Day 1: Lent, Determined to Go

If you're reading through the bible in a year, go to the end of the devotional. For day 1 of Lent, read Luke 11:47-50.

In John 11, Jesus goes to Bethany, a village just two miles from Jerusalem, because his friend Lazarus has died, and he is going to raise him from the dead. To the disciples, the journey represented danger:

But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
In spite of that, Jesus is determined to go. He knows exactly what he is doing, and going to Bethany, no matter how close to Jerusalem is his way of saying, "I lay down my life, no one takes it from me."

After the resurrection miracle, the Pharisees hatch their plot because they see in Jesus a rival to their rule. John 11:47-50 records it:

"Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation." Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

Jesus' journey to Bethany begins this period of time that will lead towards his own death. Caiphas was prophesying even though he was only hungry for power. Jesus' death would be for the whole nation, even the whole world. AND, Jesus knew exactly what he was doing. He was determined to go.

Through the Bible in a year, read Deuteronomy 30 & 31.

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