Trust Restored.
Acts 13:13 and 2Ti 4:11 

​

There is an account in the New Testament that shows that even though there can be differences of opinion between Christian brethren, yet forgiveness and trust can be restored.

When a difference is not concerning doctrine but a personal dispute, that difference may cause separation. The story of the Apostle Paul and his fellow worker Barnabas, who had a dispute over the actions of John Mark, a young companion in the ministry of the gospel, gives us a biblical example of forgiveness and restoration.

Paul and Barnabas were experiencing success in ministering the Gospel in Cyprus, eventually they came to a place called Perga, an ancient Greek city in Anatolia, the capital of Pamphylia.
We read in the book of Acts:

Act 14:24  And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 
Act 14:25  And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 

We are not told in scripture what happened but it appeared that John Mark, had had enough. He packed up and returned to Jerusalem.
Whatever it was that caused John Mark to leave the ministry is not clear, but we are told in Acts:
Acts 13:13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 
However, we do know that the Apostle Paul was not very happy about it and considered that John Mark had deserted them.

John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas, (Colossians 4:10). Barnabas was Paul’s companion in the gospel.
It appears that Paul became sick at this time and Barnabas stayed with Paul and managed to get him inland, to a higher clime and a healthier environment.

Later Paul wrote to the Galatians who lived in the highlands north of Perga, He wrote:“You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. … For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me,” (Galatians 4:13-15).
 

Later we read, when a second campaign was planned, Barnabas proposed taking Mark as a helper, but Paul resisted the idea. The New Testament record indicates that a “sharp contention” developed between them, Acts 15:39 “And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;”

They could not reach an agreement, and so they split up. As far as the scriptures indicates, these two remarkable men never saw one another again.

Act 15:36  And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 

Act 15:37  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 

Act 15:38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 

Act 15:39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 

Act 15:40  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 

Act 15:41  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. 
 

The word “contention” means a heated disagreement. In other words, they became so passionate about their position that their contention grew to the point that it became sharp contention. The word “sharp” is a word that is used to talk about piercing another. In other words, their contention became a weapon they used against each other.

There is nothing wrong with standing for truth, but fighting over personal preference often turns into contention.

It is sad when this kind of thing happens between brothers in Christ but we know that this does happen and in this case, two Christian brothers and fellow workers split over the difference.

How many times, have we seen this happen in our own local churches?, and how it affects relationships, that sometimes these relationships  never get healed.
Even if they do, they leave bad scars and bad feeling.
 

Whether it was because of family ties or that fact that Barnabas saw something in John Mark and judged that a second chance was the best course of action. Of this we do not know.

However, we do know what happened later, for God did use John Mark in a great way.

John Mark accompanied Barnabas to Cyprus and later God used John Mark in his writing of the Gospel of Mark.
 

2 Timothy 4:11 suggests that he must have gotten over whatever his problem was, when he left Paul and Barnabas in Perga, and that Paul got over his problem with John Mark, for we read in Paul’s letter to Timothy:

2Ti 4:11  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 

John Mark had become useful again to Paul.

We also read in Paul’s letter to the Colossians:

Col 4:10  Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;

Also in Paul’s letter to Philemon: Phm 1:24  Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. 

As said earlier, it is not revealed whether Paul and Barnabas ever came together to sort out their disagreement.
 

This dissension between Paul and Barnabas was not over a doctrinal issue. The fracture in the relationship involved a personal dispute based upon a judgement call.
To their credit, neither Paul nor Barnabas let the conflict distract them from their respective efforts of spreading the gospel.

I would like to believe that in one form or another, either by letter or through communication via others, that Paul and Barnabas made things right.

The reality is, that there will be differences of opinion and disagreements over aspects of Christian living that sometimes may separate, but the importance is maintaining our focus on the work of the gospel.
That is what Paul and Barnabas both did.

As a result, perhaps even more work was accomplished for the Lord because of the manner in which their disagreement was handled.

We will never know who was in the right. Considering the matter, we may have sided with Paul and agree that we could not work with someone who had deserted us and the work of the Lord.
Or we may feel that Barnabas was right in giving John Mark the second chance. Whether we agree with Paul or Barnabas, we do know that the separation of these two brothers in Christ was used by God for the extension of the kingdom.

What this account shows us, is that although we make judgements in our Christian walk that sometimes causes conflict with other brethren, there can be restoration through understanding that we all can make mistakes and fall foul to the trials of life.
However, we can experience reconciliation both to God and our brethren if we are willing to recognise our shortcomings and seek forgiveness.
 

A contrasting story is the one of Demas.

Demas was a fellow worker with the Apostle Paul, who also abandoned Paul and the work of the Lord.

Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:10 “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica”

The Apostle does not tell us exactly why Demas deserted, only that he loved this present evil world.
Maybe Demas feared the persecution and the dangers of being with Paul and fled to safety. Or maybe he was overtaken by immorality, being drawn into the lifestyle that he encountered in a city like Thessalonica.
Whatever it was, Paul saw it as embracing the world, loving this world more than loving Christ and His work.

There is no evidence in scripture that suggests that Demas ever came back.

This is in contrast to John Mark, who we know came good.

We read in 2 Tim 4:11, Paul writing: “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry”.

There had been a time earlier when the Apostle Paul spoke well of not only John Mark but also of Demas.

Also Philemon v23, 24  There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 

Phm 1:24  Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. 

Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.
 

In many ways, Demas and Mark serve as contrasts. One provides a word of warning, the other a word of hope.
We all would do well to heed both the warning and the message of hope.

Satan is a master at catching us at times of weakness.
The enemy is very real and more subtle. He threatens and seduces. And even those begin well, even leaders, like Demas, are susceptible to his deception.

In contrast to Demas, Mark gives us some hope. Maybe we too had a faulty start. Maybe we suffered from fear and buckled under the pressure. Maybe we have disappointed others and even deserted friends at a time of need.
God can raise us up. We can find our strength in Him.
We too, can put our doubts and fears behind us and trusting in God, through Christ, be restored and rejoin the work for Jesus.

There is an encouraging scripture in the book of Isaiah that says:

Isa 40:29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 

Isa 40:30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 

Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

​

​

​