We don’t get to choose our own name or nicknames, for that matter, but our names (and nicknames) and what they mean are a big deal. Probably the best nickname I ever had was attached to me in high school. People called me “Lucifer.” I, a pastor’s kid, was known by another name for the devil, Lucifer. Not that I was a devil/demon, not that anyone knew anyway, but I earned that nickname by being able to run like the devil, so it was said. Ah those were the days, not anymore. Track was my sport, especially the 400 and 800 meter races. My track t-shirt even had the name Lucifer on the back. Fox Valley Lutheran on the front, Lucifer on back.
The book of Acts mentions a man known more by his nickname than by his real name. His real name is Joseph, he’s a Levite from the island of Cyprus. Joseph is a fine name, it means, “One who adds.” But he was known as Barnabas, a nickname given to him by the apostles, it means, “son of encouragement.” Every time we meet him in the book of Acts, that’s exactly what he’s doing: encouraging.
But Barnabas intervened & encouraged. He brought Saul to the apostles and vouched for him, “It’s true, brothers, Saul has changed. Let me tell you about it. Better yet, let me introduce him to you. “He described to them how Saul had seen the Lord…and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” (9:27b)
While in Antioch, Barnabas got to thinking, “This would be a great place for Saul, soon to be known as Paul, to come and preach. So he tracked Paul down in his hometown of Tarsus, brought him back to Antioch and for a whole year they preached and taught and encouraged. And at Antioch is where followers of Jesus were first called Christians. And the rest is history: three missionary journeys led by Paul, half of the New Testament books penned by Paul, the Gospel brought to Europe and beyond.
There’s more. Suffice it to say, every time Barnabas is mentioned in the book of Acts he is living out his nickname, encouraging people. Who’s your Barnabas? To whom can you be a Barnabas?
Encouragement is one of our greatest privileges and responsibilities as God’s people. “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Th 5:11)“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13)
This is something every one of us can do. The Greek word for encourage is “parakaleo,” which means “to call alongside/counsel/comfort.” It’s a picture of calling out to someone, going up to them, putting an arm around the shoulder and walking alongside. Encouraging can be done in so many ways. Phone call, text message, email, letter, kind word, kind action, time spent with others that tells them, “You matter to me. You are important to me” It’s exactly what Jesus has done and continues to do for us.
What’s in a name? In the case of Joseph the Levite from Cyprus, better known to us as Barnabas, plenty. Even if this nickname were shortened to another nickname – Barney – that doesn’t ruin the picture or change the reality. Just remember that the purple dinosaur isn’t real, but Barnabas was. And his gift of encouragement lives on in God’s people. May you see yourself as a Barnabas, as an encourager. By God’s grace, may you be a Barnabas.
Peace in Jesus,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
The book of Acts mentions a man known more by his nickname than by his real name. His real name is Joseph, he’s a Levite from the island of Cyprus. Joseph is a fine name, it means, “One who adds.” But he was known as Barnabas, a nickname given to him by the apostles, it means, “son of encouragement.” Every time we meet him in the book of Acts, that’s exactly what he’s doing: encouraging.
- Acts 4 – Barnabas sold some property, gave the money to the apostles. Not for a tax deduction. Not to have his name put on a bronze plaque honoring him as a generous donor. He did it out of love, to help provide for the poor. Already then the apostles called him Barnabas, because he was one encouraging guy.
- Acts 9 – a critical moment in history of the Christian church. A man named Saul was making the rounds in Jerusalem. Saul had been a Christian killer, responsible for placing many Christians in prison and worse. But now he claimed to be a believer. Pretty hard for the Jerusalem Christians to swallow. Not difficult to understand their misgivings. This would be like whoever’s leading Iran at the moment to pop up in America and say, “I’ve changed. I love democracy/capitalism/ Western culture. Death to Islam. Let me speak to Congress/President.” Not happening.
But Barnabas intervened & encouraged. He brought Saul to the apostles and vouched for him, “It’s true, brothers, Saul has changed. Let me tell you about it. Better yet, let me introduce him to you. “He described to them how Saul had seen the Lord…and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” (9:27b)
- In Acts 11, we find Barnabas doing the encouraging thing again, and with remarkable impact. The mother church in Jerusalem had heard about what was going on to the north in the young mission church in Antioch, some 500 miles away. This growing congregation was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Someone needed to go check this out, make sure things were OK, to encourage the Christians there. They knew just whom to send: “They sent Barnabas to go on to Antioch. When he arrived and saw God’s grace, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts.” (vv. 22b,23)
While in Antioch, Barnabas got to thinking, “This would be a great place for Saul, soon to be known as Paul, to come and preach. So he tracked Paul down in his hometown of Tarsus, brought him back to Antioch and for a whole year they preached and taught and encouraged. And at Antioch is where followers of Jesus were first called Christians. And the rest is history: three missionary journeys led by Paul, half of the New Testament books penned by Paul, the Gospel brought to Europe and beyond.
There’s more. Suffice it to say, every time Barnabas is mentioned in the book of Acts he is living out his nickname, encouraging people. Who’s your Barnabas? To whom can you be a Barnabas?
Encouragement is one of our greatest privileges and responsibilities as God’s people. “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Th 5:11)“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13)
This is something every one of us can do. The Greek word for encourage is “parakaleo,” which means “to call alongside/counsel/comfort.” It’s a picture of calling out to someone, going up to them, putting an arm around the shoulder and walking alongside. Encouraging can be done in so many ways. Phone call, text message, email, letter, kind word, kind action, time spent with others that tells them, “You matter to me. You are important to me” It’s exactly what Jesus has done and continues to do for us.
What’s in a name? In the case of Joseph the Levite from Cyprus, better known to us as Barnabas, plenty. Even if this nickname were shortened to another nickname – Barney – that doesn’t ruin the picture or change the reality. Just remember that the purple dinosaur isn’t real, but Barnabas was. And his gift of encouragement lives on in God’s people. May you see yourself as a Barnabas, as an encourager. By God’s grace, may you be a Barnabas.
Peace in Jesus,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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