And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Acts 20:22–25 (RSV)
St. Paul is saying farewell to the churches he has helped found and nurture. His last journey to Jerusalem is before him. He has labored for years to spread the Gospel. As people found joy and peace in the Word of God, resistance continued to grow.
St. Paul endured threats, abuse, beatings, and attacks on behalf of the Word. The Gospel's opponents did not stop at St. Paul; they went after the believers who had come to Christ through his preaching.
A crisis point had come, and St. Paul was going to Jerusalem to face those who wanted the Church destroyed. He was going in an attempt to reconcile the Temple with the Church. Regardless of what lay before him, St. Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem.
He had been the Church's bitterest foe. His encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus changed him. St. Paul knew he was facing suffering for Christ. He was willing to bear all things, even death, for Jesus and His Church.
We belong to Christ, as does St. Paul. We are charged with preaching and living the Gospel. We may face challenges to the Gospel. Could we do as he did? The possibility of his life being forfeit for his witness to our Lord was a daily reality. Will we bear our cross as did St. Paul?
St. Paul's love for his Lord, the Church, and the Gospel was worth his life, for in Christ, he had found his life.