Verse: Luke 9:51
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Devotion
I think this verse is so powerful. He knows the time for his betrayal, his mock trial, his suffering, and his death has come. He has been talking about it for a while, but it has always been in the future. Now it is time. And what is so amazing is that he must go give himself up to this. He will not be forced. He chooses to head into the eye of the storm: to go to Jerusalem.
A more literal translation of those words is "he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." I prefer that personally. I just can visualize it better. He faces his opposition. He faces Satan. He faces the burden of my sin and yours. He looks it directly in the eye. And he starts walking towards it. Steadfastly. Without waving. With full determination.
Eight hundred years before this the prophet Isaiah wrote these words in a prophecy about the Messiah (50:6-8):
"I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!"
Those are fighting words!!! "Who brings charges against me. Let us face each other!" Gives me chills! Think about this - he did this for you and me.
What was his motivation as he arose from whatever he was doing and set his face like flint towards Jerusalem? Certainly obedience to his Father. But we are told multiple times in Scripture that it was his love for us that drove him. He sets his face steadfastly to face his accusers and his torture, because his love for you and I would not be deterred. Praise God! As we get closer to Easter, we will be going through the events leading up to it with each devotion. This is the beginning. Jesus is Coming.