By the time this TFTD is published I shall hopefully be on a train home from Newcastle, having completed a 3 day cycle ride along Hadrian’s Wall – actually on roads following the route along Hadrian’s Wall, from Silloth to Tynemouth
Hadrian’s Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire for nearly 300 years and was built in around 122AD. It ran from near Tynemouth in the east for around 72 miles to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. It’s purpose was to protect the Roman provinces from the “nasty Picts” – apologies to any Scots reading this.
What do walls represent?
Protection from outside predators, and a mechanism for stopping us leaving. Keeping things/people out, or keeping them in. Whichever it is there is always a need to allow movement from one side to the other. Walls have a purpose, but sometimes we build them as a barrier, we refuse to look over them at the other side.
Consider the damage that was done when the Berlin Wall was so swiftly erected and families were permanently separated for decades. What about the wall that separates Israel and Gaza?
Jesus speaks of himself being the gate for the sheep in John 10 verse 7. The wall that protected the sheep from predators and held them securely in case they felt like wandering off had a gap. The shepherd acted as the gate by laying across the gap.
Jesus helps protect us from those who wish us harm, and helps prevent us wandering off and getting lost. It is through Jesus that we find security. It is through Jesus that we come before God.
Prayer: Loving Lord, forgive us when we build walls so high that we cannot see who or what is on the other side. Forgive us when want to hold on to what we know and not to share with others who might be different from us. Thank you that you are the gate through which all are invited to pass. Help us to remove barriers we build between ourselves and you, and those that prevent others coming to know you. Amen