Acts 13:9  But Saul — also called Paul — filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas (CSB)

Acts 13:13  Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem. (CSB)

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Everything changes. Students often become teachers. Children frequently come to the place in life where they parent their parents. Leaders are replaced by those they mentor. Some leaders are comfortable letting go. Others overstay their welcome. 

A well-known Big Dog Leader who has worked hard to look younger and to stay fit and healthy recently retired. It doesn’t appear he wanted to, but he has lately said the things he used to say more carefully more bluntly. This does not sit well with insiders or outsiders. That’s one way to know it’s time to go.

From this distance, it’s hard to say with great precision what happened among the Three Amigos – Barnabas, Saul/Paul, and John Mark – that shifted their roles. Luke doesn’t explain. He simply records the shifts. 

Saul’s name gets changed to Paul. He went from sharing a name with the Tall King of Israel to taking on a name meaning “little one.” 

Paul became the team leader. He set the direction. Barnabas, the mentor, appears fine with this turn of events as if he planned it that way all along. John Mark? Not so much. He was uncomfortable continuing if his relative (Colossians 4:10) was not in charge. Or maybe he missed his mother, regular meals, a comfortable bed, and so on. Whatever the motive, he was gone. 

The original teammates set apart by the Holy Spirit for this work (Acts 13:2, 3) journeyed on together. Paul was the pioneer pushing forward. Barnabas was the mentor asking powerful questions and providing deep insight. 

Later, this dynamic duo goes their own way. Barnabas wanted to give John Mark another opportunity. Paul didn’t want a quitter on his team. Paul and Barnabas disagreed to such an extent that they parted company. (See Acts 15:36-41.) Barnabas and John Mark went in one direction, while Paul and Silas went in another. 

Leadership observations:

1. Barnabas mentored Paul until it was time for Paul to take the lead.
2. Barnabas mentored John Mark and prevented his early failure from becoming his legacy. 
3. Paul and John Mark made amends somewhere down that long and winding road. (See Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11.)
4. John Mark became a partner in the ministry for Paul.
5. Barnabas, whose name means Son of Encouragement, made possible through his mentorship the world evangelism efforts of Paul and his companions, the broad and fruitful ministry of John Mark, Paul’s letters, which form half of the New Testament, and Mark’s Gospel which includes the insights of Barnabas, Paul, and Peter. 

Which of these characters at what stage of their development most closely resembles your own? 
– Who is your mentor? 
– Who is your protege? 
– Where are you most productive and effective now? 
– What is your next great adventure? 
– Who will ask powerful questions?
– Who will ask powerful questions?
– Who will give wise counsel? 
– Who will go with you? 
– What will you accomplish?

Everything changes. The way things are is not the way they will always be. Some change is easier than others. Hard change can produce amazing results. Don’t burn bridges you may need to cross again. Don’t give up permanently on temporary problems. 

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I will plan for change.

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