Chapter 53The Last Journey From Galilee[This chapter is based on Luke 9:51-56; 10:1-24.]As the close of His ministry drew near, there was a change in Christ's manner of labor. Heretofore He had sought to shun excitement and publicity. He had refused the homage of the people, and had passed quickly from place to place when the popular enthusiasm in His favor seemed kindling beyond control. Again and again He had commanded that none should declare Him to be the Christ. At the time of the Feast of Tabernacles His journey to Jerusalem was made swiftly and secretly. When urged by His brothers to present Himself publicly as the Messiah, His answer was, "My time is not yet come." John 7:6.
He made His
way to Jerusalem unobserved, and entered the city unannounced, and unhonored by
the multitude. But not so with His last journey. He had left Jerusalem for a
season because of the malice of the priests and rabbis. But He now set out to
return, traveling in the most public manner, by a circuitous route, and preceded
by such an announcement of His coming as He had never made before. He was going
forward to the scene of His great sacrifice, and to this the attention of the
people must be directed.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
man be lifted up." John 3:14. As the eyes of all Israel had been directed to the
uplifted serpent, the symbol appointed for their healing, so all eyes must be
drawn to Christ, the sacrifice that brought salvation to the lost world.
It was a false conception of the Messiah's work, and a lack of faith |