Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you…
Summary: As we read the words of the Bible, it is easy to jump to conclusions. Jesus’ disciples did the same thing. Yet, if we step back from the words it becomes easier to see the meaning.
Paul is convinced that it is necessary for him to remain “in the body.” In the passage for our meditation, he affirms this when he tells the Philippians, “I know that I will remain.”
Paul is smart. He understands that the timing of his “departure” is not his to choose (Matthew 25:13, Luke 12:13-21). When he says, “I know that I will remain,” he is most likely relaying his conviction that God wants him to remain.
In the remaining years of his life, Paul expects to “continue with all of you.”
Does this mean that he expects to be released from prison? Does he then expect to travel to Philippi?
This situation brings to mind the closing words of John’s Gospel account. John shares his memory of one of the last times he saw Jesus after the resurrection.
In the story, John and Peter are fishing on the Sea of Galilee with some of the other disciples. In those days, they would fish all night. When dawn came, they had caught nothing. Rowing back to shore, they saw a man on the beach who called out, asking about their catch. When they confessed they had caught nothing, the man told them to drop their net “on the right side of the boat” (John 21: 1-14). When the net swelled with more fish than they could lift into the boat, they knew it was Jesus who had called to them.
Later, after getting to the shore with their boat and their fish, they all gathered around Jesus and sat down with him for some breakfast. When they are done, Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Follow me” (John 21:15-19). It is at this point that Peter looks and sees John following them. He asks Jesus, “What about him?” (John 21:20-23).
Jesus’ answer was a bit like Paul’s. He said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” John then explains:
“Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’” (John 21:23)
When Paul says, “I know that I will remain,” he is not committing to a date. Instead, he is committing to do God’s will. He is tired. He is ready to go home and be with Jesus. But the Lord wants him to stay, and so that is what he will do.
Application: Like Paul, we do well if we commit to do the Lord’s will.
Food for Thought: Considering Paul is in prison, what does it mean for him to commit to “remain?”
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