Thur. July 3rd :: Lk. 9 :: Resolutely

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,
Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. (Lk.9.51)

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Four times.

That’s how often I count Jesus referencing his death in just this chapter. Here we are not even halfway through Luke’s gospel and it seems Christ's eyes are already fixed on Golgotha. While others spend time marveling at his words or miracles, Jesus’ mind is on the cross. Verse 51 says he ‘resolutely’ set out for the city where he knew he would die. He was single-minded.

For us, the most basic truth of Scripture is not that Jesus was simply a good guy, a social activist, or a gifted ‘rabbi’. The most basic truth is that Jesus died FOR US--for humanity. His bloody death diverted the wrath of God from sinful humans like you and I. On a Roman cross he absorbed the full punishment for sin, and emerged victorious. Perhaps that’s why he fixated on it.

And perhaps that is reason enough to spend some time today meditating on what Jesus meditated on: the cross.

What does it mean to you?

In a world that is ‘resolutely’ fixated on symbols of status and power, what would it mean to be fixated on the cross of Jesus?