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)

One of the things that amazes me was that Jesus, who lived as a man like us, chose to die as an act of His will. Jesus was not accidentally entangled in a web of injustice. The saving benefits of his death for sinners were not an afterthought. God planned it all out of infinite love to sinners like us, and he appointed a time.

I imagine that growing up Jesus loved His life - He had family, a business, friends & more. He understood completely the joy of living life and all that that involves. But He loved you & me more than anything else. He made a decision to give up everything for you - even His life and so He set His face towards an extraordinarily cruel death - Why? Beacause of His love.

Jesus, who was the very embodiment of his Father’s love for sinners, saw that the time had come and set his face to fulfill his mission: to die in Jerusalem for our sake. “No one takes my life from me,” Jesus said, “I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18).

Thank Jesus today that he chose you - You were on His mind as He set His face towards Jerusalem.

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