Luke 9:51-62
“Notice what you notice.” When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. (v. 51) The Chronological Study Bible points to this verse as the beginning of Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, whether in fact it was His second or third (with His early Judean ministry being His first). Notes in my Study Bible, however, point to this verse as the beginning of His second trip to Jerusalem. They argue that Luke 9:51-13:21 and sections we just read in John 7:10-10:39 constitute His second journey to Judea and Jerusalem, with a third beginning at Luke 13:22 and John 10:40. I tend to believe the former, that all that we will read from now to the end of the year is part of Jesus’ final journey. To me, … He set His face to go to Jerusalem is pretty strong!
Two reflection items on the following verse: Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. (v. 58) First, I’ve always felt sorry for Jesus, not having His own home or a place to stay. But we have learned in our first few months of this study that Jesus was a regular at Peter’s house (or “the house”). So in Capernaum He did have a place to stay. Still, when He was traveling in Galilee or Judea or wherever, His lodging was at the mercy of the townspeople. And if He had quite a band of followers, housing all of them would have been a challenge.
Second, I mentioned yesterday that I had looked at The Message for Eugene Peterson’s “take” on Matthew’s verses. Since some of the same verses are repeated here, it’s worth looking at his “translation” of verse 58: Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.” Yes, it’s a bit over the top, but still worthy of a note! Time for a nap in my comfortable recliner…!
Slava Bohu!
I too picked up on “he set his face to Jerusalem”. It is also used when the Samaritan town didn’t welcome him because he set his face to Jerusalem. If this was a town that had welcomed him before, were they now concerned that his Jewish roots were coming out too much, and he wouldn’t be open to them anymore? What was happening there? Also, James and John were ready to rain down fire, retaliating. Are we in this story, as “believers” as long as Jesus doesn’t go too far with other peoples? Or as believers who want a scorched earth policy for those who question or disagree? Oh my!