Is Your Face Set?

Please take your Bibles and find Luke 9:51. I want to share a message with you entitled, “Is Your Face Set?”

 

If you are a guest, we are studying the gospel of Luke verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter.  That means we have been in Luke for some time, and still have some time to go.

 

“Is your face set” sounds like a funny question, and not really how we talk in 2024.  However, it is the language that Luke uses here in Luke 9.

 

Notice this language as we read today’s story.  Specifically notice verses 52 and 53.

 

 

Exposition

Verse 51 begins with a time marker.  What we are about to read happened after the transfiguration and the conversation about positions of greatness in the kingdom of God.  It is also good to know that this material unique to Luke.

 

Luke continues that the time had come for Jesus to be received up.  The NIV says go to heaven.  The NASB says for His ascension.

 

Luke is describing a sequence of events with a few words.  In reality, he is describing the gospel. 

 

So let’s not only describe it, but let’s also define.  It begins with a holy God creating man and women, and we were sinless and in perfect fellowship with Him. 

However, Adam and Eve sinned.  They then passed along their guilty and their sin nature to us.  Consequently, we have sinned.

 

Next, our sin separates us from God because He is holy and can’t commune with sin.  Therefore, we are in need of a savior.

 

Morality can’t save.  Ingenuity can’t save.  Generosity can’t save.  Sincerity can’t save. 

 

The only qualified savior is a man, but He was also God.  I’m talking about Jesus Christ, God’s only son, who lived a sinless and perfect life.

 

Then He died on the cross and in our place and paid our sin debt.  He provided the opportunity for anyone and everyone to be back in perfect fellowship with God.

 

However, you must believe.  You must confess your sin and need for a savior and put your faith in trust in Jesus.

 

How can you know that what I have just told you is true?  It is the story of the Bible, and Jesus didn’t stay dead.  He was resurrected never to die again to validate and prove all that He said is true.

 

Then in Acts, that Luke also wrote, after His death and after His resurrection, He ascended to heaven.  Where did all of this happen?  It happened in Jerusalem. 

 

So when Luke says that His time had come to be received up and that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, all of what I just said is what Luke was talking about.  Jesus understand God’s will, and He knew that was the best place for Him, and was at peace with it.

 

Do you understand God’s will for your life? Aare you at peace with it? 

 

What is God’s revealed will for you?  The Bible tells us.

 

1 Timothy 2:3-4, 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

Ephesians 5:17-18, 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:3, 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

 

1 Peter 2:13-15, 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

 

1 Peter 4:15-19, 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”  19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

 

God’s will includes more for you, but not less.  Are you good with this? 

 

Are you at peace with God’s will? Is your face set?

 

There was a time in my life when I wasn’t.  I was in college, and I knew that God wanted me to be a vocational minister of some kind.  However, I thought I had to take a vow of poverty.

 

Needless to say, I was very materialistic, and had my mind set on riches.  I told God that I would wait for Him to change His mind.

 

In the meantime, I was miserable.  There was no peace in my life.  I was restless.

 

Finally, after two years of telling God no, I surrendered to Him and His will.  I finally had peace.  My face was set.  What about you?

 

Jesus knew God’s plan, and He was good with it.  His face was set, and so, He headed to Jerusalem.

 

Our text says He was going through Samaria.  This would have been hostile territory.  Therefore, He sent some of the disciples ahead to arrange meals and lodging.  

 

Not surprisingly, verse 53 says the Samaritans didn’t want Him or His disciples in their village.  Again, Samaritans considered Jews as their enemies and vice versa.  Therefore, this should surprise us.

 

However, it does remind us of this.  Jesus came to be Savior of the world, not just Jews or just westerners or just Americans or just Republicans.  He came to be the savior of all.

 

When John and James found the sentiment of the Samaritans, they were mad.  They wanted to nuke them.  No wonder Jesus called James and John the sons of thunder in Mark 5:17.

 

Undoubtedly, they were thinking of what Elijah did in 2 Kings 1.  He called down fire twice on those opposing God’s work including King Ahaziah. 

 

Jesus didn’t appreciate their desire, and He rebuked them.  That rebuke is found in verse 56.

 

However, some of you don’t have verse 56.  Don’t be alarmed.  While verse 56 is not in the oldest Biblical manuscript, it is enough for the NKJV editors to include it. 

 

Furthermore, Jesus sentiment here is found elsewhere.  See Luke 19:10 and John 12:47.

 

First and foremost, Jesus came to save.  He came to save you.

 

Luke 19:10, 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 

However, if you reject His invitation to be saved, you will have to answer to God for your sin, and you will have no hope of heaven without Jesus.