From the desk of Pastor Ben
The Plan of God: Phase 1
“He must go to Jerusalem.”         (Matthew 16:21a)
After a stay in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus and the apostles headed toward Jerusalem. His men feared that death by stoning at the Jews’ hands awaited both Jesus and them in the city (John 11:16). The legalistic, unbiblical Judaism that flourished there hated Jesus because He exposed its sinfulness and rejected its man-centered traditions (see Matthew 15:3-9). But the Jews would not have to seek out His arrest because Christ would willingly present Himself to them. “I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18; 19:11).
The Jews alternately lost and re-captured Jerusalem, but they always identified it as the city of God (Psalm 137:5-6). But by Jesus’ day it was hardly living up to that title. During the first Passover of His ministry, He had to drive the money changers and merchants out of the temple (John 2:13-16). At the second Passover, the Jewish leaders tried to kill Him for violating Sabbath traditions (5:16-18). Jesus deliberately stayed away from the third Passover; and later at the Feast of Booths the Jews again attempted to apprehend Him (7:1-19, 44-45).
Had Jesus not finally gone to Jerusalem, He could not have redeemed His own from sin, no matter what else happened. Christ had to become the Passover Lamb, offering Himself “once for all” (Hebrews 7:27; Luke 13:33).

Ask Yourself:
Imagine the courage required of Christ not to go into hiding but rather to walk headlong into the boiling heat of danger, knowing full well what awaited Him. What is He calling you to boldly wade into at this time in your life — or else you will miss His plan for you for this time in your life?