We've been following Paul. He has his heart set on going to Jerusalem, even though many are telling him not to go there. He knows God is leading him. He knows the way will be hard. Those who do not believe in Jesus for their salvation will come and do the same things they did to Jesus. From here, it will be time to head for Rome. This battle between Jewish and Greek cultures will come to a tipping point over the nationality and person of Paul. But, deeper than that, a battle over who is King and Ruler is brewing. Is it Jesus? It is Caesar? Let us step into Paul's shoes and see what the road ahead looks like.
Our closest friends, our dearest neighbors, those in whom we confide and share a like-mindedness with truly want what is best for us. They don't want to see us hurt or going through tough times anymore than they'd want to see themselves or their own family dealing with this kind of pain. Yet, has his face and his heart set on what is ahead. What is ahead? Well, that is truly in the eye of the beholder. For some who support Paul, there is nothing but violence and bloodshed ahead. That's all they can see. For Paul, it is a matter of simply getting a chance to share the message about Jesus Christ with others. Regardless of the beating that may come, in spite of the cursing and punishment that might arise because of the words the Apostle will share, he will speak any way. It is all he is looking forward to and wants to do. Can we say the same? Would we bravely step forward and speak our minds about what Jesus has done and wants to do in our lives not caring about what others will think? Or, would we hunker down in our little holes and give in to fear and shame because we know others will not like what have to say about Jesus? What would Paul do?
Notice how Paul handles himself. Are all these rights and rituals necessary in our faith and following of Christ? Not truly, no they are not. Why does he do them? It is a harmless attempt to "fit in". Remember what he did with Timothy a few chapters back? Why did he have the young man circumcised? It was an attempt to keep some harsher Jews off his back and give them one less thing to complain about. These rituals of washing and cleansing are normal for many Jews. So, why not fit in? Try to give those in opposition one less thing to speak about. He follows these steps to the T and even makes a report about the next day so all will know that he and several of his followers have done the proper steps. If it helps in promoting the Gospel and it creates no harm and keeps harm from being done, then in Paul's eyes, this is an acceptable way. However, not all will see it that way.
What Paul did with the ritual cleansings would appease the minds of those who had the temperament to listen and to think clearly. By the time the Romans have stepped in to the situation near the end of this short section, we see a completely different crowd. It is a situation like the riot in Ephesus, two chapters back. Seven days of quiet and then the lid is ripped off the can of worms. Why does it have to be like this? How did it escalate so fast? How did we go from peace and quiet to all out nonsense at the drop of a hat? One day, Jesus was riding a donkey into Jerusalem. The people shouted in his favor. They wanted and needed a King. Less than a week later... we see the whole world turned on it's head and people shouting "Crucify Him!" Jesus said the world would do the same things to the his followers that had been done to him. In almost parallel fashion, Paul gets to experience what Jesus must have felt and understood. Why? We have read through this chapter just so Paul can get one chance to speak.
It's one of those cliffhangers. We have to wait until next week to hear exactly what Paul is saying to the crowds. The point of Chapter 21 is the preparation and the hardships we have to go through just to get that one opportunity to speak. Maybe its with your child or someone in your family. You'd like that one moment to speak to them. But, what do you have to go through to get to that place? Have you ever had a heavy heart for someone you work with an wanted to share something about Jesus with them? What do you need to go through with them and along side them before you actually get to that place where your words would make sense and the opportunity presents itself to share? The preparation is a journey in itself. Can we hang on and get to the place of sharing? It's one of those "What Would Jesus Do?" conundrums. We know what he would do. So lets do the same.
Blessings
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