Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
I often wonder of these transitions in the life of Jesus. His birth; brevity in the Temple, and the days in Cana with His mother. Jesus had a natural life of learning and growing. Most of His childhood is hidden to our curious mind. The healings mounted wherever He went. It is no wonder why people loved Him! The Lord had hundreds if not thousands of followers, all marching in sync, singing Hosanna! Blessed is he who cometh in the Name of the Lord. The demons trembled before Him, adjuring Him not to torment them.
He said, “Tell John, the lame are walking. The dumb are talking. The blind can see.” His teachings astounded the religious men. Even the scribes were bewildered at His grasp of the scripture – never knowing that He in fact was the author Who spoke.
However, a transition of most importance lay cloaked in Luke 9:51. He turned. He set His face to go to Jerusalem. If the verse is seen through pragmatic eyes, the statement makes very little sense. Jesus had been to Jerusalem many times. Why would Luke make such an emphatic statement about another trip to the city? The reason is clear: Jesus was ready to die. His healing and miracles; teachings and feedings, were a byproduct of His goodness and wisdom. He came to die. Jesus was, after all, the Lamb slain.
At some point in your life you must set your face. The transition from personal ambition to Kingdom work must take hold and you must turn away from these trivial pursuits of self-preservation. It is time to become the soul-winner, Bible study teacher, prayer warrior, intercessor, giver, doer, and an all consumed worshipper. Set your face! You have the choice and only you can make the turn. Do what is not natural to your natural self. Give your whole mind, soul, body, spirit, strength, and energy to the work of the Lord.
These days are making a demand on us. We must be about our Father’s business. Our passions cannot be divided: Not for sports or pleasure, but for the Word and the Harvest. I too am feeling the weight of this hour pressing upon me. It is a consuming fire, burning my spirit to reach the lost. and it reminds me to set my face toward the ultimate goal.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole