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Chapter 53—The Last Journey From Galilee
This chapter is based on
Luke 9:51-56
;
10:1-24
.
As the close of His ministry drew near, there was a change in
Christ’s manner of labor. Heretofore He had sought to shun publicity,
refused the homage of the people, and had commanded that none
should declare Him to be the Christ.
At the time of the Feast of Tabernacles He had made His way to
Jerusalem unobserved, and entered the city unannounced. But not
so 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
to this the attention of the people must be directed.
“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. To Christ it was a bitter task to lead His beloved disciples
to the anguish and despair that awaited them at Jerusalem. And
Satan was at hand to press his temptations. Why should He now
go to Jerusalem, to certain death? On every hand 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
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now and leave the work in its infancy? The foe assailed Christ with
fierce and subtle temptations. Had Jesus changed His course in the
least 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, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Luke 2:49
. But in God’s great plan the hour for the offering of
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