Jesus Steadfastly Set His Face - Luke 9:51

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus' disciple John told Him, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name; and we forbade him, because he follows not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us”, and in chapter nine and verse fifty-one of his book Luke shared how Jesus, “steadfastly set his face” where we read:

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up,

he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, ...” Luke began with the words, “and it came to pass” or “and it happened and came into existence”, “when the time was come” which means “the time period and moment arrived and came upon the scene” “that he should be received up” or “that Jesus was to be taken up or ascended”. Luke shared how the time arrived for Jesus to “ascend” to His Father in Heaven.

The verse goes on to say, “...he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, ...” Luke added the words, “he steadfastly set” which means “Jesus firmly fixed, strengthened and rendered constant” “his face” or “Jesus' countenance and look” “to go to Jerusalem” which means “to travel and journey to the city of Jerusalem which means set you double peace and was the capital of Palestine”. Luke shared how Jesus “firmly set” His “countenance” and purposed to travel to “Jerusalem”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus knew the “time” for Him to die on the cross, be raised from the dead three days later and ascend to His Father had come. In response, Jesus “firmly fixed His face” to go to “Jerusalem” which would be the place of His trial, persecution, torture and eventual death. Jesus did all this to “save” people from their sins so they may live with His Father God forever. Now all that is necessary is for people to believe and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and He will forgive them and grant to them everlasting life.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus, “sent messengers before his face”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".