Disagreements, Disappointments, and Restoration


Acts 15:36-41
36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
38But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Biblical narrative is that it is about real people and real situations. The writers of the text never shrink away from the stark humanity of the people who make up the individual stories that combine to tell God’s greater story. Very few of the people whose stories are told escape without blemish. Some examples are:

  • Adam and Eve – yup. They got us into this whole sin thing yet they are the original parents of us all.
  • Moses – He killed an Egyptian official and yet he was used by God to free the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, gets handed the 10 Commandments, and lead the people for 40 years.
  • Samson – Had a thing for the ladies and it ended up getting him blinded and enslaved. Yet he rescues God’s people from captivity.
  • King David – Took another man’s wife and had that man killed. Yet God chose him to be the ancestor of Jesus and called David “a man after God’s own heart”.
  • Peter – Denied Jesus 3 times while He was in His darkest hour but goes on to become the leader of the newly born Christian Church.

That list is hardly exhaustive and it includes a guy named Saul/Paul who spent his early years persecuting and killing Christians! In our reading for today we find that Paul and Barnabas, who have been in mission work together for several years, come to a falling out over a defection by John Mark. Back in Acts 13:13 (Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem) we find that John Mark leaves the missionary team and returns to Jerusalem. We are not told why but now in Acts 15:38 we learn that Paul was not happy about that defection. He is in fact so displeased that he refuses to take John Mark with him on this new trip. Barnabas doesn’t agree with that choice, wanting to give John Mark another chance. The two leaders disagree so sharply that they are unable to continue working together. They part company and head off into different directions.

Historically, John Mark does acquit himself rather well. He is in fact the author of the Gospel of Mark. He also spends his life working in the mission field and is of great assistance to not only Barnabas but also to Paul himself later in the story. His mistake does not define him and God uses him mightily. What our list above displays is that God is not stymied by our failures. He in fact can take them and make something of them if we will let Him. And while an argument between two of God’s people is not a good thing, this time it did serve to double the reach of these two powerful missionaries. This disagreement serves to send them in opposite directions to effectively further the Kingdom of God.

Our mistakes and missteps are not deal breakers for God. There will never be a situation so huge or devastating that God cannot pick up the pieces and make something good out of your life. Never. His grace will always come to the rescue and if you give Him a chance He will bring restoration out of your mess.
I want to add a video of a song by Crowder called "Come as You Are". It's pretty cool and I think it might be pertinent for some as they ponder these ideas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgioXrnEME

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