The seventh chapter of John opens approximately six months after the events recorded in the previous chapter. And verse one tells us that Jesus spent those months ministering in Galilee, the northern region of Israel. Although this was about to change, it says He had stayed away from the southern region of Judea – where the capital city of Jerusalem was located – because the Jewish religious leaders there wanted to kill Him.
But I’m intrigued by the Greek word translated with its literal meaning here as walked and walk in the New King James Version which reads:
After these things Jesus WALKED in Galilee; for He did not want to WALK in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.
Several other English Bible versions have chosen to use the figurative meaning of this word which is perfectly appropriate, perhaps even more so. But I’m drawn to this literal rendering.
Why? Because it illustrates how purposeful and strategic Jesus was about how he managed His life including His very steps. He made careful choices about where he WALKED. And most of the time I don’t.
The context clarifies that He wasn’t avoiding Judea out of fear. He was being a good steward of His time. He knew He was destined for the cross in Jerusalem. But He also knew it wasn’t time yet. He plotted the course of His life on the basis of His divine purpose.
I, on the other hand, regularly find myself choosing to walk the road of least resistance or taking the scenic route just because it suits me without even considering the will or timing of God. I let my feet lead me – so to speak – instead of the other way around. And perhaps you’ve noticed that our feet really can’t be trusted to make the wisest choices.
My wife and I live within walking distance of this gorgeous beach. And we frequently stroll down here to see the surf and catch the sunset. But there are two paths we can take. One involves climbing a VERY steep hill and the other doesn’t. Which one do you think we usually choose? Bingo! We don’t even give it a second thought. Even though we’d definitely benefit from the exercise the other trail would provide we select the route that best serves our feet.
I don’t want my Christian WALK to be like that. I want to be more careful about what road I’m on and when making sure to pursue the will of God above my own preferences. How about you?