One of the popular questions on the internet is when I will die. Many want to know their life expectancy. Strangely, there are many calculators Google will recommend if you search. It’s hard to imagine people are willing to trust the results. But what if a man gets to know everything about His future, including where he is going to die, when he is going to die, and how he is going to die? He will for sure avoid the place he knows will lead him to death. He will make sure his life is completely protected when the time nears by surrounding himself with paramedics. We all love our lives very dearly.
Jesus walked towards Jerusalem Knowing the consequence:
Jesus knew exactly when, where, and how He would die. He spoke to His disciples three times about His death well ahead. Jesus said, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him.” – Mark 9:31 ESV.
Taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. – Luke 18:31-34 ESV.
Knowing all this, Jesus gladly and willingly walked towards Jerusalem, where He would be crucified. He knew He would be betrayed by one of His dear disciples. Jesus knew His disciples would flee Him at the last moment. He knew He would have to carry the cross alone to Golgotha. He knew the same people who praised Him would spit on His face during His journey to the cross. He knew he would be crucified on the cross and hung there like a criminal. Still, Jesus started His walk toward Jerusalem.
Jesus knew this was the last time He would walk through this path as a man. The Bible says Jesus quietly left Galilee, where He spent much of His time during the ministry. They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know for he was teaching his disciples. But they (His disciples) did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. – Mark 9:30, 32 ESV.
Why did Jesus walk towards Jerusalem knowing all the facts?
He was on a mission to fulfill His Father’s will:
John the Baptist summarized the mission of Jesus as, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” – John 1:29 ESV. Jesus came into this world to remove all our sins and open doors of grace. Jesus said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45 ESV. Jesus willingly went to Jerusalem to lay down His life for us. This is His Father’s will.
Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” – John 6:38 ESV. He was razor-focused on completing the mission the Father had given Him. On the last night before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” – Luke 22:42 ESV. Jesus knew the amount of physical torture he had to go through the next day. Prophet Isaiah, who lived many hundred years before Jesus, summarized the physical and mental pain Jesus had to endure for humanity’s sake.
Surely he (Jesus) has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. – Isaiah 53:4,5 ESV
Today, thousands of books are available in the Christian world about finding God’s purpose in our lives. But most of our life is spent on finding His will amid a busy schedule on earth. There is hardly any time left to fulfill God’s will. The God who suffered so much that we can be free and forgiven calls us to live a pleasing life before Him. We can live a pleasing life only by fulfilling the will of God in our lives. Are we ready to commit our lives to Him and follow Him with all our hearts? Jesus will show us His will for us and lead us. He will use you powerfully for His glory if you allow Him in your life.
Jesus loved us so much:
Jesus knowingly and willingly traveled to Jerusalem to lay down His life because He loved us so much. Our God is the God of compassion. Whenever Jesus saw the people, He had compassion for them. He gave them the bread of life from heaven. He wanted to make sure they were spiritually and physically fed. The Bible says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” – Mathew. 9:36 ESV
God sent His son Jesus to forgive all our past mistakes. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 ESV. He loved the people of this world. That includes you and me. Love for us made Jesus walk toward Jerusalem knowingly and willingly to surrender His life.
The cross was the only way to reconcile man to God. He opened the gates of heaven wide for all of us to enter.
Jesus wants to tell you something today:
Jesus tried to communicate about His upcoming crucifixion to His dear disciples, who were with Him for the last three years. None could understand what Jesus was telling them. Twice (Mark 9:33-37 ESV, Mark 10:35-45 ESV) during the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, His disciples argued who would be the greatest.
Are we in the same situation today? Do we understand Jesus’s great sacrifice on the cross? We might have known Jesus for a long time. But we need to understand more about what He wants us to do and his will for us. Let’s commit our life today to follow Him with all our hearts and fulfill His will for us. We all have one short life. The Bible describes our life as mist, vapor, and vanity. It starts and ends so quickly. God designs us to fulfill His will on earth. Let’s live carefully by making our choices diligently, whether everything we do adds to the glory of God, who sacrificed His life for us.
Let’s go to His presence and pray to Jesus. Let’s ask Him to make us like Him. Open your mouth and ask Jesus to teach you to fulfill God’s will. Pray the below prayer in your own words.
Dear Jesus, I (Insert Your Name) come to you before the throne of grace. Please teach me how to fulfill your will throughout my life. You have obeyed your Father and willingly walked towards Jerusalem. Help me spend my time carefully and diligently for your glory. Let me love you with all my heart and obey you. Please forgive all my disobedience. My heart is so insensitive, and it does not understand your precious sacrifice. Please mend my heart. Let my heart appreciate and be thankful for all you have done for me. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Dear Friend, Thanks so much for joining us today. Let’s continue to meditate on the great sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. May Jesus bless you and make you a blessing for many.