WATCHWORD:
Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” John 7:38
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So, Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matthew 14:24-31
You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. Psalm 65:9
Meditation:
Water, Water, Just Like Peter?
Did you know this? Jerusalem is the only major city with no river. None. The Jordan River, you say? Yes, maybe two miles east, as the crow flies, but nearly 2,000 feet down, below the city, into the Jordan Valley. So, no river flowing through the city.
How does one become a major city without a water supply? Wait, I didn’t say the city didn’t have a water supply, just not a river. The amazing Gihon Springs, and its many tributaries, provided an adequate supply of water for first century Jerusalem.
I know nothing about rock formations, or the power of flowing water, or even basic physics, but this is what I learned from my reading: Jerusalem was built on a hill of hard limestone, in which underground water created caustic caves, with various flutes or cracks. During seasonal weather changes; rain fall, snows, etc., water builds up in pools underground and is forced to the surface, creating an intermittent artesian-type water supply. The Hebrew word Gihon means “gushing forth”, so pools were created to capture water when it was gushing, to be available when it was not. There is your trivia lesson for the day.
Enough about that, what about you and water? Remember that bit about Peter and water? Peter was so confident, he called out, “tell me to come to you on the water” and Jesus says “come”. Out he goes, dancing on the waves, happy as a lark, until…
Do you recall that time, there you were walking confidently on the water, just like Peter, everything was going fine, you were healthy, the kids were growing and smart as whips, your retirement was going well, you were happy, one sunny day after another. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, a Chris Craft, full speed, throwing up wave after wave. Down you went, deep into fear, gasping for breath, and you call out, “Lord, save me!”, just like Peter.
A Chris Craft called cancer. That little speed boat of a phone call with tragic news. That ship called Pandemic, that disturbed your stroll on the waves of a good life, a peaceful life, and brought you back to the reality that God was in charge, not you. So, you pray to Him, maybe desperately, to save you. Then, as He asked Peter, Jesus asks you, “Do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15)
We are all walking on waves, fragile lives that could be shattered by simple things that come our way, that produce fear and anxiety, and we call out to Jesus to save us. When all seems lost, we remember a simple statement that Jesus told us: “I will be with you until the end of the age.” And that changes everything.
So how does that work? Like this: “Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior. I know that as I live in this life, adversity and evil are all around, but I will not fear, you will hold my hand as I walk on these waters, I trust that You are with me. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
I went to the river, but the river was dry
I fell to my knees and I looked to the sky
I looked to the sky and the spring rain fell
I saw the water from a deeper well
Well, looking for the water from a deeper well
Well, looking for the water from a deeper well
These are lyrics by Emmylou Harris from a song used in my granddaughter’s “Mid-Winter Show”. One could make an interesting philosophical/religious statement that each of us are looking for “water from a deeper well”, maybe living water? Just thinkin’.
Closing Prayer:
When we begin to doubt your presence, and grumble that your love is unreliable, you offer us living water, Thank you, gracious and generous God.
When life’s regrets and the bad choices we have made leave us feeling excluded and unworthy, you offer us living water, Thank you, gracious and generous God.
When circumstances, or the inhumanity of others, have left us alone and wounded, you offer us living water, Thank you, gracious and generous God.
We thank you and praise you, O God, that however we may thirst, whatever we may need to satisfy our souls, you offer it freely and abundantly in Christ;
So we drink deep of the living water and, as we draw from your deeper wells, we seek to pass the cup to others who, like us, are thirsty for your grace. Amen
