Author Archives: J. David Bersagel

Woman at the Well John 4:1-42 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman,” Give me a drink!” v. 7      We return again to Jacob’s well in Samaria.  Here in this story Jesus is again the stranger, the guest.  The woman who comes to draw water from the well is suspicious of him of the stranger.  He doesn’t follow the conventionsContinue reading “Stranger”

Welcoming the stranger Genesis 18:1-8 (Abraham) looked up and saw three men standing near him.  When she saw them , he ran from the tent to greet them…. Gen. 18:2       Abraham camped at the Oaks of Mamre, an oasis where he and his entourage could rest.  His wife Sarah found it so inviting and so comfortable that sheContinue reading “Welcome”

Cup of Water Matthew 10:40-42 …whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… v. 42      In one of the parishes I served, the drinking fountain (or bubbler as it was known around the Milwaukee area) was right outside my office door.  Every time I left or entered my office, IContinue reading “A Cup”

Walk for Water Psalm 23 …he leads me beside still waters… v.2b One out of four people in the world drink from contaminated water sources.        In 2015 young people attending the National Youth Gathering were challenged to raise $500,000 for water projects including wells.  A generous donor matched the $500,000 they did raise.  One million dollars wentContinue reading “Water walk”

Boundary Waters John 19:28-30 “I am thirsty.”  v. 28 Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.      As an associate pastor with youth in my portfolio, I twice took a group of adults and youth on expeditions to the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area in northern Minnesota.  This mostly pristine area of lakes and rivers isContinue reading “Motivation”

Born of Water and Spirit John 3:1-21 “…no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the spirit.”   v. 5      This gospel reading for the third Sunday in Lent focuses on the need to be born from above or born again.  The story concludes with Jesus giving a theological lecture to Nicodemus.Continue reading “Baptism”

Living water John 4:1-42 The water that I will give will become…a spring of water gushing up to eternal life. v. 14b      Jesus has a simple request of a Samaritan woman drawing water from Jacob’s Well in the middle of the day.  “Give me a drink.”   Jesus is thirsty.  So is the woman though she doesn’t acknowledge it yet.  SheContinue reading “A drink”

Water from the Rock Exodus 17:1-7 Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.  v. 6      Having achieved their freedom from slavery, the Israelites found plenty to complain about.  To Moses:  “Why have your brought us out?  To kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?     These aren’t people feelingContinue reading “Providence”

The Gift of Water Genesis 1:6-10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas.  And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:10    When scientists probe other planets near us, they ask if there is water somehow on that planet.  Water would suggest the possibility of life.  So basic to ourContinue reading “Gift”

Feeding of the 5000 Matthew 14:13-21 “You give them something to eat.”  v.17       We often lift up Jesus’ commands to “go, and make disciples…baptize…teach…”  or “Love God…Love neighbor…”   Less often do we lift up Jesus’ simple command to his followers “You give them something to eat.”      People had come running to Jesus with no real thought to theirContinue reading “5000”