John Calvin 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)

While the days of his being received up, etc. Luke alone relates this narrative, which, however, is highly useful on many accounts. For:

1. It describes the divine courage and firmness of Christ⁵⁸⁶ in despising death.
2. What deadly enmities are produced by differences about religion.
3. With what headlong ardor the nature of man is hurried on to impatience.
4. How ready we are to fall into mistakes in imitating the saints.
5. And, by the example of Christ, we are called to the exercise of meekness.

The death of Christ is called his being received up, (ἀνάληψις) not only because he was then withdrawn from our midst,⁵⁸⁷ but because, leaving the lowly prison of the flesh, he ascended on high.

⁵⁸⁶ “La magnanimite et constance admirable de Iesus Christ;” — “the wonderful magnanimity and firmness of Jesus Christ.”;” — “the wonderful magnanimity and firmness of Jesus Christ.”

⁵⁸⁷ “Non pas seulement pource qu il a lors este enleve et comme retranche du milieu des hommes;” — “not only because he was then raised up, and, as it were, withdrawn from the midst of men.”;” — “not only because he was then raised up, and, as it were, withdrawn from the midst of men.”