Barnabas (son of encouragement) seems to have been both a catalyst of transformation and a risk-taker for Jesus. He is first mentioned at the end of Acts 4 as the example Luke uses when describing how the early Church shared everything in common. Barnabas sold a field he owned and offered it to God. This gift (among others) was apparently what was used to care for the poor among the Church so that no one had need. In this, Barnabas demonstrated Christ-following kenosis (self-emptying) that dramatically impacted the lives of others around him.
We next connect with Barnabas in Acts 9 as the one follower of Jesus who was willing to take a risk on Saul (Paul). Having experienced his radical conversion, Paul had tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem after escaping from Damascus where Jews were conspiring to kill him. The disciples didn't trust Paul and were afraid to associate with him because of his pre-conversion persecution of the Church. Barnabas took the chance and reached out to Paul. He introduced Paul to the apostles and stood up for him and his witness. Because of Barnabas' trust in Paul, he was accepted by the others.
As the Gospel began to spread among the Greeks, it was Barnabas that the apostles sent to check out what was going on in Antioch (Acts 11). He confirmed that God was in their work and joined them in their witness. Luke described Barnabas this way regarding this: "He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master" (Acts 11:24, MSG). Then, Barnabas went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch. When famine hit Jerusalem, it was the Antioch believers who sent financial aid back to the Jerusalem believers, and it was Barnabas and Paul chosen to take the gift.
After returning from Jerusalem back to Antioch, the Holy Spirit told the Antioch believers to set apart Barnabas and Paul as missionaries. They sent them out and God used them in powerful ways throughout the world.
It is Paul who wrote much of the New Testament, but Barnabas seems to have been the risk-taker in the early Church. He served as a catalyst in the early Church through his self-emptying generosity and his willingness to stand beside Paul. What would be different in the book of Acts if it were not for Barnabas' kenotic leadership? I desire to demonstrate this same type of leadership in my home and in connection with other Jesus followers. Help me Holy Spirit!
No comments:
Post a Comment