The Parable of Paul and Barnabas

Christian students of the bible understand the concept of “Old Testament types” - people and events in scripture that provide a prophetic picture of Christ or His Church.

For instance, the Passover lambs in Exodus were a type of Christ. God promised when He saw their blood placed on the doorframe of a home, He would pass over that house and not strike down the firstborn within it. Innocent animals were killed to save people from the wrath of God in that day. Ultimately, this was a picture of the true event: Christ, the Lamb of God, dying for our sins. God not only passes over the sins of any who apply the blood of Christ to their own life but forgives them outright.

And that is another truth about types: Their Antitype is greater than they are. For sacrificial lambs in the Old Testament could only “cover” sins, but Jesus Christ was declared to be the Lamb of God Who doesn’t merely cover our sins but takes them away.

But I submit the tutor of types was not done away with when the New Testament dawned. There are fresh types to the right of Malachi from which we can glean. Further, perhaps you and I and our Christian fellowships remain types of Christ to this day from which others may glean.

I offer the following example of a New Testament type that is highly relevant today.

Barnabas was a good man who accepted Saul of Tarsus when virtually no one else would. He was not dissuaded by the scandal associated with Saul, instead he saw he was God’s chosen vessel. Though it could’ve been dangerous to his own standing, Barnabas brought Saul and introduced him to his friends and even superiors. He cast him in such a light as to overcome their initial reluctance, even loathing, to also receive Saul.

Later, when a daunting task was laid on Barnabas to go and help brand new believers, he knew better than to try to do it on his own. So, he called on Saul and asked him to come and help him. Together, they were very fruitful and effective.

And this arrangement worked for quite some time: Barnabas leading the way, with Saul at his side. But as the scandal of Saul dissipated, he became better known as he truly was, as Paul. Soon it was Paul who took his rightful place in the lead, with Barnabas at his side. Of course, this was an even more fruitful arrangement.

But to befriend Paul is to open oneself up to trouble, for his ways were not always Barnabas’ nor were his thoughts Barnabas’ thoughts. The day came when Barnabas took offense at Paul. Paul insisted Barnabas needed to part with something dear to him that was not welcome to Paul, at least not at that time.

But this was a hard saying for Barnabas and he could not abide it. He held onto what was asked of him, along with a newfound offense and turned away, walking out of scripture. But Paul pressed on with others. It was they who saw and heard the further great things done and said by him.

I say this is a type of our walk with Jesus Christ. Isn’t He often a scandal to the unsaved? Aren’t many of them offended by Him and scoff at Him? Yet how happy we are to introduce them to Christ and have them change their minds about Him!

And, early in our walk, we tend to still live our lives, thankful He is with us and that He answers us when we call on Him to help us. But doesn’t it dawn on us that He isn’t merely Savior, but also Lord? Don’t we begin to understand He hasn’t saved us merely to be our divine Wingman, following us where we lead but that He is looking for us to follow Him and go where He would lead.

Yes, He will take center stage if we yield it to Him. He will do great exploits through us if we’ll be careful to give Him the glory.

But in this life, we are never truly free of the danger of being offended by what Christ will come for in our lives. Even His dearest friends can have their souls put through the wringer by Him. In fact, He is sure to do this because they are His dear friends, as it is written, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, THEREFORE when He heard Lazarus was ill, He waited two days longer” (Jn 11:5-6).

It wasn’t only prior to Pentecost that Peter came into sharp dispute with the Lord. Just as he rebuked Jesus when He told him that He was about to suffer and die, Peter also retorted “Not so, Lord” when he was told as an anointed Apostle, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat” unclean food.

Abraham’s sharpest test in God came when he was a mature man of faith who had walked closely with the Lord for many years. But it would have all been for nothing, if he had said killing Isaac was too hard a thing and had walked away.

In addition to all else that is miraculous about our life with Christ, there is this miracle that is both common and constant for each Christian: We walk on our knees.

I said I considered my New Testament type to be highly relevant today. So far, I have shown that it has always been relevant for these last 2000 years. But what do we see today in the Body of Christ? A large cohort of Christians who have turned back or, at least, aside. Tens of thousands, probably more, are “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” despite being warned beforehand in scripture against that very thing.

Scripture does not say Barnabas abandoned the faith. Yet by walking away, he missed the Spirit giving the dream to reach Macedonia (Act 16:4), he wasn’t there for the miracle in the Philippian jail (Act 16:24-34). He missed it when “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul” (Act 19:11) that “in this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power” (Act 19:20).

Let us guard our hearts against taking offense at Christ, at His demands on our life and His challenges to our soul. But let us also pray for those who have been offended, that they will come back. They need to be in fellowship; we need them in our fellowship. Perhaps the Lord will grant that we could now be like Barnabas to them. Perhaps we can reintroduce Christ to those who have lately been offended and have walked away from fellowship with His body.

Yes, blessed are the peacemakers, including those who lead those estranged from God to be once more at peace with Him. Be in us, Lord, and cause us to will and to do this! Amen.