The Power of Encouragement
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. -Acts 4:36-37
In the verses above, we are introduced to a man named Barnabas, whose name means “son of consolation.” It’s sometimes translated as “son of exhortation,” or “son of encouragement,” but either way, we get a good picture of Barnabas’ character by the name that the apostles gave him.
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A helping hand when someone needs it most.
An example of the power of encouragement
Barnabas certainly lived up to his name in a variety of ways. One instance that is somewhat hidden and usually overlooked in Scripture is of the story of John Mark. Barnabas and Paul took this man with them on some of their earlier missionary journeys, but after a short time, for whatever reason, John Mark eventually left Barnabas and Paul and went back to Jerusalem. “Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem“ (Acts 13:13). It’s my belief that John (also sometimes called by his last name: Mark) left and went back out of discouragement.
Later in their missionary journeys, Barnabas and Paul were going out again, and Barnabas wanted to give John Mark another chance. “And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work” (Acts 15:37-38). There was such a disagreement that Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways, with Barnabas willing to show much patience and encouragement to John Mark.
A happy ending
It would appear that Barnabas was able to encourage this brother back into strength and loyalty to Jesus Christ. For it is this “John Mark” that we get the very gospel of Mark. This book of the Bible may very well have never been written if it were not for the encouraging power of Barnabas.
Also, we see in retrospect that God had many important plans and purposes for John Mark: plans and purposes that may very well would have never been realized had he not been given a helping hand by another Christian brother in his time of need.
And one last evidence of the effectiveness of Barnabas’ ministry to John Mark can be seen in a later writing from Paul to Timothy. Paul mentions that many believers have forsaken him, but yet Mark has proven to be one of the most loyal and profitable laborers for Christ. Quite a reversal of opinion.
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. -2 Timothy 4:10-11
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