Luke 9:51 is a turning point in the Gospel: “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” The phrase “he resolutely determined” means literally, “he set his face” toward Jerusalem: he meant to go there. Luke refers to Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem 15 times and presents some of Jesus’ most important teaching along the way.
What was the significance of such a journey? “Jerusalem” in the mission of God’s Son meant many things: it was the site of the great temple, a symbolic city representing all of God’s blessings; it was a bridge between the old covenant and the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises in the new; it was the headquarters of Jewish religious authorities; it would be the place where tensions around Jesus would be stretched to the breaking point, the place of his final teachings, passion, and death. It would also be the place of the Resurrection, the place where the promised Holy Spirit would descend on the Church.
A clear focal point of the journey takes place on the cross, as Jesus breathes his last: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) Having completed his mission, Jesus hands over everything to his Father.
In a sense, the journey to Jerusalem began at Jesus’ conception in the womb of Mary, because he came to hand over everything in creation to the Father and show us how to do the same in love and trust. The way to Calvary was the climax of that pilgrimage, and it had an additional direction, goal, and purpose: to commend us into the hands of the Father.
What do they look like, the hands of God?
They are huge and strong, capable of carrying great burdens; they are also gentle and small, able to maneuver effortlessly through the smallest crevices of the human heart or cradle the tiny hands of the newborn infant.
God’s hands are gnarled and calloused, weathered by the knocks and scrapes of a hard life’s labor; they are soft and agile, delicately poised for the artist’s nuance, tender to the touch for the raw and wounded soul.
God’s hands are swift and sure, accurate with a marksman’s steady aim; they are slow and tentative, wisely patient to wait on the one who fears and hesitates.
The hands of God are full of hope, reaching warmly round our shoulders to encourage us in time of doubt; they are full of challenge, capable of shaking us out of our complacency, bidding us release our clinched fists, open our shuttered eyes.
God’s hands accomplish his will; they are single in purpose and unmatchable in wisdom.
God’s hands reveal his heart, slow to anger and quick to mercy.
God’s hands are his Son’s hands, courageously bearing our burdens, nailed out of love to the tree of our guilt.
God’s hands wave wildly in a gesture of greeting, bidding us come home.
God’s hands form a cross, in the blessing of love.
In these final weeks of Lent, as we witness Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, we can picture ourselves with him on pilgrimage. We follow him, imitate his teaching, and witness his love poured out for us; but we also recognize that through his passion, death and resurrection, he is taking us to the Father.
How do we need to “resolutely determine” to hand ourselves over in trust to God? A good question as Lent approaches its climax at Holy Week.
We want to be one with you, Father, our hands in yours.
Into your hands — strong and soft, calloused and gentle, swift and slow, warm and unsettling, wise and merciful, loving and blessing — into your hands — with Jesus — we commend our spirits.
Do you have an intention for Bishop Sartain’s prayer? If so, send it to him at Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Little Rock, 2500 North Tyler St., P.O. Box 7239, Little Rock, AR 72217.
