RESURRECTION WEEK DEVOTION: 7 DAYS. 7 REFLECTIONS. 1 ETERNITY-SHAKING RESURRECTION!
Today, we dive into the deep end of the pool for a few minutes. I promise: There’s nothing below that will drown us with impenetrable ideas… but tread water with me for today’s devotional and you might discover something that makes you a better swimmer through scriptures and life!
37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
Luke 21:37-38 ESV
3 Then Satan entered into wJudas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
Luke 22:3-4 ESV
4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.
Just days before the death of Jesus — and ultimate triumph at the end of the week — there’s a turning point — a crossroads of sorts when a betrayer goes one way and Jesus the other.
Rather than focus on the accuser, there’s something profound about where Jesus places His feet that demonstrate what resolve He had to endure and prove victorious over death and sin.
If we rewind a little first, and go to the initial mention of this trip to Jerusalem, we find that He was particularly determined to make the trip.
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51-53 ESV
52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
The Living Translation describes Jesus as ‘resolutely set(ting) out for Jerusalem’ (Luke 9:51 NLT). Meanwhile, The Message puts it this way:
51b ‘… he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.’
Luke 9:51b The Message
Once in the city, and nearby surrounds, He places Himself on the Mount of Olives in full view of the city where He will soon be tortured and crucified.
37b ’… at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet.’
Luke 21:37b ESV
Even further, the Gospel writer, Luke, tells us it was ‘His custom’ to visit the Mount of Olives, in full view of Jerusalem (Luke 22:39 ESV).
So why all the detail, and what does it tell us about Jesus — heading in an opposite direction to the evil path that Judas tread?
1 Positioned
Firstly, it tells us how important POSITION is. Jesus planted his feet in the city of Jerusalem, and nearby. And well before He endured a night of prayer on the Mount of Olives, He was familiar with the spot. It reminds us how He chose to position Himself in sight of His mission, not allowing Himself to be deterred or distracted by it.
2 Determined
Secondly, we see how DETERMINED He was. Gospel writer Luke’s recounting of how resolute Jesus was to reach Jerusalem demonstrates Who Jesus really is, and how important it was that He would fulfil the act of sacrifice for us all.
3 Close to the Father
And last of all, we learn about the importance of PROXIMITY. Planting His feet in Jerusalem and then nearby at the Mount of Olives, He could see, hear, smell the very city where He would suffer and triumph. Better still, He was planting His feet on the same hill where He would spend time in the presence of His Father that week, in prayer and — one day — return to stand as a triumphant, returning Messiah.
4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
Zechariah 14:4 NIV
For a full breakdown of the week leading to the Resurrection of Jesus, see this table provided by the team who brought us the English Standard Version of the Bible: https://is.gd/olgMH0
Paul Gallagher 
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