Rain in the Desert

Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and all kinds of illness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the laborers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to His harvest.’

Setting is important.  I am sitting on the back porch watching it rain.  Steady, gentle, with an occasional gust of wind sending a flurry of refreshment.  This is after a crazy wild thunder and lightening storm all night long trying to smash through the prison of heat where we have lived the past week.  

There are a lot of metaphors about the Good News being like cold water to a weary soul.  And a place of springs in the Valley of Bitterness.  And With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  And Jesus himself cries out loudly, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink,” Here the Son is repeating the offer of the Father, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters." Indeed, he is claiming the role of God, who "will guide them and lead them beside springs of water."

And the world is full of harassed and dejected people who are thirsty.  And Jesus was gripped with compassion when He saw them.  May we too be willing to leave our nets, leave our counting tables, leave our dead to be buried with no looking back.

After the transfiguration, Jesus set out resolutely for Jerusalem.  He understood His calling.  And He drew a line for His followers: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

I don’t know what my “Jerusalem” is.  Neither did the disciples.  It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it. But He has given me enough to go on: deny myself daily, take up my cross daily, follow Me daily.  And to see the thirsty crowds.

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.