On the Way to Jerusalem

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As Jesus begins His final journey to Jerusalem, the Pharisees are on His trail. They pose tricky questions to trap Him.

They posed a trick question about divorce to trap Jesus. It was a hot issue because their king, Herod, had just divorced his wife. If Jesus answered “no” to their question, He would have contradicted Moses. If He said “yes,” He would have looked soft in His teaching.

Jesus turns the discussion from divorce back to marriage. Marriage is something God makes; any violation of this is sin. The only grounds for divorce that Scripture recognizes is unfaithfulness. The innocent party is free to marry again. Children are the innocent product of marriage, and divorce becomes doubly evil because children suffer when their home is destroyed.

As they talked, Jesus welcomed children, even taking them in His arms and blessing them. He said He wishes adults would trust Him with their same simple, childlike faith.

On the road again toward Jerusalem, a young man ran to Jesus and asked, “Good Master, what do I need to do to inherit eternal life?”

Under the Mosaic system, his question was legitimate, but Jesus wants him to think. Rehearsing the Ten Commandments with him, the young men passed all that related to fellow man, but Jesus said he lacked one thing: A relationship with God.

“Get rid of what stands between you and God,” Jesus said, “and follow Me.” But he went away grieved, unwilling to part with his riches.

The disciples, James and John, then approached Jesus with a favor. “Someday in glory, would You award us the highest places of honor?”

Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking.” To sit with Jesus in glory means they would suffer with Him here. Whoever wants to be great must humble themselves and serve—that’s what Jesus Himself was doing. He came to serve and give away his life.

This is the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. While some people plot Jesus’ death, others yield allegiance to Him and obey Him. The Lord sent two of His men into town to find a young colt. When they returned, they covered the colt with their coats and, in the tradition of welcoming victorious leaders home from battle, they cut down palm branches and carpeted the road with them. A small crowd of Galileans gathered and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

To anyone who had ever witnessed the Caesars returning home from a victorious campaign, this gathering of peasants would have been unimpressive. But what was remarkable about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem is that He publicly offered Himself as the Great High Priest to offer the sacrifice for our sins that alone is acceptable to God. He demanded a decision from the people—and they rejected His offer.

But just wait until you see Him someday when He comes as King of kings and Lord of lords. Everyone who trusts Him as Savior for more than two thousand years—millions of saints—will join that crowd. He will lead His new creations to their new home in a New Jerusalem. That will be the real triumphal entry!

1. What should a marriage between two people who love God and each other look like? And what can it teach us about God?

2. Are there any places in your life where you need a faith that is more childlike?

3. What is the difference between Jesus, who came to serve, and the way most of us go about our everyday lives?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on Mark 10 and Mark 11.