ON HIS WAY TO THE CROSS
Luke 9:51-56
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, 53 but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”[h] 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then[i] they went on to another village.
About half-way though the Gospel According to Luke we find the hinge. The material in the first half of the gospel tells us about Jesus’ birth and earthly ministry around the region of Galilee. Then, in chapter 9, Jesus “sets His face toward Jerusalem.” From this point, several passion predictions and road signs remind us that Jesus is intent on making a journey to the holy city Jerusalem, where He will die on the cross.
We need to remember that Jesus was born to die for us. We need to remember that Jesus called us to take up on our crosses, as we put to death the sinful nature that plagues us.
Prayer
God, thank you for coming to earth in human flesh to die for my sins. And help me to let sin die in me as I live more fully as a disciple of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.