Perhaps you need only to go down the hall to your child’s room. There may be emotional distance you need to cross to encourage your spouse.

If you would like someone to encourage you, why not start by being an encourager to someone who God places in your path today?

And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Acts 13:22 (ESV)

We all know that David was not perfect. The Bible is careful to point out David’s human frailties and moral failings. There is one story about David , however, which reveals that he possessed a truly generous nature.

24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25 David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.  2 Samuel 24:24-25 (NIV)

I have learned that it is easy to give away things which cost me nothing. Many of us are glad to re-gift presents from certain family members or friends. Such expressions mean little.

When we give of our own time, talent or treasure then we are practicing true generosity. Being generous in times of economic hardship may require more faith than giving during times of plenty. Today there are many needs, and churches and other charitable organizations are finding that their capacity to help is greatly hampered because people are no longer giving with the same generosity with which they once gave.

Could it be that as individuals we are more generous in our own minds than we are in reality? The following story illustrates how much easier it is to be generous in theory than in practice.

A pastor was visiting one of the farmers who was in his congregation. The pastor asked the farmer, “Jim, if you had 100 cows and God asked you for fifty, would you give them to Him?”“Oh Yes, I sure would, preacher”“If you had 100 horses, Jim and God asked you for 50, would you give them to him?” “Oh, sure I would preacher, if I had 100 horses and God asked me for 50, I would be glad to give them to him?” “Jim, If you had two hogs, and God asked for one, would you give it to Him?” “Now that’s not fair preacher. You know I have two hogs.”

There are many around us in true need. They need us to give some of what we have. All Christians need to be more like our heavenly Father who is the most generous of all givers.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)