Tower and Town, November 2024 (view the full edition)Clergy LetterI wonder what the new academic year has felt like so far to you? To me, it's felt like a big effort to get back up to speed, especially as I suffered a bereavement in the summer. It reminds me of the new start that God's people faced in Joshua 1, in the Bible. Their great leader Moses had died on the threshold of crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. How could they possibly carry on? Picture their new leader Joshua, his battle-hardened face streaked with tears at the loss of his great friend. Maybe you know the slightly quaint children's song: Twelve men went to spy in Canaan: ten were bad, two were good. What do you think they saw in Canaan? Some saw grapes in clusters long; Some saw giants big and strong; Some saw God was in it all! Ten were bad, two were good. Forty years before, Joshua had been one of the two good spies and now he hears God's voice: 'As I was with Moses, so I will be with you... Be strong and courageous!' Jesus and Joshua share the same name, which means, 'the Lord saves'. Unlike Joshua, Jesus didn't drive his enemies out of the land, for Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world'. But like Joshua, Jesus mourned the death of a great prophet. He was strong and courageous to defeat evil, and led God's people through dark waters into a heavenly land. When Jesus stepped out of this very same Jordan River, God thundered, 'This is my Son whom I love - listen to him!' Will we listen to Jesus, who says, 'Come to me all you who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest'? We may not face, 'grapes in clusters long,' or 'giants big and strong,' but I wonder what great challenges and opportunities we will face. Many, no doubt! Let's listen to Jesus for he is strong and courageous - God will never leave or forsake him. Let Jesus be our champion, who defeated sin, death and the devil! Shall we trust and follow him? Reuben Mann |