Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 9:51

"And it came to pass, when the days were well-nigh come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem," — Luke 9:51 (ASV)

He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

To go where he must be scourged, and spit upon, and crucified: He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up,

Is not that a wonderful expression? Christ is to die, and to be buried.

Ah! but this word comprehends everything, that he should be received up. Do not think of the gloom of death, especially concerning your dear friends who have lately fallen asleep. Think of their being received up. They did seem to go down; they went as low as the grave; but they could not go any lower. Thank God for his abounding mercy in receiving them up.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

It is a very remarkable expression that is here used: when the time was come that he should be received up. It does not say "that he should depart," or "that he should die." It overleaps that, and speaks only of his glorious ascension into heaven. When that time was drawing near—and, of course, his death would come before it—Christ stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, where he knew that he would die upon the cross.