Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again (Matthew 20:17-19).

Jesus, knowing He had only a few days left before He would be killed in Jerusalem, set His face resolutely toward the place of His death and allowed no distractions. He was unflinchingly determined in His journey toward His destiny. He would not be deterred. One of His very own disciples would betray Him, yet He never accused nor excused the betrayer, but continued in the will of God.

I find the attitude displayed by Jesus to be worthy of emulation, that is, we should imitate Him as we walk through much less severe trials. Jesus was about to do what had never been done in human history. He steadfastly moved toward the sacrificial mountain where He was to die for the sin of the world, for sinners, for enemies. No one had ever done such a thing! He moved in faith trusting the veracity of His Heavenly Father’s word that on the third day He would rise from the dead. Jesus would die in faith! His whole life had been one of faith. He had never done anything but what pleased His Father. He had always lived for the will of “Another.” That will was now taking Him to death, yet still He would not entertain the thought of disobeying. Too often, we shrink back because following the will of God is painful.

When under the pressure of trial, do you ever think of yourself more than God who so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son that you should not perish, but have everlasting life? Do you think about your Savior, Jesus Christ, who never lived a moment for Himself, but for the will of God which has saved you? In your time of trial, do not think of yourself, think like Jesus; think as Jesus thought. The will of God should be our primary concern.