How should Luke 9:31 influence our perspective on Jesus' mission and sacrifice? Setting the Scene “They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:31) Moses and Elijah—representing the Law and the Prophets—stand with Jesus on the mountain, discussing the “departure” (literally “exodus”) He will fulfill in Jerusalem. That single sentence opens a window into the heart of Jesus’ earthly mission and the cost of our redemption. Key Phrase: “His Departure” • “Departure” (Greek: exodos) ties Jesus’ work to Israel’s liberation from Egypt, hinting that His cross will launch a greater deliverance—from sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15). • It is “about to be accomplished,” underscoring that the cross is no tragic accident but a divinely appointed completion of God’s redemptive plan (Acts 2:23). • The setting in glory shows Heaven’s endorsement; the conversation is not about avoidance but accomplishment. What Luke 9:31 Teaches About Jesus’ Mission • Mission Centered on Redemption – Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” • Mission Foretold and Confirmed by Scripture – Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) validate that every page of the Old Testament points to this climactic work (Luke 24:27). • Mission Timed by the Father – John 7:30 shows enemies unable to arrest Him because “His hour had not yet come.” The timetable rests in God’s sovereign hands. • Mission Carried Out in Jerusalem – The city of sacrifice and covenant becomes the stage where the New Covenant is cut with Christ’s own blood (Jeremiah 31:31; Luke 22:20). What Luke 9:31 Reveals About Jesus’ Sacrifice • Voluntary Obedience – John 10:17-18: “I lay down My life… No one takes it from Me.” • Substitutionary Purpose – 2 Corinthians 5:21: He becomes sin for us so that we might become God’s righteousness. • Final and Sufficient – Hebrews 9:12: “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.” • Foreshadowed by the Exodus – Just as the Passover lamb’s blood spared Israel, the Lamb of God spills His blood for the world (1 Corinthians 5:7). Practical Takeaways for Believers • View the cross as fulfillment, not failure; Jesus accomplished exactly what He came to do. • Read the Old Testament with Christ-centered lenses; the Law and Prophets anticipate His redeeming work. • Rest in the sufficiency of His sacrifice; nothing needs to be added to what He “accomplished at Jerusalem.” • Live missionally, knowing that our Savior fixed His eyes on the cross for us; we fix ours on Him for the world (Hebrews 12:2). |
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