Jesus’ Public Ministry From Galilee to Jerusalem

Church History: Samaritans Opposition; Luke 9:51-56. Here we have a piece of history recorded by no other evangelist but Luke; but is of great use to us, both to let us know, that our Savior laid down his life, no man took it from him, and to let us see to what height differences about religion ordinarily arise, and what intemperateness is often found, as to them, in the spirits of the best of people, as also what is the will of our great Master as to the government of our spirits in such cases. The going up of our Savior to Jerusalem at this time was his last journey thither.
When the time was come that he should be received up; that is, when the time was drawing nigh when Christ should ascend up into heaven; so the word is used, Mark 16:19; Acts 1:11; 1Titus 3:16. But why does Luke express it this way? Why does he say, when he was to suffer; but skips over his death, and only mentions his ascension?
1. Christ was first to suffer, and then to enter into his glory.
2. Christ's death is called a lifting up from the earth, John 12:32.
3. What if we should say that Christ's death is expressed, to let us know that the death of Christ was to him a thing that his eye was not so much upon, as the glory which he immediately was to enter into after; so as he calls his very death a taking up, as that which immediately preceded it, thereby teaching us to overlook sufferings and death, as not worthy to be named or mentioned, and to look only to that taking up into our Father's glory, which is the portion of all believers; when they die, they are taken up from the earth: and though our bodies still stay behind a while, death having a power over us, yet of them also there shall be a taking up. Upon both which takings up our eyes should be so fixed, as to overlook all the sufferings of this life, as not worthy to be named.
He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. He was now in Galilee, Jerusalem was the place designed for his suffering; between Galilee and Jerusalem lay Samaria, through which he was to pass.
The disciples did not consider that the conduct of the Samaritans was the effect of national prejudices and bigotry, moreso than of enmity to the word and worship of God; and though they refused to receive Christ and his disciples, they did not abuse or injure them. The case was widely different from that of Ahaziah and Elijah. Nor were they aware that the gospel dispensation was to be marked by miracles of mercy. But above all, they were ignorant of the prevailing motives of their own hearts, which were pride and carnal ambition. Of this our Lord warned them. It is easy for us to say, Come, see our zeal for the Lord! and to think we are very faithful in his cause, when we are seeking our own objects, and even doing harm instead of good to others.