He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' – Luke 13:22, 31-33 (ESV)
Geographically, Jesus is steadily going to Jerusalem. Now, He has been to Jerusalem before (Luke 2, etc.), but His life is a journey that will culminate at Jerusalem. The point of this progression is that Jesus, with all His talks of discipleship and counting the cost, will actually demonstrate what discipleship will be: God appointed dying. Our lives may not be physically taken like Jesus’ was, but our lives will have persecution and opposition if we truly follow the Lord. Persecution and opposition does not automatically mean that you are living the life God desires, but truly following the Lord will have these things present. Our Lord understands the pain of God’s plan (Luke 12:50), and He does not ask of His followers anything that He Himself hasn’t endured.
