The Focus and Determination of Christ - Luke 9:51-56
The Readiness and Resolution of Our Lord Jesus: 9:51-53
9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, - Literally, "of his taking up." It is derived from analambano the verb used of the Ascension in
Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
I Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
He stedfastly set his face... Literally, "He hardened his face": that is, He showed resolve. The language here makes it plain that Jesus was fully conscious of the time of his death.
Emphatic autoV, He himself, with fixed purpose. This look on Christ's face caused the disciples to fear (Mark 10:32). It is a Hebrew idiom (used 9 times in Ezekiel), this use of face here, but the verb (aorist active) to set fast, to fix.
Ezek 21:2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel..
The word here translated "received up" means literally a removal from a lower to a higher place. He resolved to go to Jerusalem and die. Jesus made a voluntary sacrifice; that he chose to give his life for the sins of the world.
His was to be a voluntary sacrifice - that no man had power over his life except as he was permitted. He was Received up; into heaven. He was to die for man’s sines; to show, with absolute certainty, and millions would believe in Him. He would let nothing hinder him from doing it.
*There Was a Time Fixed for the Sufferings and Death of Our Lord Jesus: He knew when it would take place and had a clear and certain knowledge of it. To go to Jerusalem...(cf. Verse 53) Genitive infinitive of purpose. Luke three times mentions Christ making his way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51; 13:22; 17:11).
*When he saw his death and sufferings approaching, he looked through them and beyond them to the ascension and ministry in Heaven for His people.
*For the joy set before him, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, the place where he was to suffer and die. He was fully determined to go, and would not be turned aside or dissuaded.
He did not fail nor was discouraged, but set his face as a flint, knowing that he should be not only justified, but glorified (Isa. 50:7)
His Purpose, Resolve and Intent Were Focused His Love and Sacrifice for Mankind - 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.