After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

~ Luke 19:28 ~

Last year, 2012, was the first year that I ever traveled to Israel by myself. With anticipation AND fear, I rented a car. I would be lying if I said that I was fully confident. In fact I was rather scared, especially with the Israeli drivers and knowing my own abilities. Even though I have been diligently trying to learn conversational Hebrew, I was still timid. In America, we often run yellow lights. However, in Israel, if one is waiting at the red light, the light will go red, yellow and green. If you are not halfway across the intersection when the light turns green, you get a honking horn. This can be quite intimidating for us Southerners who are not used to hearing people honk the horn at us.

One of the most favorite expressions for Israeli drivers giving driving directions is Yashar, Yashar יָשָׁר. This means up ahead, go straight forward, or as we in the south would say, “Up the road apiece.” As mostly anyone knows, when told that your destination is up ahead, that could mean 200 yards or 2 miles ahead. One must accept the fact that the destination is up ahead, unseen. By faith, we listen and follow the directions.

Even though Yeshua Jesus’ main focus was the Galilee, He knew that He had to go to Jerusalem. He knew that there was a certain timing for His appearance; it was always ahead Yashar יָשָׁר. As Jerusalem has elevation, it was quite appropriate that He went UP to Jerusalem. Over the past few years, Yeshua had discipled His followers; however He always went on ahead Yashar of them. As the word Yashar יָשָׁר also means righteous, straight, level, correct, Yeshua is the model for us when we are facing the challenges of life that cause us to die to self. Hebrews chapter 12 the second verse makes note that Yeshua Jesus endured the cross with joy. He went on ahead, Yashar יָשָׁר, as a model for us.

What comfort this should bring to us, His followers. Followership is so important in the body of Messiah. With full assurance, we can go forth, knowing that, sight unseen, Yeshua has gone on ahead of us. In Hebrews the 11th chapter, first verse, we are encouraged that faith is the conviction of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. If we see the things that we hoped for, then it is not faith that God desires to work within us. However it is good when we do not see, we believe first and then we see. We trust, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Ruakh HaKodesh, to believe that Yeshua Jesus is up ahead Yashar יָשָׁר. He is our Good Shepherd and He will lead us into paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Dear saint, whatever you are trusting God with today, be encouraged and assured to know that He, Yeshua, your salvation, is Yashar יָשָׁר, up the road apiece, and you can trust Him.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who
have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:11