If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
Going to the Father means going through the Cross. It is hard to rejoice when we see our brothers and sisters bearing their crosses for the sake of the kingdom. Yet when we see this we should actually encourage them. They need to let the world know that they love the Father. We can rejoice, if not in the cross itself, at least in the opportunity given to the disciple to prove their love.
When we learn to mutually encourage one another our crosses will seem less severe. We will have greater power and freedom to serve the kingdom.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
Paul suffers intensely. But the disciples gather around him. They support him. Presumably they don't try to talk him out of entering the city once again. Instead, the encourage him. Upon reentering the city Paul's proclamation now has an even greater weight to it since he is back in spite of the stoning.
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
We need to receive the peace of Jesus, which the world cannot give. This peace changes the way we respond to suffering. It makes us able to witness to Jesus and compelling when we give testimony to him. In the world we do in fact have trouble. But in Jesus the world is overcome.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
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