Now it happened that when the days for Him to be taken up were soon to be fulfilled, He set His face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51 LSB).
That text is before the halfway point of Luke’s gospel. The physician/historian drives the point home repeatedly until Palm Sunday (Luke 19:29-48).
And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem (13:22).
While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee (17:11).
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished” (18:31).
After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem (19:28).
Determination and intentionality are the words that come to mind from the statement that Jesus “set His face to go to Jerusalem” until He actually arrived at the city. I’ve never seen that aspect of driving focus portrayed in any movie or television series about Jesus or Holy Week.
Without an awareness of just how purposeful Jesus was about getting to Jerusalem for Holy Week it is easy to believe that everything that happened from Palm Sunday to Good Friday was simply the perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances that culminated in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A lot of churchgoers do not realize that is what they believe and the implications of thinking like that.
The way Luke tells the story makes it very clear that Jesus wasn’t reacting to the people and events that led up to the crucifixion; He was directing and orchestrating them.
Here is why understanding the distinction between reacting and directing is so important. Does God react and respond to what happens to us as we journey in this life, or does He direct the journey? How we reach out to Him during our crises depends on what we believe His role is in our lives. If we believe God is ready to respond to our trials we will pray one way. If we believe God is orchestrating what happens to us in life, we will pray another way.
How do you read and understand Proverbs 3:6?
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (KJV).
If you believe God is the Responder than you read that as God will fix the problems you will face. If you believe God is the Director then you will read that as God’s plan for your life may involve a lot of curvy roads but the plan will ultimately get you into His presence. What is God doing? Is He waiting to answer your prayers when you cry out or is He directing you into situations that cry out for your trust?
Is God the miracle worker who can solve our problems or is He our sovereign King and Savior who is constantly at work solving our inadequacies? I know He can be both but you rarely hear churchgoers praying for His guidance in their trials. More often, it’s immediate deliverance we seek.
The Shepherd of Psalm 23 who “leads me beside quiet waters” doesn’t hang back as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” No, David says of that same Shepherd while in that horribly dark and menacing valley, “You are with me” and “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” He knew about that valley just as He knew about the quiet waters. He planned for us to experience them. He leads us into both.
We don’t ask Him “Why?” when He leads us into green pastures or to the still waters. We rest assured that was His plan all along. But when we find ourselves in that terrible valley we quickly forget the ‘plan for your life’ and hurl accusations about Him not caring for us.
Remember the apostles in the boat? “Do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). Do you remember why they were even in the boat? “On that day, when evening came, He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side’" [of the Sea of Galilee]. They were in the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee because He told them to. He led them into a storm. Just like He led them to the place where He delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
That is what our prayers should seek “What do you want me to learn?” “How do you want me to proceed?” Isn’t this exactly Paul’s message to the Corinthians about his “thorn in the flesh?”
Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).
The goal in life for the Christian is not to show everybody how to pray miracles down from the throne in heaven. Rather, it is to show heaven and earth how to glorify God by trusting His will and plan even in the darkest times and valleys. It’s conten[ment] with weaknesses … distresses … [and] difficulties.
It’s not an easy task. Maybe that’s why Jesus said that few are on the path to eternal life (Matthew 7:14).
No one will make it to heaven who tries to. Instead, heaven will be filled with people who allowed God to be with them and glorified Him every day of their lives…no matter what happened.
There is only one way that can happen. Follow the Master’s example. Set your face to go to New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2). Every good and bad thing that happens in life is set within the context of being on the way to New Jerusalem. God will direct your path there. His Word promises that.
