Care For Your Soul - esus Turned His Face Toward Jerusalem

March 28, 2026·28 min·2 clips

Jesus knew it was time to turn toward Calvary, and Pastor Horton says you must stop playing church.

This episode features Pastor Darrell Horton of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Austin, Texas preaching a sermon focused on a passage from the Gospel of Luke. He examines the moment when Jesus "steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem," framing it as a pivotal turn in Christ's ministry. Pastor Horton connects this biblical narrative to the contemporary Lenten season as a countdown to Easter. The sermon centers on Luke 9:51-56, where Jesus resolves to go to Jerusalem, sends messengers ahead into a Samaritan village, and is rejected. Two disciples, James and John, ask if they should call down fire from heaven to consume the village, but Jesus rebukes them. Pastor Horton structures his message around three observations from the text: Jesus's conviction, his commission of the disciples, and his compassion. He explains that Jesus's earlier miracles served to authenticate his identity, but turning toward Jerusalem marked a shift toward the "time of acceptance" and his ultimate sacrifice on Calvary. A key insight is that Jesus's conviction was self-determined, knowing "in his own self" it was time to fulfill his mission without needing external validation. The pastor draws a parallel to Olympians who "turn on their game face," suggesting believers also reach a moment to move decisively in God's direction. He notes the original language implies Jesus was going "uphill to Jerusalem," linking it spiritually to a "higher standard" for disciples. The rejection by the Samaritans is framed as a historical ethnic and religious conflict, as Jewish pilgrims often passed through Samaria to reach Jerusalem for festivals. Pastor Horton argues that Jesus commissioning the disciples to go ahead symbolizes the ongoing mission for believers to prepare the way for Christ's return, not by judging others but by sharing the gospel. He states the disciples' vengeful reaction is a common human response when the message is rejected, but Jesus's rebuke redirects them toward salvation, not destruction. A memorable claim is that "God's not taking attendance" but cares about the heart and conviction of a disciple. The sermon warns that opportunities to accept the message are limited, as Jesus and the disciples simply "went to another village" after being refused. The tone is pastoral, exhortative, and celebratory, delivered in a traditional Black church preaching style with call-and-response elements. It is educational in its scriptural analysis but deeply motivational, aiming to inspire personal commitment. Listeners who enjoy expository Bible teaching within an evangelical Christian framework and appreciate dynamic, application-oriented sermons would find this episode compelling. Those not interested in religious content or this particular homiletic style would likely choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A steady sermon on resolve, mercy, and why Jesus kept walking toward Jerusalem.

The sermon stays close to Luke 9 as it turns toward Jerusalem and keeps its focus on resolve, restraint, and mercy. Darrell Horton walks the passage plainly: Jesus keeps moving forward, sends messengers ahead, and corrects James and John when they reach for fire instead of…

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Hear a sermon about Jesus turning his face toward Jerusalem and choosing mercy over destruction.

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