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Luke 21:37-38
As Jesus arrived in Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40) in preparation for the Passover feast and celebration, He has wept over the city because the people had turned away from God (Luke 19:41-44), cleared the temple of the moneychangers (Luke 19:45-48), and been questioned by the chief priests, scribes, Pharisees, and the Sadducees (Luke 20) as they look for a cause to deliver Him to the Roman authorities for persecution (Luke 20:20).
Jesus did not allow the troubled state of the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants to stop Him in the discouragement that He felt for them (Luke 19:41) but taught them of the coming of the end times and the importance of His message to them for salvation. The gathering for the Passover feast grew larger each day as the people arrived in the city from all around the region. Jesus taught the people in the temple each day and then went to the mountain Olivet where He spent the nights. Each day the people continued to gather at the temple to hear Him speak (Luke 21:37-38).
This is an example of perseverance and keeping one’s focus on the goal (Philippians 3:12-16).
Jesus teaches us in John 15:18-25 that because the world persecuted Him, those who follow Him will also be persecuted. Some believe that receiving salvation through Jesus will automatically make everything in our lives perfect, but this world is of the sinful nature and as long as we are in it we will experience trials and tribulations. Believing in Jesus and accepting Him into our hearts through His Holy Spirit which He sends to live within us (John 14:15-18) is in preparation for the perfect world of heaven that is fulfilled in reaching the goal as the Apostle Paul describes in Philippians 3:12-16. Jesus spent His last days as a human being teaching the people (all day, every day) of the importance of believing in Him and the purpose in which He came to save the world from sin that we might have everlasting life through Him (John 3:16-21).
As Christians [those who believe in Jesus (John 1:12-13)] we can overcome the trials and tribulations of this sinful world through keeping our focus on Him (1 Corinthians 10:13). To submit our lives to God through salvation in Jesus is accepting the love that God has for each of us that fills the void in our hearts that continually longs for something that this sinful world cannot fill. That is because God created our hearts to be filled with His love which is only found through Jesus (John14:6). He will not force us to accept His love for us, but in order for love to be made complete it must be accepted as well as given.
Dear Lord,
Jesus dealt with frustration and was tempted, tried, blasphemed, and beaten for us. He was then crucified for the sins that we have committed. But through it all, He kept His focus on the goal to accomplish the purpose in which You sent Him to this world. Please help us to keep our focus on the goals in which You give to us that we also in following Jesus would be to the praise of Your glory. In Jesus name I pray, amen.