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The Last Journey From Galilee
This chapter is based on Luke 9:51-56; 10:1-24.
Near the close of His ministry, there was a change in the way
Christ worked. Up to then He had tried to shun publicity, refused
the adoration of the people, and had commanded that no one should
declare Him to be the Christ.
At the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, He had made His way
to Jerusalem unnoticed and entered the city unannounced. But it
was not this way with His last journey. He now traveled in the most
public manner, preceded by such an announcement of His coming as
He had never made before. He was going to the scene of His great
sacrifice, and He must direct the attention of the people to it.
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up.”
John 3:14
. All eyes must be drawn to
Christ, the Sacrifice that brought salvation to the lost world.
The disciples would have prevented Him from making the jour-
ney to Jerusalem. They knew the deadly hostility of the religious
leaders. It was a bitter task for Christ to lead His beloved disciples
to the anguish and despair that waited for them at Jerusalem. And
Satan was close by to press his temptations. Why should He now go
to Jerusalem, to certain death? All around Him there were suffering
ones waiting for healing. He was full of the vigor of manhood’s
prime. Why not go to the vast fields of the world with the words of
His grace, the touch of His healing power? Why not give light and
gladness to those darkened and sorrowing millions? Why face death
now and leave the work in its infancy? The enemy attacked Christ
with fierce and subtle temptations. If Jesus had changed His course
in the smallest way to save Himself, the world would have been lost.
But Jesus had “steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” The
one law of His life was the Father’s will. In His boyhood, He had
said to Mary, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s
business?”
Luke 2:49
. But in God’s great plan, the hour for Him
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