Regular Sunday Services

Pastor's Message

"To Walk Where Jesus Walked"

Follow in His Steps

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving
you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

I've never been to Israel. I've never walked where Jesus walked. I've never stood in Manger Square to contemplate the place of Jesus' birth or journeyed to Egypt where Jesus fled as a refugee. I've never traveled the mean streets of Nazareth where Jesus grew in favour with God and man or gone to Jerusalem to pray at the Temple site where Jesus prayed. I've never lived long enough to rake my hand across Pilate's Pavement where our Lord stood accused, condemned for our sins. I've never traced His steps to the Stations of the Cross along the Via Delarossa where He stumbled and fell. I've never been to the gloomy Church of the Holy Sepulcher where His body was laid. Many of you may also long to travel to "follow in His steps":

I have news for you! Following in the footsteps of Jesus involves more than getting on a plane to Israel. For the footprints of Jesus can't be found in the sands of the Judean wilderness but in the realm of the Spirit and the depths of each soul. The greatest journeys of Jesus took place on a different plane of existence. It was primarily a spiritual plane as Paul confesses: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". His greatest moment of Triumph occurred as he "rose again on the Third Day and ascended into heaven". These are the places where Jesus walked. And they are the places where we who would follow Jesus must walk no matter what our geographic locale.

These are the spiritual places: "the valley of the shadow of death", "the dark night of the soul", "the confession of sin" the "eternal bliss at the gates of the New Jerusalem". These are destinations not located in the physical but in the spiritual ? in the depths of the soul and the eternity of the worlds to come. These destinations are as close or far away for the person living in Madrid or Toronto or Spain or Jerusalem.

God is an equal opportunity employer. God is no respecter of persons. His call extends equally to all no matter what condition of life you find yourselves in. You can begin your walk with Jesus wherever you are because to walk with Jesus means to walk in the Spirit. It is a walk accessible to all that are brave enough to embark on it. As your pastor, I hope to walk with you physically to many places but its more important that we walk the spiritual walk. It's a walk we can begin together today. I invite you to follow in His steps.

Following in His Steps:

Rev. G.C. Johnson