Models of Encouragement (Part Three)

Some individuals seem to have a God-given gift of sensing the future potential of other men and women. In the church setting, we see this when the person who has been called by the church to be their senior pastor arrives, senses what is needed, and puts together a team. The pastor sees the potential of the church and matches it with a staff with potential.

Barnabas had this gift. John Mark had accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary trip to Cyprus as their helper (Acts 13:5). Their ministry had a great start on the Island of Cyprus. Sergius Paulus, the deputy governor on the island, became a Christian. This was something to “write home about.” Then, off the team went to Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). But for some reason, John Mark abruptly left the team and returned to Jerusalem.

Fast-forward a couple of years, and the time had come to revisit the new churches (see Acts 15). Who would be on the team for missions trip #2? Barnabas wanted John Mark to be given a second chance. Paul, in essence, told him, “No way!” (15:37-38). Luke uses a strong word to describe the conflict. Sharp contention is the Greek word paroxysm. This word describes a violent emotional outburst. The solution to their disagreement was that Paul left with Silas, and Barnabas went in another direction with Mark.

Barnabas did more than give a man a second chance. He had the skill to see potential. Later evidence gives the sense that Barnabas saw something that Paul had missed. Mark went on a second trip, and Mark found Paul in Rome and helped him when he was imprisoned (Col. 4:10). And toward the end of his life here on earth, Paul wrote good words about Mark—life-giving words. “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11). The word useful was like “music in the ears of a rejected servant.” It was Paul’s way of acknowledging that Barnabas was right: Mark did have potential. He went on to write the second gospel. Mark was salvaged for God’s work through the encouragement of someone who saw his potential.