It's agony, my dear friends

Have you ever felt grief over losing someone who is close to you? Have you ever felt torture for finding out that someone you love is about to die? Was the person sick? Was it unexpected? Whatever the case, it's agony my dear friends that you feel; or continue to feel.

But as you might expect, this feeling is ancient, for so is mankind. The feelings that are so closely associated with grief are perfectly represented in Acts 20. PAul is finishing his third missionary journey, and he is lead by the Spirit to return to Jerusalem. He does not expect the Jews to take him in as a friend, and neither do any of the brethren in Asia expect anything like that either.

Paul calls for the leaders in Ephesus. He gives a recap of his ministry, but he also makes a point that they will never see him again. This statement is obviously implies that he expects to die at the hand of the Jews in Jerusalem.

Now put yourself in the shoes of the Ephesian elders. The reason that you know Christ is because Paul evangelized to you. He was a spiritual father of yours. You are receiving news that your father is willingly martyring himself. He will die. You will never see him again in this world. He then commands you what to do as a shepherd when he is gone. How do you handle that?

So that is my question. How do you handle that?