The Lenten Journey - Pt. 1

 

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. (Luke 9:51-56 ESV).

 

I saw an interesting take on the idea of “giving up something” for Lent recently. One writer simply wrote: “I’m giving up my New Year’s resolutions for Lent.” It reminds me of the common proverb that “Resolutions were meant to be broken.” You may even fall into that category. Perhaps you made some resolutions last month as the New Year began. Some people resolve to lose some weight, or to be more kind to a difficult person, or to be more faithful in Bible reading. But it’s hard to keep resolutions. Many times they fall by the wayside of our busy, complicated lives.

 

As a contrast, notice today’s reading. It tells us that Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” For him, it was more than an improvement program; Jesus was fully aware that suffering and death on a cross awaited him. He knew he had to die in our place to pay for our sins. And he was determined to accomplish his mission. Later we read, “Jesus went … teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem” (Luke 13:22). He was resolute about doing his Father’s will, even if it meant rejection and death. Jesus also faced rejection along the way. Because he was headed to Jerusalem, he wasn’t welcomed in a Samaritan village. What a tragic rejection based on national identity! The disciples reacted as we might have done, but Jesus rebuked their desire for revenge. He came to redeem, not to destroy. Later he said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). So, he continued on to Jerusalem, to fulfill his purpose for our sake.

 

Ash Wednesday is just a few days away. I hope the devotionals in these coming days will rejuvenate your desire to being “resolute.”