Saturday,
4/21/ 12
Jesus walked
over the water to the disciples who felt they were in the grip of death. This
story is a parable that tells us Jesus will rescue us from death. He will take
us safely to the other shore.
The
meaning of the story becomes clear when we consider what body of water it was that
threatened the life of the disciples. It was called the Sea of Galilee, but
actually it was just a wide place in the Jordan River. (Much as a hundred miles
south of Jacksonville a wide stretch in the St. John’s River is called Lake
George.)
In the
Book of Joshua, Chapter Three we have the story of the people wanting to pass
over into the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the desert. It
was springtime, and the snows from Lebanon have turned the Jordan River into a
mile-wide barrier.
The
people who had survived those forty years in the desert were a remnant who had
proved themselves obedient. Joshua had the priests carrying the Ark of the
Covenant take a stand next to the flooded Jordan. Then he had the people line
up four abreast in a line back from the ark. At Joshua’s command the priests
carrying the ark stepped into the flooded river, and as the people followed the
waters backed up, clearing the river bed.
The
priests carried the ark down to the middle of the riverbed, then, they took
their stand there. The long line of Israelites passed by them, mounting the
shore into the Promised Land. For
us in death Jesus on the cross will take the place of the priests carrying the
ark. We will pass by, mounting the far shore.
The
storm at night in Chapter Six of John’s Gospel is a picture of our death. If we
have been true to him Jesus will come, and take us to the far shore.
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