Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13)
Lord, Paul, like you, was willing to go to Jerusalem to suffer. Perhaps he considered it part of sharing in your sufferings.
He certainly expressed that desire before.
My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:10-12)
I want to know you too, Lord. But am I willing to suffer as you did? To go to my Jerusalem?
I don’t know, to be honest. For that, I need more strength than I have. More resolve. And definitely more of your grace. But you said, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
I don’t know what my Jerusalem is. But if you’re with me, I want to follow. Because I want to know you.
In your love, you’ve taken hold of me. So I want to be like you, the one who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
