SERVICES: SATURDAY 6PM | SUNDAY 9AM & 10:45AM. 

We Livestream at www.FaithFellowshipWeb.com/livestream, through the FFC App, and YouTube.

Going Up to Jerusalem

Going Up to Jerusalem

Words of Faith 12-5-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

 

Luke 19:28 

       After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

 

       Jesus was about to enter into the final leg of His earthly journey.  Having completed the teaching in the valley, Jesus now turned the corner in Jericho to "go up" to Jerusalem.  Verse twenty-nine is the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem but we are not quite there yet.  There was more to this journey than thirteen words. 

      The journey from Jericho to Jerusalem was just twenty miles walking, but it was a climb of 3500 feet in elevation!  It was an extremely reflective journey up through the mountains calling to memory all those who had traveled this way to go up to Jerusalem.

     Jewish tradition required that every faithful Jew travel to Jerusalem three times a year.  Because of the enmity between Jews and Samaritans, most Jews from Galilee and those from the east traveled up this long road through the Judean Mountains, out of the wilderness, higher and higher, to Mount Zion. 

        When we come to this point in the story of Jesus, we have a choice.  We can either rush on to Jerusalem or we can walk with Jesus on this road.  Luke does not record anything that Jesus said on this part of the Journey.  This is probably because all Jews spent this part of the journey meditating upon and reciting a group of Psalms called the Psalms of Ascent.  This was not so much a time for teaching as a time for reflection and prayer.  It was a time of spiritual preparation.

        Wouldn't you like to know what Jesus was thinking about and meditating upon as He went up to Jerusalem for the last time?  We can't know for sure all those thoughts but we can be pretty certain that these Psalms of Ascent were a focus in this part of the journey as Jesus faced the most difficult times of His life.  Have you ever wanted to share a "quiet time" with Jesus in the very Scriptures that He was focused upon?  We certainly have that opportunity here.

         Psalms 120