Jesus’ determination

In the Gospel of Luke, from 9:51 to 19:44 is the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. Therefore, from this passage a new section begins. Having finished His ministry in Galilee, Jesus now makes the decision to go up to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 is a very important verse: “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem.” Here we find (1) an awareness of what would take place in Jerusalem. Jesus knew the suffering that He Himself would undergo. (2) There are also the intensity and determination of Jesus as He faced suffering. Looking at the recent movements in the world, it feels as though the time given to us for evangelism is also becoming short. Let us meditate on the fact that Jesus was “determined to go to Jerusalem.” Also, let us take to heart the following words of Peter and apply them to our own lives: “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” (1 Peter 4:1).

The fanaticism of the disciples

When Jesus tried to enter a Samaritan village, the Samaritans did not receive Him. The sharp hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans had existed since the time of Ezra and Nehemiah (ref. Ezra 4:1-5). In particular, toward the Jews who were going up to Jerusalem, the Samaritans harbored intense hostility. James and John said to Jesus, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” Their statement was made with the miracle of the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament in mind, but this was clearly going too far. They did not understand what kind of spiritual condition they were in. At the root of it were pride and fleshly ambition. If self-centeredness is not broken, that zeal can lead to fanaticism. A person may think they are acting in faith, but it results in hurting others. Jesus rebuked His disciples. Have you ever served or engaged in evangelism out of pride? Let us remember that Jesus brought the age of grace and let us seek to live by that grace.