Pam Padgett ... teacher
Jesus knew the suffering and death that were before Him, as well as His
resurrection from the dead, and told his disciples these things after it
was revealed to Peter that Jesus is Christ ...
Luke 9:18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his
disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people
that I am? 19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say,
Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. 20
He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The
Christ of God. 21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to
tell no man that thing; 22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many
things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and
be slain, and be raised the third day.
When Jesus spoke with Moses and Elias on the mountain, they spoke of the death Jesus would suffer at Jerusalem ...
Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these
sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain
to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was
altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there
talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in
glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at
Jerusalem.
Even knowing what awaited Him in Jerusalem, Jesus set His face to go to
Jerusalem steadfastly ... firmly, fixed, and not wavering.
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he
should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Jesus steadfastly set His face to go to
Jerusalem, not delaying, nor being distracted or pulled off in any way
from going to Jerusalem. He steadfastly set out to fulfill the will of
the Father.
Various things come to each of us which might pull us off what we are
led by the Holy Spirit to do. We, also, need to be steadfast, keeping our
focus on what God has said to us and going in that way.
Jesus spoke to two men who wanted to do other things before following Jesus ...
Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord,
suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let
the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid
them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto
him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit
for the kingdom of God.
Paul told us that he didn't allow things in the past to distract him. Instead, he moved forward, pressing toward completing what God had called him
to do and receiving the prize (reward). We are counseled to have this same mind
...
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in
any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
And we are exhorted to lay aside everything that holds us back so that we can run the race before us ...
Hebrews 5:12 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,
striving against sin.