LETS GET REAAADDYYYY TO RUUUUUMMMMBBBLLLLEEEEEEEE! YO YO YO, BARNABAS, SON! LET DAT BAMMA PAUL KNOW HOW YOU FEELIN SON!!! RRRROOOOOUUUUUNNNNNDDDDDD 1!!!!! BOOO YOWZ!
---------Acts Chronicles Chapter 15 (Pt1): Old Earth: Barnabas' Impassioned Defense of John Mark to Paul
John Mark must accompany us not
because of some showy or ostentatious display
of kinship
for the sake of the greater missionary good
before all the brethren
of the gospel nor for strictly for his utilitarian contributions
an extra income, his navigational prowess on the seas
his gregariousness among the gentiles
his sleight of hand in the town square when bartering
nor his growth in the faith that will indubitably boost morale as proof
of God’s sentimental deference to us and meticulousness
in matters of our encouragement, and proof of our fruit borne
preaching
he must come because of Elijah on Mount Carmel
beset by 450 prophets of Baal wondering if the God in Israel
is titular only, sneering
at the suggestion that one man with an altar saturated
many, many
many times over with buckets of water could call down
fire down from heaven
and burn a contradiction
a sheer and unlikely paradox fire on water, raging
because of Moses incensed at the bottom of Mount Sinai and the
ten commandments on stone tablets
which he shattered at its base running full of determination
toward a giant golden calf and fools dancing
that conjured up his revulsion of slavery in Egypt
madness in his eyes possessed
with conviction that the reprobate and iniquitous
henceforth
would have to drink their sins to the full – no matter
the bitterness or poison suffered
before they enjoyed them and jeopardized the promised land
God gave them
Paul....
John Mark is the watered down sacrifice
that Elijah burned despite the lunacy that was perceived by all
because God’s fire of love burns for all
even those whom exhaust all energy trying to spurn it
and his abandonment of us in Pamphylia, just like all men's sin
before the cross of Christ
is the shattered stone tablets that Moses left behind
because a greater evil was at hand -
the demise of our faith (analogous to today) before it could be fully
proclaimed and salvation realized; think to yourself:
John Mark was you killing Jews unjustly
and me, unsympathetic to the message of Peter before you came
he is not what he once was. He must come
please
because our putting this in the past is a sign to the world
that God does the impossible miraculously
ushering in a new heaven and a new earth
shattering the old with the paradigm:
justice dies before mercy does
-----Acts 15:30-41
So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches
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