There’s a quiet urgency in Luke 13:22: Jesus is on the move, teaching as he goes, and he’s headed for Jerusalem. That image touches a deep ache in us—the desire for purpose and the fear of the costly places God sometimes calls us to. We like to linger in safe towns; Jesus models a steady, purposeful pilgrimage toward a hard but necessary end. Where might he be calling you to go that you’ve been avoiding?

Luke 13:22 simply says that Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching, while making his way to Jerusalem. This verse opens Luke’s “journey to Jerusalem” section and frames the coming events: Jesus isn’t aimless, nor merely performing; he’s moving toward a known destination. This particular line is Luke’s—other Gospels also recount Jesus going to Jerusalem, but Luke emphasizes the steady, teaching journey that leads up to the cross.

What this reveals about Jesus is both sobering and hopeful. He travels with intention—he knows what awaits in Jerusalem—but he keeps teaching, inviting people into the kingdom all along the route. The moment is weighty: the path of God’s reign often leads through costly places, and the King Himself willingly walks there. That challenges us: true discipleship isn’t just comfort or opinion; it’s movement toward the places that refine faith. Yet grace accompanies the call—Jesus doesn’t rush past villages; he meets people on the way, patient and instructive, making room for conversion even amid the urgency.

Today, name one “Jerusalem” you’ve been circling—an awkward conversation, a difficult vocation decision, a relationship that needs truth and love. Take one small, tangible step toward it: send the message you’ve been avoiding, pray out loud for God’s courage for five minutes, invite someone for a cup of coffee and speak the truth in love. Let your movement be purposeful and teachable: ask Jesus to shape you on the road, and trust that he walks with you into the hard places to bring life.