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Luke 
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Day 177

Luke 13 :22 - 30 "JOURNEYING TOWARDS JERUSALEM.." Luke 13:22"

Day 177 – Luke 13

Text: Luke 13 :22 – 30

“JOURNEYING TOWARDS JERUSALEM..” Luke 13:22

Luke began his record of the public ministry of Jesus with a ministry in Galilee (Cf. Luke 4:16, 31). It was perfectly right for Jesus to minister in this region, for He fulfilled prophecy when He ministered in Galilee.

Isaiah prophesied thus…

“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.”
Isaiah 9:2

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He ministered in Galilee. He preached in many cities and villages in the district of Galilee. He preached in Nazareth, Capernaum, Bethsaida and other cities in this region.

His work was done in that area. He now headed towards Jerusalem. Luke recorded how Jesus had set His face to go to Jerusalem.

“Now it came to pass, when the time had come
for Him to be received up,
that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”
Luke 9:51

We are reminded of another Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah,

“For the Lord God will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.”
Isaiah 50:7

What did Jesus think about His ministry in Galilee? It was with great sadness of heart that Jesus had to say these words about the people who heard Him when He ministered in Galilee.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty works which were done in you
Had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
They would have repented long ago,
Sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it would have been more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon,
At the judgment than for you.
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven,
Will be brought down to Hades.”
Luke 10:13-15

Jesus did not fail in His ministry. He had faithfully proclaimed God’s Word. He had diligently and earnestly preached the Kingdom of God. He has performed mighty signs and wonders. He had successfully defended His teachings against those who sought to misrepresent Him.

The rejection of the people does not reflect failure at all. The people had heard the Gospel time and again. They would now “lose” Jesus and His ministry. His next area of focus would be Jerusalem.

ANTICIPATION OF SUFFERING AND DEATH AT JERUSALEM

Jerusalem was more than just another city that Jesus would minister at. Jesus warned His Disciples that at Jerusalem,

“The Son of Man is about to be betrayed
into the hands of men.”
Luke 9:44

Jesus had on an earlier occasion said that He would suffer… at Jerusalem…

“The Son of Man must suffer many things,
and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Luke 9:22

STILL PREACHING FAITHFULLY…

Jesus knew that the ministry that lay ahead of him was fraught not only with danger, but that many would reject His teaching. Nevertheless, Jesus courageously and faithfully did what His Father had entrusted Him to do. Thus Luke made this observation,

“And He went through the cities and villages,
teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.”
Luke13:22

“BUT WE SEE JESUS…”

“How do you see Jesus?” From time to time we must raise up this question. We must see Jesus correctly. How we must see Jesus with eyes of deep affection!

1. We must see His courage.

2. We must see His commitment.

3. We must see His faithfulness to His calling.

HOW DO WE SEE OURSELVES?

As we gaze upon our precious Saviour, we must also attempt to see ourselves! Do we see the same courage in our lives? Do we have the same commitment to do the work God has given us to do? Do we show the same faithfulness to the calling that God has given to each of us?