A great role model
8th June 2023
This is the reading for the Feast Day of St Barnabas:
Some of the believers who were scattered by the persecution which took place when Stephen was killed went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to Jews only. But other believers, who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and proclaimed the message to Gentiles also, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
The news about this reached the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he took him to Antioch, and for a whole year the two met with the people of the church and taught a large group. It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians
Acts 11.19-26
This reading comes from the book of Acts – the story of the beginnings of the church. This is a really significant time in that story. One of the early leaders in the church, Stephen, has been killed in the persecution organised by some Jewish opponents. Many of the early Christians have fled Jerusalem, perhaps going back to their homes all around the eastern end of the Mediterranean – Phoenicia in Africa, Antioch in what is now Turkey, and the island of Cyprus.
Paul was there, holding the coats when Stephen was stoned to death, but since then he has been transformed by having a vision of Jesus on the way to Damascus, and he is now a follower of Jesus, and he’s gone back to his home town, Tarsus, in Turkey, to think and pray. Meanwhile Peter, the leader of the disciples, has discovered that the offer of new life in Jesus is not just for the Jews – he has seen the Holy Spirit filling the non-Jewish believers called Gentiles.
Now the same thing happens in Antioch. The message about Jesus is shared first with the Jews, but then believers from Cyprus and Libya begin to speak to Gentiles there too, and many become believers. And it is here that they are first given a name. Before this they described themselves as those who followed ‘The Way – but now they are called Christians – followers of Jesus Christ. The church is growing, and spreading among all sorts of people, and finding its identity.
In the middle of all of this we meet Barnabas. I love Barnabas – I wanted to call one of our children Barnabas but I was overruled! In Hebrew, ‘Bar’ in a name means ‘son of – so Barabbas was the son of Abbas. Barnabas means ‘son of encouragement’ – what a great name.
I love the way that Barnabas is known not for his great preaching or for his wisdom, but for the person that he has. He was ‘a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Spirit’ And his positive and encouraging presence helped the new church in Antioch to grow.
Barnabas is also humble. He has heard of Saul – Paul – and he knows that he will be a great teacher. So he doesn’t keep all the glory for himself – he goes to find Paul and then together they patiently teach this large new group of believers.
Unlike St. Paul, Barnabas doesn’t leave any letters behind and he doesn’t have many churches named after him, although he does have a feast day – 11th June – last Sunday. And I think he is a great role model – a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Spirit – a humble man, and a great encourager.
I wonder who our role models have been – someone in our life or faith journey who has been like a Barnabas for us…
I wonder in ways God wants to use us, just through our being…
I wonder how we encourage others by what we say and do…
Loving God, we thank you for those people who shared their faith with us and encouraged us on our journey with you.…. May we build on all that they have given us and learn from their example.
Loving God, we thank you for calling us as the people that we are. Use us in the places where we are, with the gifts, and flaws, that we have – help us to live out your love in the world.
We think of those who may need our encouragement at this time… May we be your servants, reaching out with love to encourage others in their lives and on their journey with you.