Ever once in a while, someone comes into our life who is just “different”. Most people suck the life out of the air, a room and - sadly - each other. Our world is raft with negativity, despair and bad news reported from day to day on televisions, the internet and in the daily newspapers. People are losing their jobs, the economy seems to be in continued turmoil, our country finds itself entering another conflict, gas prices are on the rise and - of course - people inevitably go through the things that people go through on their own that makes their own lives sometimes difficult. It’s different for every person or family: financial problems, marriage problems, disobedient or rebellious children, failing health or the death of loved ones. There’s certainly plenty to be discouraged about.
But have you ever had someone who walked up to you, placed his arm on your shoulder and breathed the breath of life into you? Someone whose very demeanor, disposition and face exuded a confidence in the Lord and it was so powerful that it just seemed to transfer over to you and fill you up to be around them?
Barnabas - before that Joseph - was such a man. I have heard Barnabas preached about from time to time, but the truth is that the Bible says precious little about this dear man. There’s no doubt that he would have had it that way, too, for it is clear that he wasn’t a man caught up in personal gain, glory or vanity. In fact, I'm going through a book presently called "Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture" by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth. Of 52 men profiled in that devotional (one per week), somehow, Barnabas was "passed over". His fingerprints on the early church, however, is indelible.
I want to share with you some principles about this man that I hope will be an encouragement to you in your walk with the Lord Jesus.
1.) He surrendered all to Christ
Isn’t that always the starting point? Perhaps the old hymn says it best - “Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, Oh lamb of God, I come, I come..” Just as he was, he heard the gospel, believed, turned to Christ (which implies that he turned AWAY from self) and - according to Acts 4:36, “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.” It puts me in mind of the response of Peter, James and John written of in Dr. Luke’s gospel: “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:11) I love that, don’t you? No hesitation. No consultation with family. No consideration of the consequences. They heard. They believed. And immediately - forthwith - they left everything to their earnings. Barnabas did likewise - he brought the money, “and laid it at their feet.” What a wonderful picture of repentance and humility.
2.) He defended the Gospel
In case, at some future time you happen to be conversing with a learned person (unlike myself), you should be familiar with the term “apologetics”, which is simply a theological expression used to express a defense or explanation of the Gospel, which the Bible calls all believers to do. The Bible tells us in
Acts 9:26-31 says “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. v.27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. v.28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. v.29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. v.30 Which when the brethren knew they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. v.31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
Barnabas was certainly not well acquainted with Paul at that time. And one has to believe that his defense of Paul came at great personal risk. It is clearly obvious why there was concern expressed by so many about Paul’s return to Jerusalem. After all, this is the man who had persecuted and perhaps killed Christians himself and formerly taken joy in doing so. He attended the stoning of Stephen and the Bible tells us that he held the cloak of one of the murderers. But Barnabas saw something in Paul. He believed in Paul’s conversion testimony. Did Barnabas know that Paul would go on to write the bulk of the New Testament? No. Did he know that Paul’s ministry would be (virtually) the bedrock of the early church? No. But he came along side Paul as an encourager would, not fixating his eyes upon this murderer’s past - but as Jesus would - seeing what was possible in his future.
3.) He exhorted - which is to say, he encouraged. Acts vv 22-26 tells us:
“Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch, v.23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. v.24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. v.25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: v.26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
The church at Jerusalem knew exactly the man for the job. They sent Barnabas. Look at all that is contained in this passage. He saw the grace of God - and was glad. He exhorted - or being translated “encouraged” them all. Take note: he encouraged them all. The Bible says in Acts 10:34 that “God is no respecter of persons”. Barnabas subscribed to that same philosophy. I can see him entering that city and those neighborhoods and embracing each with the same sincerity, smile and warmth of spirit: from the mayor and chief tax collectors to the poorest, the prostitutes and the lepers. Each soul is valued in God’s eyes because all are bought with the same high price: the blood of Christ. He encouraged them to “cleave unto the Lord.” And then the Bible says he was a good man. I love that - “full of the Holy Ghost and faith”. And then you have the outcome: “much people was added unto the Lord”.
Sounds to me a little bit like a recipe for winning people to Christ. Go to them. Love upon them. Tell them of the love of Jesus. Encourage them to cleave unto the Lord. His method of operation was not complex; it was just sincere and his gifting God-given.
Well, there’s so much more that could be said of this good man.
But, oh, if I could be just a little bit like Barnabas. If it could be said by a few of me, “man, I love to be around him.. he just breathes life into me.. he really seems interested in ME and my life!” That was Barnabas. I’m striving today to be a little bit more like this good man who walked beside, who encouraged, exhorted and - as Isaiah 50:4 says - “that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.”
God bless you.
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