# Going up to Jerusalem: Lent Reflections
*2015-03-06*

> Bill Young reflects on John 2:13 during the second week of Lent, exploring what it means to “go up to Jerusalem” both for Jesus and for us today.

## Reading the Scripture

Our reading comes from John 2:13: “The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” This brief verse sets the stage for the journey that leads to the Passion.

## What “going up to Jerusalem” really means

In the Gospel narratives, the phrase “going up to Jerusalem” has a double significance. Physically, Jesus is moving toward the city where the events of His Passion will unfold. Spiritually, He is moving deeper into the heart of the Father, preparing Himself for the great obedience that will be required.

## How Jesus prepared

We know from the Gospels that Jesus spent long hours in prayer, cultivating intimacy with the Father and trusting in His love. This prayerful preparation is the model for us as we enter the latter part of Lent.

## Our own journey up to Jerusalem

These Lenten days have been a time for God to pour out into our lives what needs honest confrontation and conversion. Like Jesus, we are also “going up to Jerusalem”—that place where we encounter the deepest demands of our faith. Each day we ask ourselves: what must be overturned in my heart so that I may draw nearer to God?

## Looking ahead

Tomorrow’s Gospel will recount the cleansing of the Temple, a vivid reminder that our pilgrimage is not only about personal conversion but also about purifying the places where we worship.

*Lent invites us to walk with Jesus toward Jerusalem, preparing our hearts through prayer and honest conversion.*