When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.
(Luke 9:51)
Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem and He didn’t run away from it even after receiving murderous threats. Listen to His response to the Pharisees who told Him to flee Jerusalem because Herod wanted to kill Him, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal'” (Luke 13:31-32). Suffering was part of the divine plan, just as glory was part of the plan. We want the latter without the former, but that’s not how God works. Like Jesus, we must be willing to embrace the difficult times before we can be victorious.
Rising with the Son 