A SHARP DISPUTE
About the year A.D. 46, Paul and Barnabus were walking inland from the sea port of Perga situated in modern day Turkey.1
“When we get to Antioch we’ll be needing supplies,” said Paul. “We’ll stay awhile and start talking to Jews gathered at the synagogue. John Mark can go ahead to get provisions and find a friendly house where we can stay. We’ll have run out of food by then. I’ll need new sandals too. How about you, Barnabus?”
“One’s okay, but the right heel has worn right through. I should be able to get it patched. You know Mark’s not with us though, don’t you?”
“What do you mean? Where is that boy? He was with us on the boat. I saw him in the market place back in Perga. He bought the food for our journey.”
“Don’t you remember, Paul?” said Barnabus. “Mark was saying he wouldn’t be going with us into Psidia. He has business in Jerusalem. He went back. He made sure we had everything we needed for our trip to Psidia and then left us.”
“No! I don’t remember him saying that at all! I would have told him ‘No! You can’t leave us!’ We need his help, Barnabus!”
“He did explain, Paul. I think you had a lot on your mind. First Stephen stoned to death2 then James beheaded.3 Back there on the island of Cyprus we didn’t know if we were next to be arrested or killed. You’ve been taking the brunt for us all.”
“This is most unreasonable of him, Barnabus. He is indispensable; takes care of all the details so we can get on with the work. What possible reason could he have for deserting us?”
“He said he knows the Spirit is calling him back to Jerusalem for ministry of some kind; he’ll probably stay with his mother there.”
“But he knows the Spirit has called us to Psidia. People there need to know the truth about Jesus.”
“Yes, Paul,” countered Barnabus. “The Spirit called you and me to go to Psidia. Mark is convinced that the same Spirit calls him to important work in Jerusalem right now.”
“Well, he should have at least discussed it with me,” said Paul.
“He did try, Paul. You were much concerned about what happened in Jerusalem and in Cyprus. You had a lot on your mind.”
“True, but I would never have let him go!”
“I think he knew that, Paul. He has a tender heart and, like me, does not like conflict. I guess it’s in our genes. He believes that the Lord has commissioned him to write down all that Peter remembers of his time with Jesus. It’s so important that all is recorded accurately. I think maybe he had some details to clarify with Peter.
“Hmmm…I still don’t know how we’ll manage without him, but it’s too late now. We are two days walk from the boat dock in Perga. We’ll just have to go on without him. It’s unforgiveable, though, leaving us like this when we need him.”
Not many years later Paul decided to go back to the people they had visited in Psidia and see how they were getting along. Barnabus wanted to take John Mark along with them.
Paul said, “Absolutely not! He’s unreliable. I’ll have no deserters on our team.”
Barnabus did not go with Paul either. They had a sharp dispute. Paul took Silas to Psidia and Barnabus went with John Mark to Cyprus.4
The sharp dispute caused a deep rift in the close companionship and working relationship between Paul and John Mark. They appeared to be irreconcilable.
Yet within a few years they were reconciled. They worked together again, each contributing their separate skills cooperatively as an effective team. Paul’s letter to the Colossians specifically sends greetings from Mark as a fellow worker5 and in another letter Paul asks Timothy to “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”6
A sharp dispute hurts. Emotional intensity can suffocate a great relationship. The pain can be deep and last a long time.
However, time apart brought healing to the companionship between Paul and John Mark. Time apart can do that for our broken relationships, too. Time apart may help us to see life from the other’s point of view. Time apart may enable us to accept our differences and recognize that the things that bind us together are stronger than the things that drive us apart.
Parting need not be forever with God’s powerful love at work in our lives.
by Andrea Kidd
1 Acts 13:13-14
2 Acts 7:54-60
3 Acts 12:2
4 Acts 15:36-40
5 Colossians 4:10
6 2 Timothy 4:11
