Journey To Jerusalem Series

Luke 9:51-62 [51] When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. [53] But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. [54] And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" [55] But he turned and rebuked them. [56] And they went on to another village. [57] As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." [58] And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." [59] To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." [60] And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." [61] Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." [62] Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." (ESV)

Each year, millions of people around the world are forced to flee their homeland to escape persecution, war or severe human rights abuses. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that at least 108.4 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are nearly 35.3 million refugees, around 41 per cent of whom are under the age of 18. There are also millions of stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and lack access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement. (https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-are/figures-glance)

The Samaritans in Jesus’ day were such a people. Luke 9:51-62 is the first of several references to the Samaritans in Luke-Acts, and it accesses common knowledge of the traditional animosity characterizing Jew-Samaritan relations. The Samaritans were a religious group focused on Mount Gerizim and inhabiting parts of the central hill country bordered by Galilee in the north and Judea in the south; like the Jews more generally, Samaritans also gathered in communities in the Diaspora (AKA Dispersion). Though they are best known for their outright rejection of the Jerusalem-centered salvation history (since this set them apart most radically from other forms of Judaism), they also had competing views of Scripture, of messianic expectation, and, most importantly, of what constitutes authentic faith before God. According to Josephus, such differences were sometimes manifested in acts of violence (Josephus Ant. 18.2.2 §§29–30; 20.6.1–3 §§118–36. Cf. Jubilees 30.).

How are we to deal with those who are hostile to the message of the Kingdom of God? How should the Message of the Kingdom focus our lives and help us guard against distractions? Jesus presents these answers in His “Journey to Jerusalem”.

In Luke 9:51-62, which is unique to Luke, Jesus purposes to go to Jerusalem. He and his followers proceed south from Galilee to Jerusalem, they enter into Samaria (Stein, R. H. (2001). Vol. 24: Luke (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (297). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).

In this Journey to Jerusalem, it is a journey of faith. The message explains the new realities of the Kingdom of God, helping us understand the purpose for our lives and focus on that purpose in avoiding distractions. In this we can see three things: 1) The Determination Executed (Luke 9:51-53), 2) The Discipleship Error (Luke 9:53-56), and 3) The Diversion Excuse (Luke 9:57-62).

First, in the “Journey to Jerusalem” Jesus shows us:

1)The Determination Executed (Luke 9:51-53)

Luke 9:51-53 [51] When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53] But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. (ESV)

Now that the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry were reaching their fulfillment, the time for itinerating in Galilee (4:14–15) has passed. This narrative shift brings together the christologically significant event of Jesus’ ascension (to be taken up) and the profound importance of preparing the disciples for their Spirit-empowered mission following Jesus’ ascension. The necessity of the journey to Jerusalem is rooted in the divine purpose. These last days were to end, not merely with (His Death, burial) and resurrection, but with His glorious ascension. The Ascension was that special event forty days after the resurrection, where Jesus is taken into heaven by a cloud from the Mount of Olives (cf. 24:51; Acts 1:2, 9, 11, 22; I Tim. 3:16) (Utley, R. J. D. (2004). Vol. Volume 3A: The Gospel According to Luke. Study Guide Commentary Series (Lk 9:51–62). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.).