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Thought for the Month Jesus steadfastly set his face toward Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51) Jerusalem was the capital city of Israel and the site of the Temple and only true place of worship in the nation. Three times a year the Israelites were supposed to go to Jerusalem. It was also to be the place of Jesus’ death as a ransom for all. We trace Jesus from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem in the south; a long and winding road filled with people wanting to hear him speak and to be healed of their physical health problems. Along the way there was time to prepare his disciples but also himself and time to dwell on what was going to happen. Have we ever set out on a journey where we have no interest in arriving at the destination? Necessary to get to Jerusalem Early in Matthew, Peter makes a bold statement that his Lord Jesus was the Messiah. The acknowledgment has consequences for the whole Christian era so in Matthew 16:21 (NLT) "Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead." Even in his message to his disciples Jesus says. "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me" (v.24) implies his, Jesus’ own sacrifice. Indeed it even gave us the understanding that Jesus knew his death would be in Jerusalem. The Transfiguration Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses, and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Luke writing in retrospect adds Jerusalem as the place of Jesus’ death but clearly in the transfiguration it tells of Jesus’ death and possibly its imminency. (Luke 9:28‑31) Final departure from Galilee (Luke 9:51) He knew he would be leaving Galilee because a time would come "that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." We can try and enter into Jesus’ mindset. He knew the place and time of his death. He knew the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. The Old Testament had marked it out. Therefore steadfastness was necessary to hold his course like a sailing boat or a walk to work or school on a windy day. Determination is necessary and no real reward. Teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem Luke points out our Lord’s path to Jerusalem and one imagines a winding route taking the places with people he wished to see and talk to. There were dangers even in Galilee as it was reported that Herod wanted to kill him. (Luke 13:31) Nevertheless Jerusalem is the appointed place as verse 33 says "it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem" or as the NLT "for it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!" It is even intimated in verse 34 when Jesus despairing, yet caring says "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" Note the naming of Jerusalem although at times the use of the name Jerusalem is used to express Israel as a nation here on earth. Ten healed of leprosy As "Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria." (Luke 17:11 NLT) This time Jesus heals ten men of leprosy. The sad state of the nation is indicated in that it is only the Samaritan that stays behind to thank Jesus. Jesus again predicts his death Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said."Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again." (Luke 18:31‑33 NLT) Not that the twelve understood the meaning of it, but it is meaningful today, and he trying to warn them and yet reassure them he knows what is going to happen and where. A phase arrived where he is beginning to repeat himself as the time gets closer and his awareness of the timing becomes more prominent in his mind and concerns. As Luke 18:34 states the disciples did not understand the import of what they were hearing. It was hidden from them, but at a later date the Holy Spirit enabled them to recall and share it with us. Because he was nearing Jerusalem Jesus told them a story, the Parable of the Ten Servants, to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away. He said."A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’" (Luke 19:12‑14 NLT) The disciples thought Jesus would establish the kingdom as the Messiah and reign. Jerusalem was the capital city from which David and Solomon had reigned. However Jerusalem at this time would be the place where he would be rejected as king and leave Jerusalem and leave them. Imagine he was nearly at the place of his rejection. A sabbath’s day journey from Jerusalem Then we find Jesus six days before the Passover coming again to Bethany, just far enough from Jerusalem and too late in the day for them to arrest him. Mary prepares him for his burying with the expensive spikenard. It was probably a 12‑ounce jar and possibly worth a year’s wages, a scarce product likely bought by the whole family. Bethany was a sabbath’s day journey from Jerusalem. He was so close to the appointed place. He is clear that he was being prepared for his burial. What a thought being prepared for your burial in just six days. Jesus’ triumphal entry "As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.‘ Go into the village over there,’ he said. ‘As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’’...This took place to fulfil the prophecy that said, "Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. Jesus had wept over the city. Tears of sadness, not tears of joy and release of emotion like an Olympian following a great personal triumph of a lifetime’s aim. The reaction of a relative. But it clearly was a very real emotional moment being in Jerusalem for the final time. Many in Jerusalem for the feast "Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, ‘Sir, we want to meet Jesus.’ Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. Jesus replied. ‘Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.’" (John 12:20‑24 NLT) So we see many from overseas in Jerusalem for the first feast of the year and he is talking about death and that death bringing life and glory. He had reached the appointment place at the appointed time. There would be no leaving of that city and its villages now till the place and time of his sacrificial death by the plotting of evil thoughts, the hands of the chief priests, and the co‑operation of the Roman overlords. NAC |
He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’ The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the centre of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!’ The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered." (Matt.21:1‑10 NLT) What a king’s welcome! How David‑like, appearing on a humble animal not a warhorse. Just right for the king of the Jews. Following the parable of the ten servants how similar to a nobleman being crowned king. Did the disciples think he would begin his reign?