The Incredible Journey

The Disney Corporation has made over 330 movies since Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs in 1939.  In 1963 with a remake in 1993, Disney made a movie called Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.  It is the story of three pets (two dogs and a cat) that make an incredible cross-country journey to be reunited with their family.  Their journey takes them across mountains and rivers, encountering wild animals and many adventures until they are finally reunited with their family.

The Gospel writers tell us about an even more INCREDIBLE journey.  Paul describes it in Philippians 2.  ‘Christ Jesus did not count equality with God something to be grasped, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!  Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place.’

One of the reasons the journey of Jesus is so incredible is because Jesus willingly, voluntarily came from heaven to earth, knowing His ultimate end.  As an old hymn says, ‘He left the splendors of heaven, knowing His destiny was the lonely hill of Golgotha, there to lay down Hid life for me.’  Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem, but He  was determined to go there and drink the cup of suffering that awaited Him there.  Luke 9:51 says, ‘As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.’  One translation says that ‘He set His face toward Jerusalem.’

The Gospel writers devote major sections of their gospel accounts to describing what transpired during the last week of Jesus on this earth.  Let me encourage all of us to take time to reread the final accounts of the Gospels frequently.  As Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John recount for us the story of Jesus as He makes His journey to Golgotha, it is a great reminder of Paul’s words in Romans 5: ‘When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  while we were sinners, Christ died for us.  When we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son.’

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for letting Your Son make the incredible journey from heaven into our world—sacrificing Himself for us so that we can be in a relationship with You.

Terry Brown

Abilene, Texas