God's plan and conflict

I've been studying the Gospels and the life of Jesus in preparation for teaching a course on the Life and Teachings of Jesus. Part of the background of Mark dates back to Paul and Barnabas. For those of you who are not familiar with the connection, it goes like this.

• Mark was not an apostle of Jesus, but may have been around during Jesus' ministry.

• Mark's cousin Barnabas was the one who first vouched for Paul and introduced him to the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-27). Barnabas later joined Paul and they ministered together in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Paul and Barnabas apparently became very close, and God called them to go on a major missions trip together (Acts 13:2). This trip is usually known as Paul's first missionary journey.

• Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on this journey, but left them early in the trip, presumably under a bit of a cloud (Acts 13:13).

• Later, Barnabas and Paul decided to embark on another missions trip. Barnabas insisted that they take Mark, but Paul refused. After a sharp disagreement, they chose to work separately, Barnabas taking Mark and Paul taking Silas (Acts 14:37-41).
• Mark later travelled with Peter (1 Peer 5:13).

• Clement of Alexandria (an early church historian) tells us that Mark took notes on Peter's preaching. While in Rome, the people who heard Peter asked Mark to put his notes on Peter's preaching together into a single document. Mark did so, called it a "gospel," and so we have the Gospel of Mark.

A couple of things are notable in this tale. First, there's no indication that Paul and Barnabas' conflict was personal or vindictive. Rather, they faced a clear, strong disagreement on procedure and chose to work separately. There is no indication that either "side" attacked or undermined the other. In fact, Paul later asked for Mark to come to him, giving him a high commendation (2 Tim 4:11).

Second, this division between Paul and Barnabas, handled properly as it was, may have indirectly led to the writing of the Gospel of Mark. Had Mark stayed with Paul, would he have had the opportunity to travel with Peter and so produce the Gospel of Mark? Yes, God could have worked it out differently, but the point remains: even conflict, when handled in the right way, can further God's plan and help spread the Gospel.

Let me repeat that with proper emphasis: even conflict, when handled in the right way, can further God's plan and help spread the Gospel.

There is always a way to glorify God - even in conflict.