On the Way to Jerusalem - Lent 2025

Following His account of Jesus’ transfiguration, Luke writes in Chapter 9:51 of his gospel, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” By “setting His face” toward Jerusalem, Jesus demonstrates His unwavering resolve to fulfill God’s plan of salvation. This echoes the words of the prophet in Isaiah 50:7: “I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.” Despite the glory of the Transfiguration, there’s not turning back, and Jesus is fully committed to the path that leads to His suffering, death, and resurrection.

Luke 9:51 marks a shift in Jesus’ ministry. Up to this point, He has been teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. However, now His focus intensifies. His teachings become more urgent, His interactions more confrontational, and His call to discipleship more demanding. Jesus knows that opposition will increase, yet He presses forward, fully aware of what awaits Him in Jerusalem. And so, it’s important understand that Jesus’ journey isn’t just a movement toward a city, but toward the very heart of God’s plan for salvation. His determination to go to Jerusalem reflects His obedience to the Father and His willingness to lay down His life for the sake of the world.

Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is not just His own–it’s the path we, as His followers, are invited to walk as well in this season of Lent. In this 6-week sermon series we will walk with Jesus, listening to His parables, witnessing His miracles, and grappling with His challenging call to discipleship. As we journey with Him, may we be shaped by His words, strengthened in faith, and prepared to follow Him all the way to the cross and beyond–to the hope of resurrection.

SERMONS

Title: “The Cost of Discipleship”

Preacher: The Rev. Canon Christopher Doering

Date: Sunday, March 9, 2025 ~ The First Sunday in Lent

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Handout: Part 1. HO