Set for Jerusalem

Galilee served as the setting for much of our Lord’s earthly ministry, as the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) tell us, though we know that He periodically ministered in Judea as well (see John 2:23; John 5:1; John 10:22–23). It was essential for Jesus to do His work in Galilee in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1–7 (see Matt. 4:12–17). As we know, however, the climax of our Savior’s work on our behalf occurred in Jerusalem with His death and resurrection (Luke 23–24). In today’s passage, Luke narrates the beginning of Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem during His earthly ministry, a journey that culminates with His arrival in the city in Luke 19:28–40.

Christ’s determination to go to Jerusalem was firm. Twice Luke tells us that Jesus “set” His face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51, 53). In the Old Testament, the Hebrew idiom of setting one’s face toward something often emphasizes the sure commitment of an individual to a course of action (e.g., 2 Chron. 20:3; Isa. 50:7). Luke’s use of the same phrase indicates that our Lord made His way to Jerusalem with full intent. He determined that nothing would prevent Him from going to Jerusalem, where He would be “taken up” (Luke 9:51), wording that refers to the whole scope of His death, resurrection, and ascension. In other words, Christ’s commitment to His Father’s plan and to the good of His people was irreversible and drove Him to the place where He would fully atone for our sins.

Samaria lay between Galilee and Judea as Jesus traveled south with His disciples toward the city of Jerusalem. Luke reports that when Jesus made His way through Samaria, one of the villages where He intended to spend some time did not receive Him (Luke 9:52–53). The Evangelist does not report the specific reasons that the Samaritan village rejected Jesus, though the traditional hostility between Samaritans and Jews was likely a factor. We also should not miss the allusion in verse 53 to this rejection’s being part of Christ’s sovereign plan, for Luke says that they did not receive Him because He was intent on going to Jerusalem. His determination meant that things worked out such that a stay in Samaria would not slow Him down.

Today’s passage tells us that when James and John saw the Samaritan rejection, they asked whether Jesus wanted them to call down the fires of judgment from heaven. Our Lord, however, rebuked them (Luke 9:54–56). The time of divine judgment on those who reject the truth had not yet come, so the disciples were wrong to ask for it.