When my son, Christopher, was born, I marveled at his tiny feet. As most parents, I wondered where they would carry him. When Mary’s Son was born, there suddenly appeared to shepherds a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God. Jesus was more than precocious. By age 12, after a trip with His parents to Jerusalem, He was found in the temple talking with and teaching the teachers.
On The Road
After another 18 years of growing up in the family carpentry business, Jesus transitioned to a preaching and teaching ministry. His feet were still His primary mode of transportation. According to an article in Christianity Today:
- “Jesus, like many of his contemporaries, crisscrossed the country numerous times. Assuming He went from Nazareth to Jerusalem annually for each of the three required annual feasts using the shortest route through Samaria, a distance of 75 miles each way, He would have walked a minimum of 13,500 miles before beginning his ministry.
- “On at least one of His later pilgrimages, He went from Capernaum to Jerusalem by way of Jericho, 106 miles each way. Estimating conservatively, Jesus probably walked at least 15,000 miles in His lifetime.”
One of the most memorable walks, of course, was Jesus on the water, catching up to His disciples in a boat, at night, during a storm. Even Peter joined Him in water walking, for a little while.
However, one of the most important and seemingly last treks was Jesus carrying His cross to Calvary, where His feet were nailed to the cross. It was incredibly cruel: “They then fastened his left foot on to his right foot, having first bored a hole through them with a species of piercer, because they could not be placed in such a position as to be nailed together at once. Next, they took a very long nail and drove it completely through both feet into the cross below, which operation was more than usually painful, on account of his body being so unnaturally stretched out; I counted at least six and thirty blows of the hammer.” From The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died and was buried. On the third day, His tomb was found open and empty.
On the Road Again
Jesus on the move again? I love the “Road to Emmaus” story told in Luke 24:13-35.
- And behold, two of them were going that very day (when the tomb was found empty) to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
Jesus joined the conversation about the crucifixion and the empty tomb. The two men seemed to be speculating about the missing body and whether Jesus was alive.
- And He (Jesus) said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Yes, Jesus was walking and talking again, teaching and preaching His Good News. After 40 days and commissioning His disciples and their spiritual descendants to “make disciples,” Jesus ascended to heaven to later come again.
In His Steps
Jesus feet walked wherever His Father directed, a path prepared just for Him. How about you? Are your feet ready to follow Him, even if painful?
For you have been called for this purpose,
since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you
to follow in His steps
1 Peter 2:21
