There is a great line from the Gospel of Luke describing Jesus prior to going to Jerusalem for the last time. He has just arrived at a Samaritan village and the people deny him hospitality because “his face is set toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:53). It is a line that piqued my curiosity. What does it mean that “he sets his face toward Jerusalem?” And why does that provoke such a response from the Samaritans?
The text reads (with edits & additions for clarity):
“On their way to Jerusalem,
they, that is the disciples,
enter a village of Samaritans
to prepare for Jesus’ stay there;
but the Samaritans did not receive him,
because his face was set toward Jerusalem.”
And so I ask, what about Jesus’ face provokes the Samaritans response?
Paul’s letter to the Galatians focuses my thinking on this with his words, “For you were called to freedom brothers and sisters… ” The keyword, the word I believe inscribed upon Jesus’ face, is freedom; the freedom he exercised and the freedom he inspired in those he met along the way. When Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem he knew he was heading toward the place where the people who feared him the most resided. He did this freely, knowing (and this is a key theological point for understanding Jesus) that he would not do anything, at all, period, full stop, to deny others the power to exercise their freedom. And thus, he knew that in their fear they would kill him. This is the freedom expressed upon his face.
The most powerful person to ever walk the face of this earth exercises his power by refusing to use it to deny anyone else their freedom. This pervasive practice started with the Samaritans, but then extended to Judas, Peter, Ananias, Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and the soldiers who marched Jesus to Calvary and nailed the spikes into his hands and feet. This practice continues in our lives today.
Freedom is a divine gift given with no strings attached. It is what endows us (that is, all of humanity) as beings made in the image and likeness of God. We are free, as the Samaritans were free, and they freely chose to reject Jesus. They saw that option, that invitation written on his face. God gives us the same choice.
Now here is what I believe: the only true freedom we have is the freedom to choose or to reject God. It is our birthright as God’s beloved children. It is the gift that God gives us, and God gives it to us equitably.
Now here is the powerful paradox of Christianity: when we freely choose to give our life to God, we set our face toward the kingdom of God. When we set our face with urgency and an utter sense of resolve, we experience real freedom, and in doing so, transform all the things that bind us from burdens to blessings. This is the freedom that the church offers the world. It is the gift Jesus has made known to us and that we are called to make known to others. To forget this or not to do this is to miss the point of our purpose. When we miss the point, the church is diminished and stagnation ensues.
because his face was set toward Jerusalem.”
And so I ask, what about Jesus’ face provokes the Samaritans response?
Paul’s letter to the Galatians focuses my thinking on this with his words, “For you were called to freedom brothers and sisters… ” The keyword, the word I believe inscribed upon Jesus’ face, is freedom; the freedom he exercised and the freedom he inspired in those he met along the way. When Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem he knew he was heading toward the place where the people who feared him the most resided. He did this freely, knowing (and this is a key theological point for understanding Jesus) that he would not do anything, at all, period, full stop, to deny others the power to exercise their freedom. And thus, he knew that in their fear they would kill him. This is the freedom expressed upon his face.
The most powerful person to ever walk the face of this earth exercises his power by refusing to use it to deny anyone else their freedom. This pervasive practice started with the Samaritans, but then extended to Judas, Peter, Ananias, Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, and the soldiers who marched Jesus to Calvary and nailed the spikes into his hands and feet. This practice continues in our lives today.
Freedom is a divine gift given with no strings attached. It is what endows us (that is, all of humanity) as beings made in the image and likeness of God. We are free, as the Samaritans were free, and they freely chose to reject Jesus. They saw that option, that invitation written on his face. God gives us the same choice.
Now here is what I believe: the only true freedom we have is the freedom to choose or to reject God. It is our birthright as God’s beloved children. It is the gift that God gives us, and God gives it to us equitably.
Now here is the powerful paradox of Christianity: when we freely choose to give our life to God, we set our face toward the kingdom of God. When we set our face with urgency and an utter sense of resolve, we experience real freedom, and in doing so, transform all the things that bind us from burdens to blessings. This is the freedom that the church offers the world. It is the gift Jesus has made known to us and that we are called to make known to others. To forget this or not to do this is to miss the point of our purpose. When we miss the point, the church is diminished and stagnation ensues.
Doyt Conn+
Rector
Epiphany Parish Seattle
Rector
Epiphany Parish Seattle
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