Walking on Water
SCRIPTURE READING — MATTHEW 14:22-33
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
— Matthew 14:25
At Rock Spring on the Appala¬chian Trail, I woke to a cold and windy day under threatening clouds.
By the time I had finished breakfast, it was sleeting. Soon I was walking in a swirling snowstorm, barely able to see the path ahead.
Walking on snow is the closest I’ll ever come to walking on water. Only Jesus can do that.
When Jesus walked across the stormy sea to meet his disciples, they saw that he was more than a teacher.
Jesus is God, the Lord of creation. Nature is under his feet. He transcends natural law and controls the wind and the waves.
Inviting Peter to step out of the boat and onto the water, Jesus called Peter to trust in him.
And Peter had to trust Jesus fully, embracing his leading and guidance in the slippery, uncertain place he was walking.
Jesus calls us to trust him too, and, like Peter, we often fail. When we see where we are stepping, our doubts quickly become terrorizing, and we feel ourselves sinking helplessly into the deep.
Jesus calls us to look to him alone, and he reaches out his hand to us.
Turning to Jesus, we are again in the care of the One who controls the wind and the waves. Jesus will never let us sink.
Lord Jesus, give us the faith to trust you wherever you lead us along the paths of life. In your name we pray. Amen.
Water of Life
SCRIPTURE READING — JOHN 4:4-15
“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
— John 4:14
I sat on a fallen log to rest at Gravel Springs on the Appala¬chian Trail. There I was able to drink from the crystal clear, icy cold spring water flowing from the mountainside. After a long, hot afternoon of hiking, the water tasted delicious.
Jesus stopped for a rest and a drink of water at a town in Samaria. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus asked her for a drink. She was surprised that he would talk with her. In those days, Jewish people usually treated Samaritans with contempt. She was even more surprised when Jesus talked about the living water that he could give, saying it would become a spring “welling up to eternal life” to quench her thirst forever.
Water is essential for life. Nothing living can survive long without it.
But Jesus was not talking about physical water here. He was referring to himself. Jesus is the living water, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, eternal life will well up like springs of water in the hearts of all who love and follow him (John 7:38-39).
Without water, we can’t survive. Without the living water of Jesus, we are spiritually dead. But Jesus promises to give us living water that wells up and flows from within us, refreshing us and others in our daily walk with him.
Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with your Holy Spirit so that living waters of eternal life will well up and flow from within as we walk with you and serve you each day. Amen.
Walking to a Destination
SCRIPTURE READING — MARK 10:32-34
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.
— Mark 10:32
Many hikers start the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain in Georgia. Only a fraction, however, complete the entire trail. To make it all the way up Mount Katahdin in Maine at the end of the trail, the destination must become an unshakable goal.
Though Jesus meandered through Galilee and Judea during his ministry, he had one final, unshakable destination in mind, and it was deadly. When he told his disciples he was going to Jerusalem, they were astonished. They knew only too well the ugly jealousy and hatred that the religious leaders had for Jesus. They feared for his life, not to mention their own.
Though he had told them about this before, Jesus’ disciples hadn’t grasped the purpose of his mission. He was going to fulfill the Scriptures’ promise of a suffering servant, who would take the sins of fallen humanity on his shoulders (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). He went to Jerusalem to die on a cross there—in order to give us new life and eternal hope. Thank God that he didn’t quit!
We all face hardships in this journey of life. When we feel like quitting, we need to remind ourselves that Jesus kept marching toward his destination. And now that we are freed from sin and death through him, we can share Jesus’ hope and peace with everyone around us.
Lord Jesus, despite the hardship and suffering you endured, you never gave up on redeeming us. Help us never to give up on you. Amen.
Coming in the Name of the Lord
SCRIPTURE READING — LUKE 19:28-40
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
— Luke 19:38
The mountain view across a vast meadow on the Appalachian Trail was lightly dusted with snow under a brilliant blue sky. I could see for miles across the valley. It was Palm Sunday, and I paused to reflect on the first Palm Sunday, when Jesus and the crowds descended the Mount of Olives and headed into Jerusalem.
Spying him, crowds of people were filled with patriotic fervor. Hailing him as their king, they laid cloaks and palm branches on the path in front of him, shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Somewhat mistaken, they believed he would be Israel’s national savior who could free them from the rule of the Roman Empire. But Jesus had come for a far greater purpose—and just a few days later the same crowds were shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Jesus is the Savior—not merely of Israel or any other nation, but of all people who believe in him. In his mercy, God gave the crowds not what they wanted but what they—and we—needed most.
Later on Palm Sunday in Appalachia, I met a Christian brother named Dave. Standing on the trail, we prayed together, celebrating the Savior.
Jesus saves us from our sinful selves and gives us the peace and assurance we need in order to live and walk with God.
Lord, our wants are so many and are often so shallow and frivolous. Thank you for giving us what we need: new life and peace in you. Amen.
