Christ's Ascent to Jerusalem: Six Responses to His Approach

When Jesus ascended toward Jerusalem, taking the twelve disciples apart in the way, He encountered six distinct responses to His coming. Some approached without special interest, moved merely by custom. Others came driven by curiosity alone. Still others harbored hatred toward Him and His servants. A fourth group believed in Christ yet feared worldly opposition. The fifth—those in dark despair—believed the cause of religion would perish beneath organized resistance. But a faithful few, like the small group at the cross, followed with unwavering devotion.

Consider Christ's approach to Jerusalem itself. Great cities—Babylon, Nineveh, Tyre—were strongholds of the world, yet Elohim could expect no joyous reception there. But Jerusalem was the city of God, center of true religion, whose roofs bore daily clouds of smoke from morning and evening sacrifice. An awful city, wherein God had appeared time and again, holding for a season the throne of the living God.

Those who ascend to the heavenly Jerusalem must evidence three marks: growth in goodness through diligent use of appointed means; love toward God; and willingness to lay aside unnecessary weight and besetting sins. Our affections cannot remain rooted in earth. Our course must turn thitherward—toward that city. Why loiter by the way when our purpose stands fixed to go up to Jerusalem?