Luke 9:51

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 31^st /April 1^st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

From the moment that Jesus “set his face toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51) and the cross, he never turned back. His decision was resolute, one that he decided long ago in the corridors of heaven at his Father’s side.

His commitment appears in various scenes from the Gospels and stood in contrast to the unreliable faith of those who would be his followers. Yet he never gave up on them, nor did he allow the fickleness of the crowds to shape what he did. He read no polls and conducted no voter research focus groups. He acted on principle and not on expediency. Yes, he struggled with the full implications of his choice, as would be the case in Gethsemane and during the last minutes on the cross. But struggle is not defeat, and conflict is not surrender. When Jesus surrendered it was, at last, to the will of God “written in the volume of the book” (Hebrews 10:7-9).

Along the road to final decision, Jesus would enter Jerusalem at the beginning of the Passover celebrations. There he would re-enact parts of Israel’s ancient history as generations before him had done. This time, however, his arrival would signal the end of the old order and the beginning of the new. Israel’s Messiah would offer himself to Israel, not as a conquering general, but as a humble servant — the “servant of Yahweh” foreshadowed by Isaiah the prophet (42; 49; 50; 52–53). The servant of Yahweh devotes himself to the fulfillment of God’s purposes for Israel and the world. He would be Israel’s prophet, calling to account its failed leadership, throwing out the moneychangers, symbolizing judgment.

Then, without mounting any real defense, Jesus would stand before his accusers, accept the course of his trial, and remain unmoved by the harassment of the rowdy crowd seeking his execution. His devotion was not to the crowds, whether in praise or in condemnation, but to God His Father.   [BN, 1]

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