Jesus travels to Jerusalem

Jesus travels to Jerusalem

Discussions about the kingdom

The apostles told Jesus that they believed in him. They believed that he was the Messiah. Jesus now began to speak to them about his death. He told them that he would die on a cross. They did not understand. They still thought that Jesus would establish God's kingdom on earth immediately. They thought that Jesus would appoint them to be rulers in the kingdom. They would be powerful and important.

Later, Pilate, who governed Jerusalem, asked Jesus questions about the kingdom. Jesus told him ’My kingdom does not belong to this world‘. The apostles did not understand this. But they understood it after Jesus came alive again.

The route to Jerusalem

Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem. He knew what would happen to him there (Luke 9:51). He wanted to go through Samaria, but the people there would not allow him. This was because he was going to Jerusalem (Luke 9:52-56). So Jesus and his disciples went through Perea. Later in the journey, he walked ahead. This action astonished the disciples. Many people who were with Jesus were afraid (Mark 10:32-34).

The Jewish rulers asked Jesus many questions. They wanted him to give them wrong answers. But Jesus always answered with great knowledge and wisdom. At last, they did not continue to ask questions. Instead, they plotted to kill Jesus on the cross.

Judgement

So Jesus had left Galilee for the last time. He said that God would punish the people in some towns there, because of their sins. He spoke about Capernaum, Bethsaida and other towns, where he had taught people. He had also cured people there; and he had done other miracles.

Some towns where people did not believe

13 Jesus then said, ‘You people in Chorazin, things will be bad for you! And things will be bad for you, people in Bethsaida. I have done great and powerful things in your cities. If I had done such great things in Tyre and in Sidon, the people there would have changed how they lived. They would have shown that they were sorry for their sins. They would have put on rough clothes. They would also have put ashes on their heads. 14 Yes, when God judges everyone, he will punish the people of Tyre and Sidon. But he will punish even more you people from Chorazin and Bethsaida. 15 And what will happen to you people in Capernaum? You think that God will lift you up to heaven, do you? No! He will throw you down to Hades, the place for dead people!’

10:15One day, God will punish people who do wrong things. Jesus was telling this to those that followed him. God will punish some people more than other people. He will punish the people in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum more than the people in Sodom. The people in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum had heard Jesus speak and they had seen his power. But they did not believe him. The people in Sodom had never seen Jesus or heard his message. God will punish those people. But he will punish those people who refuse his message more.

Luke 10:13-15 EasyEnglish Bible (EASY)

Here Jesus spoke about the day when God will judge everybody. He will decide who has obeyed him. He will reward the people who obey him. They are God's own people. They trust God. So they please God. But God will punish those people who have not obeyed him.

People in these places heard what Jesus taught. They saw his miracles. Only a few of them repented and believed in him. The miracles of Jesus show who he really is. He wants us to believe him. We must repent. We must trust him and obey him.