Acts 15: 36-40 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in every town where we preached the word of the Lord, and let us find out how they are getting along.” Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul did not think it was right to take him, because he had not stayed with them to the end of their mission, but had turned back and left them in Pamphylia. There was a sharp argument, and they separated: Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the care of the Lord's grace.
I suspect the conversation went something like this: “Barnabas, I refuse to give Mark another chance. When the going got rough he ran home to his mother” Paul said.
Barnabas replied, “But he was young and not aware of all the dangers. He has matured now and I think he would help us a lot on the second journey.”
Paul noted, “I do not want to take the chance that when we need him the most, he probably will run out on us again. My answer is a definite, NO.”
Barnabas pleaded, “But Paul, we wouldn’t even be here today if not for second chances. Moses was a murderer and God gave him a second chance. Jonah was a bigot and God used him. David was a liar, murderer, adulterer, and had a problem with anger. They all got second chances. Remember what He did with them? And, look at you. When you were out getting Christians killed and had the conversion on the road to Damascus, I was the one that said you should be given a second chance because you had changed.”
“Mark may be related to you, but I can not trust him when the going gets rough” Paul's closing remark.
There are several theories how this “sharp” argument may have taken place, but I believe there is a parallel to our lives today. Personally, I have a hard time understanding why Paul did not allow John Mark to come along with him and Barnabas. Yet in hindsight, it was the best thing to happen for the cause of Christ as the message spread twice as fast.
But that is not the end of the story. Paul speaks of Barnabas in the book of Colossians with affection and desires that Mark should come to him, having found him valuable in the ministry.
Paul realized he had made a mistake and later reconciles with Mark while in prison.
What about us? When we have a disagreement with someone, don’t we often reject the person and never speak to them again? Don’t we sometimes build up resentment toward them and everything they stand for in life?
Even when there is a sharp disagreement, we do not have to speak harshly about the other person. It’s okay to agree to disagree and end the conversation. The trouble is, I have seen people justify their verbal abuse of another person by using this very scripture.
Maybe we need to examine ourselves and see who in our lives needs to be given a second chance, because the Bible shows us that God is the God of second chances. Giving someone a second chance begins with our own attitude of us and our relationship with the Lord.
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