Resolved

I love the Gospel of Luke! Luke had classical training as a scientist and doctor and, as a result, he provides a Gospel record that is rich with details that are often left out of the other Gospel accounts. As I have been reading and contemplating on the last days of our Lord while He was here on earth, I am struck by so many things. However, one of the things that really jumps out at me is found in a short verse in Luke chapter 9. In verse 51, the writer tells us, "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." This verse is so very powerful to me because of the resolve we see in our Lord. Jesus has just come down from the mountain where He was transfigured with Moses and Elijah. We know that Jesus knows and understands what is going to happen to Him when He reaches Jerusalem. His disciples don't yet understand all that will transpire in Jerusalem and all that Jesus will suffer. Like me so often, they didn't have a clue! But Jesus knows and fully understands the agony of the whole ordeal that is to come and yet, Luke tells us "He set His face to go to Jerusalem." The phrase "to set one's face" implies a steadfast resolve. In fact, one translation uses the term "he resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem." I wonder what I would have done had I been in Jesus' place. My guess...no wait, I am sure that my first reaction would have been to procrastinate and see if there was another way to get this done. However, Jesus' response was to resolutely set His face to go to the very place where He knew this would all take place. As the hymnist says, "Did e're such love and sorrow meet?"

What are the things I need to set my face toward. Well, I need to make sure that my face is always set toward the New Jerusalem. My home is not here on this earth. I need to make sure my face is set on an eternal perspective, not a temporary one. Lastly, I need to make sure my face is set to take the Gospel message to as many people as possible!