Tuesday 11 June 2024

Psalm 112

Background
What does it mean to encourage? I wonder if you have ever watched the film trilogy based on JRR Tolkien’s book The Lord of the Rings. The story is set in the mythical land of Middle Earth and tracks the journey of one of its most unlikely heroes, a hobbit named Frodo Baggins. Hobbits were carefree folk, no bigger than children and certainly not trained for battle. Frodo’s quest is to destroy the One Ring of power, the ring of the Dark Lord Sauron.

Aiding him on his quest are a fellowship of Middle Earth’s mightiest warriors. However, throughout the journey it’s not the likely heroes who possess physical strength, skill and agility who are accompanying Frodo to the end, but his best friend Sam, a hobbit himself. Sam realises that he cannot carry the ring for Frodo, but in a heart-warming part in the final film when Frodo is exhausted as they scale Mount Doom, Sam says “I may not be able to carry the ring for you, but I can carry you." With that, Sam picks Frodo up, and carries him up the mountainside.

I think Barnabas was a lot like Sam. Barnabas doesn’t take centre stage as the main character in the book of Acts, but is often in a supporting role. He brings encouragement to the disciples through his generosity in Acts 4; Barnabas is the one who encourages the believers to receive Saul after his conversion.

In today’s passage, Barnabas encourages the new believers in Antioch (vs 22-23) before seeking out Saul to bring him back into the story, a story in which Saul, as the apostle Paul, will become the character through whom the Holy Spirit takes the gospel to the Gentiles. Barnabas plays the ultimate supporting role, enabling others to do the work God has called them to.

However, this task of encouragement is not for the faint hearted. There are two key facets to encouragement in the manner of Barnabas, the first being forgiveness.

When Saul of Tarsus becomes a Christian, there’s some bridge-building to be done. Saul had been persecuting the believers and as a result they were sceptical about his conversion. Barnabas, being part of the believers suffering at Saul’s hand reaches out to Saul in the spirit of reconciliation. However, before reconciliation there needs to be forgiveness. Although we don’t see this happen in any formal manner, where Barnabas reaches out and says to Saul the words “I forgive you,” I think it’s fair to assume that a spirit of contrition was at work in Saul, and this was partnered by a spirit of forgiveness in Barnabas.

Forgiveness made the second element of encouragement possible, namely, reconciliation. Barnabas is the bridge between Saul and the wider community of believers, enabling the forgiven Saul to stand in the presence of those whom he has persecuted, and the believers to stand in their persecutor’s presence, but not with snarls of revenge, rather with the extended hand of fellowship.

However, the ministries of forgiveness and reconciliation can be difficult when fear and trauma have gripped a community. Barnabas may have had to face hostility as people shouted out their claims against Saul, but Barnabas stands in that void between the two parties and slowly brings them together. With this groundwork done, it means that in today’s reading, Barnabas can call upon Saul to be his teaching partner in Antioch, teaching the new believers the gospel of Jesus Christ, a gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation. Saul received it, now he can testify to it.

To Ponder:

• Where might God be calling you to be a modern-day Barnabas; someone who encourages by offering forgiveness and facilitating reconciliation? There may be situations you face today where you can be a positive voice in the face of an atmosphere or culture of negativity.
• How might you offer encouragement where God has placed you today?

Bible notes author: The Revd Martin Makin
Martin is a MHA Chaplain.