With His Eyes on Jerusalem

“With His Eyes on Jerusalem”
Luke 9:”51-56
April 19, 2026

It seems inconceivable, but Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, the God-Man, God incarnate, was rejected by Israel when He came to be her Messiah and to provide redemption from sin.

• His message was rejected by Herod when Herod imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist (3:20)
• He was rejected in His first sermon when the crowds wondered how “Joseph’s son” could preach in such a way (4:22), made Him unwelcome (4:24), and in a rage attempted to kill Him (4:28-29)
• When He forgave the lame man’s sins, the Scribes and Pharisees said He was a blasphemer (5:21)
• The Pharisees and scribes grumbled that He ate with Levi (tax collectors and sinners, 5:30)
• The Pharisees claimed He was a Sabbath law-breaker (6:2ff)
• The Pharisees and lawyers rejected John the Baptist and His message (7:30ff)
• The Pharisee Simon hated His compassion to a woman who was a “sinner” (7:39)
• The Gerasene people rejected Him after He healed “Legion” and asked Him to leave (8:37)
• The people rejected Him by calling Him a prophet, but not the Messiah (9:18-19)
• At the end of His Galilean ministry, Jesus called the people ashamed and unbelieving (9:26, 41)

And in the passage before us this morning, we see the expansion of Jesus’ ministry to those who were perceived to be “outside” true Israel.  The Galileans rejected Him, so He expanded His ministry to the Samaritans.  And they also rejected Him.  It’s a familiar story.  Christ was rejected.  Christ would be rejected still more.  And He will still be rejected today.  Yet, Christ was resolute in His commitment to go to the cross. 

He was resolute to go to the cross because it was all part of God’s eternal plan of redemption.  And that plan was filled with Christ’s compassion and gentleness with sinners.  He yearned (and yearns) to save sinners. 

The rejection of Christ reveals the compassion of Christ.

Christ’s rejection is good news for us because His rejection not only leads Him to the cross, but the cross was the eternal plan of the Triune Godhead.  So His rejection makes the way for our acceptance in salvation.   That acceptance is the ultimate manifestation of His compassion; in this passage we see four expressions of the compassion of Christ…

1. Christ’s Compassion for Sinners (v. 51)
2. Christ’s Compassion for His “Enemies” (vv. 52-53)
3. Christ’s Compassion for His Disciples (vv. 54-55)
4. Christ’s Compassion for the Unreached (v. 56)

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 9:51-56.

Samaria from Mt. Gilboa.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.