Looking Ahead: The Road to the Cross
Month 5: Jesus — God With Us · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 9:51 & Mark 10:32–34
51 As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. — Luke 9:51
32 As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him: 33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.” — Mark 10:32-34
Memory Verse
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”— John 10:11 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Psalm 37; Psalm 71; Psalm 94; Psalm 119:1–88
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 150 of 365 — psalms of trusting God when life is hard and loving His Word.)The Heart of It
This month we watched Jesus draw near. He was born among us. He was baptized. He calmed storms. He shepherded His sheep. But Jesus did not come only to teach and to heal. He came to die. Luke tells us that when the time drew close, Jesus "resolutely set out for Jerusalem" (). He set His face toward it. That little phrase is full of courage. Jesus knew exactly what waited for Him there, and He turned toward it on purpose. In He even tells His friends ahead of time. He will be handed over. He will be mocked. He will be beaten. He will be killed. And after three days, He will rise again. No one took Jesus' life from Him by surprise. The Good Shepherd was walking, eyes wide open, to lay it down for the sheep.
That is the bridge into next month, and it is the very heart of the gospel. This is the same Jesus who is fully God. He commanded the wind. He welcomed children. And He chose the cross. He didn't choose it because He had to lose. He chose it because He loved. Our memory verse says it perfectly. "The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." We don't rescue ourselves. The Shepherd lays down His life to rescue us. So as we close this month, we look ahead with both sorrow and wonder. There is sorrow, because our sin made the cross necessary. And there is wonder, because His love made Him willing. So get ready, family. The road leads to a hill, and then to an empty tomb.
Around the Table
Jesus is brave and full of love. He walked all the way to the cross because He wanted to save us.
Let's do it: Make a brave face, the way Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem. Then give a hug and say, "Jesus loves us!"
Jesus knew about the cross before it happened. And He chose to go anyway.
Let's talk: Why do you think Jesus would walk straight toward something so hard?
Jesus predicted His death and resurrection in detail. Then it happened just as He said ().
Let's go deeper: How does it change the way you see God's love when you know Jesus chose the cross?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's the hardest thing you've ever had to do on purpose, even though you were scared? Jesus did the hardest thing of all. And He did it for us.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know Jesus' death wasn't just a tragic accident? Because He predicted it plainly, long before it happened. He told them He would be betrayed. He told them He would suffer and die. He told them He would rise on the third day (). This was prophecy from Jesus' own mouth, and it came true. That is strong evidence that He is exactly who He claimed to be ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
There is a fatherly courage in worth sitting with. Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem. He did the hard, loving thing. He didn't do it because He felt like it. He did it because His Father's will and His people's good required it. Much of leading a family is exactly this. It is setting your face. Toward the hard conversation. Toward the apology you owe your child. Toward consistent, costly love when feelings run dry. The cross tells us that love is not mainly a feeling. It is a self-giving choice. And the Spirit empowers us to make that choice (). As you prepare to walk your family through the cross next month, let it search you first. Where is Jesus calling you to set your face and give yourself for the ones in your home? You cannot give them a Savior you are unwilling to follow.
Draws on: Paul Tripp, Parenting; Tony Evans, The Power of the Cross.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus set His face toward the cross for us. He laid down His life as our Good Shepherd. Help our family love what He loved. Help us follow wherever He leads. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus saw the cross coming and walked toward it on purpose. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for me.