Jesus’ Journey to Joy

Going up to Jerusalem

let’s read this together…

Hebrews 12:1–3 HCSB

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

From the moment of His conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary, Jesus’s destiny always was Jersualem. He made several visits to Jerusalem, but the journey He was on at this point would be His last - at least in His current life.

Luke’s gospel records three specific times Jesus shared with His disciples what would occur on His final visit to Jerusalem.

Of the three statements recorded in Luke, this one is filled with specifics that were only hinted at in the previous statements.

Luke 18:31–34 HCSB

Then He took the Twelve aside and told them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked, insulted, spit on; and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day.” They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

The nearer Jesus drew to His destiny, He wanted to fully prepare His disciples form what would happen.

Seven Specific Actions:

‘handed over’ - Notice to whom Jesus is ‘handed: ‘the Gentiles.’

‘mocked’

‘insulted’

‘spit on’

flogged

killed

7. ‘ he will rise again on the third day’

One of the significant differences in this account from the previous ones is the specific identification of the Gentiles as the group to which Jesus will be ‘handed over.’

Previously He mentioned rejection by the elders, chief priests, and scribes (9:22) and being betrayed into the hands of men (9:44).

Jesus had a clarity of vision that spurred His purpose

Even in His first recorded visit to Jerusalem as a twelve year old Jesus speaks of His purpose:

Luke 2:49 HCSB

“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

In the book of Exodus God makes clear the purpose of the tabernacle He instructed Moses and the people of Israel to build:

Exodus 25:8 HCSB

“They are to make a sanctuary for Me so that I may dwell among them.

Just as God had once walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, He longs to dwell ‘among His people.’ God’s ultimate desire is that nothing will interfere with Him being in the midst of His people.

In a much later visit to Jerusalem Temple we read how Jesus sought to restore the purpose of God’s temple:

Luke 19:45–46 HCSB

He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those who were selling, and He said, “It is written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!”

The noise and confusion of an open air market inside the Temple confines made experiencing the presence of God for all nearly impossible.

Jesus’ knew that His last trip to Jerusalem would result in a new and better way for people to know and experience God’s presence in their midst.

Jesus was aware of the obstacles that lay in His way

Luke 18:31 HCSB

“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.

There are hundreds of prophecies regarding the Messiah in what we now call the OT - (since it was the only Bible first century Jews had I doubt they called it the OT).

We’ve already listed six distinct things that Jesus will experience - all of which were foretold my one or more prophets in the OT.

Six Specific Actions:

‘handed over’ - Notice to whom Jesus is ‘handed: ‘the Gentiles.’

‘mocked’

‘insulted’

‘spit on’

flogged

killed

Any one of these would be reason for most of us to not move forward. That Jesus, knowing what lay ahead, didn’t hesitate or pause speaks to His commitment to God.

Obstacles are not necessarily reasons for abandoning what God has called one to do. Instead, those in whom God is working most powerfully see obstacles as opportunities.

In each of those experiences Jesus not only saw the hurt and grief He also saw the opportunity to allow God’s presence and power shine through.

One of the clearest expressions is found in Luke 23:34

Luke 23:34 HCSB

[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” ]

Jesus’s Vision of God’s Fulfilled Purpose

Jesus never lost sight of God’s ultimate purpose. For Jesus the cross represents God’s final verdict on sin. An early follower of Jesus named Paul expressed it this way:

Romans 5:18–19 HCSB

So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

But the cross would be meaningless without the resurrection.

The Life of Christ: A Study Guide to the Gospel Record The Significance of Jesus’ Resurrection

Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that man can find eternal life through placing his faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, in Him as his Savior. Jesus’ resurrection is the believer’s guarantee that should he die, his body will be resurrected and that resurrected body, reunited with his soul, will live eternally with God and Jesus on the new earth which God will yet create. In other words, Jesus’ resurrection guarantees believers a glorious eternity in resurrected bodies, an eternity which combines to the full both the spiritual and the material realms.

Reflect and Respond

I often wonder - how did Jesus stay ‘at peace’ with the upcoming events in His life. There is no sense of hurry, no panic, no evidence of fear.

In a recent book, Christopher Cook’s Healing What You Can’t Erase, he suggests the following:

A Fixed Focus + Well-Established Trust = Perfect Peace (Wholeness)

Cook, Christopher. Healing What You Can’t Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out (p. 126). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Hebrews 12:1–3 HCSB

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

FIXED FOCUS:

On what is your life focused? Is your life focused on the transformation of life promised by the indwelling Holy Spirit?

Or are you focusing on all the challenges that remain?

Well-Established Faith

Jesus’ well-established faith rested on at least one of the many promises “everything that is written”…

Psalm 16:9–11 HCSB

Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Perfect Peace

John 14:27 HCSB

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.

Just as Jesus, on His journey, experienced perfect peace…so can we -

Will you today fix your eyes on Jesus

Trust in His promises

Experience His peace.