The Glory of His Last Journey out of Galilee

The Rejection of Christ · AD 29

He was despised and rejected by men.

Isaiah 53:3

With less than four months left before the cross, Christ left Capernaum for the last time and set His face toward Jerusalem. Turned away by the Samaritans, He took the long road beyond the Jordan, appointed seventy-two to go before Him, and made His way through Jericho to Bethany. At every step He was despised and rejected, yet He walked the lonely road His Father had set before Him.

Read: Matthew 17:24–27; Luke 9:51–62; Luke 10:1–42

Last Stay in Capernaum — the Temple Tax

Before leaving Capernaum for the last time, most likely at the end of November AD 29, the temple tax collectors asked Peter whether his teacher paid the tax. Once a year every male over twenty was to give a half-shekel toward the temple's upkeep. As the Son of the Father, whose house the temple was, Christ was exempt — yet He did not wish to give offense.

So He sent Peter to cast a hook into the Sea of Galilee. In the mouth of the first fish was a coin — the Tyrian shekel, the exact currency and amount needed to pay the temple tax for both Peter and Christ. Not once has God failed to supply His people with what they need to do His work.

Then the sons are free.

Matthew 17:26

Rejected by the Samaritans

When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, Christ set His face to go to Jerusalem. Unlike Lot's wife, He did not look back. The fastest route lay through Samaria, but this time the Samaritans would not receive Him, for they did not want Jesus of Nazareth in their homes. With their rejection, He had now been rejected by everyone — the leaders of Israel, His hometown, His family, the Gentiles, and now the Samaritans.

This enraged James and John, the Sons of Thunder, who asked, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But Christ rebuked them. Like David, who spared Shimei and left his cause to the God who judges justly, Christ never repaid reviling with reviling. The kingdom of God does not advance by the world's weapons but by the Spirit and the gospel.

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51

Beyond the Jordan — the Seventy-Two

Turned away by the Samaritans, Christ went eastward, taking the long road beyond the Jordan. Because His time was short and the region was large, He appointed seventy-two men to go ahead of Him into every town, as lambs among wolves, with power to heal and a message: the kingdom of God has come near.

Before they departed Galilee, Christ pronounced woe on the unrepentant cities — Chorazin, Bethsaida, and above all Capernaum — where He had done His mightiest works. Tyre and Sidon, even Sodom, would fare better in the judgment.

The seventy-two returned rejoicing that even the demons had submitted to them. But Christ told them to rejoice rather that their names were written in heaven, and He rejoiced in the Spirit that the Father had hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Luke 10:2

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Through Jericho to Bethany

Working toward Bethany, Christ most likely passed through Jericho. A lawyer, seeking to test Him, asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Christ pointed him to the law — love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself — and said, “Do this, and you will live.” To justify himself, the lawyer asked, “And who is my neighbor?”

Christ answered with the parable of a man beaten by robbers on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, passed by a priest and a Levite, but rescued by a Samaritan who bound his wounds, carried him to an inn, and paid his way. The very law the lawyer thought would give him life exposed his lack of love.

Crossing the Jordan and coming to Bethany near Jerusalem, Christ was welcomed by Martha, who grew anxious and troubled as she rushed to serve, while her sister Mary sat at His feet. When Martha complained, the Lord gently told her that Mary had chosen the good portion — for the one necessary thing is not what we do for Christ but what He has done for us.

You go, and do likewise.

Luke 10:37

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

Luke 10:41–42

For Reflection

Down, down, down our Lord Jesus Christ continued to travel the road of rejection. His whole life was a journey to the cross. He was rejected by Herod, the Jews, the scribes, lawyers, Sadducees, Pharisees, and even the high priest. He left Galilee not as a hero — Nazareth, Capernaum, and all Galilee were glad to see Him go, and the Samaritans refused Him passage. Yet He traveled on toward the one place that hated Him most, humbly walking the lonely road His Father had set before Him. In coming to love us, He came to be rejected by us.