Acts 21:12-14

“When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, "Let the will of the Lord be done."

Love can take many forms in this world, but there is no sweeter love than that which we receive from the Lord and - subsequently - that which we share with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. This is an amazing love. This is so amazing that the Lord himself says that we will be known as his disciples by how we love one another (John 13:35). This love is also to be shown first and foremost to our brothers and sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:10) as being those to whom we are, and will be bound for all eternity! 

This is an appropriate lens through which we can look at our passage today. We see a quarrel of love between Paul and the brothers. He is dearly loved and their desire is for him to stay with them and stay safe. Likewise, it was Paul’s love that drove him to rebuke them for their opposition. We remember a similar instance with Jesus and Peter, when Peter was rebuked by Christ for trying to prevent him from going to Jerusalem to suffer (Matthew 1621-23). So it is in this instance, a beloved man was going off to face suffering and it is the strongest of desires for those who love him, to prevent it. Their weeping for Paul broke his heart, and could have perhaps dissuaded him from doing as the Lord had commanded him. 

In this instance we see a man who is struggling with his affections for Christ and his affections for those brothers whom he loved. He had a very tender heart toward them and so he had a compassionate regard for his friends and their plees. But it is his very commitment to Christ that is causing his tears, and it is his love for his Lord that has required him to deny the request of his friends.

We must observe, that it is our obligation to show our love to our friends when they are called out to suffer for the Lord's sake by comforting them, rather than to grieve and sorrow them as Paul’s friends are doing here. 

We must be encouraged with this instance of brotherly compassion and love, but we must also be emboldened by Paul’s resolve to honor and obey his Lord. For he is also our Lord and he has called us to be fearless in the face of opposition to the Gospel. As Paul has said, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

Serve your Lord and suffer for the cause of Christ, but also love the brotherhood and encourage one another to love and serve Christ!