What was so important about Jerusalem for Jesus? He said in Luke 13:33, “I MUST PRESS ON today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!” He predicted in Luke 18:31, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Romans, and He will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.” When Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem, He set his face to die a terrible, horrible death.
But the blessing of this is the fact that what Jesus did for us, He did not only do in agony, but also with exceeding joy and triumph. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY SET BEFORE HIM endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The “joy set before Him” was the joy that we too can enjoy heaven with Him when we surrender our lives totally to Him and His love. Heb. 12:3 continues, “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
THAT needs to be our focus during these weeks, that we remember ALL Jesus did for us, and not “lose heart” (not get discouraged). So much is going on in this world these days, but have courage, Jesus, who went before you, is still with you. He came to show us the way, to redeem us with a deep sacrificial love that will never let you go when you belong to Him.
Dearest sweet Jesus, thank You for setting Your face to Jerusalem, for pressing on to the agony of death so that I can be redeemed. Thank You for sacrificing Your very life for me and for setting me free from the slavery of sin to Eternal life and glory! Amen
Myrtle Turunen