It seems that every day, the traffic in Sugar Land increases and frustrations grow as well. As more people move to the community, as more stores are built and as more offices are constructed, the number of cars and trucks swells and the streets are clogged. Then, complications always seem to arise. Due to the changing nature of our community, the major roads are under extensive construction and improvement, but in the meantime, motorists are required to navigate the confusion and complications as best they can. Detours, road closures and warning delays constantly interrupt the normal flow of traffic, not to mention the untimely and unfortunate accidents that occur, causing long lines of cars.

All of the traffic issues make it increasingly difficult to journey to the destinations where we travel. A quick trip to the store now can require more time. A visit to a friends house or to the gym means leaving earlier than before. The roads around our schools are filled with cars and it takes more time even to travel to church.

Jesus, during his ministry of teaching and healing, travelled all throughout Israel
for three years. During the last months of his life, he made an important and necessary journey as he set his course toward Jerusalem and the events that would lead to his execution, his death and his glorious resurrection. That journey, which started in Galilee, ended in Jerusalem on the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb in the garden.

Along the road as he travelled, Jesus did not encounter the kinds of complications and challenges that you and I face in our daily trips, but his encounters with people along the road and in the villages and towns can be enlightening and helpful to us today. He encountered men and women who needed to hear the good news of salvation that he offered, who needed to feel his healing and transforming touch on their lives and who needed to be challenged to believe and follow him.

Over the next few weeks, during the holy season of Lent, I invite you to join me in worship as we examine these encounters on the road with Jesus. I know and trust that you will discover new insight for your life and new hope and confidence that God is with you on the journey that you make every day as a child of God.