A Walk by the River

“The Word became a man and lived among us, and we saw his glory.” — from John 1

Jack now believed in God. But he could not understand Jesus. How could a man who died long ago, far away, make any difference to Jack now?

On 19 September 1931, Jack invited two friends to dinner at Magdalen: Tolkien and another Christian, Hugo Dyson. Afterwards the three of them went for a walk along Addison’s Walk, a path beside the river behind the college. They talked and talked, late into the night.

They talked about old stories. Jack had always loved the ancient tales of a god who dies and comes back to life. Those stories moved him deeply, even when he could not explain them. His friends said: the story of Jesus is like those stories, with all their beauty and power. But there is one great difference. The story of Jesus really happened! God had told his story, not just in words, but in real events, in a real place, at a real time.

At about three in the morning Tolkien went home. Jack and Hugo walked on and talked until nearly four.

Nine days later, on a sunny morning, Warnie drove Jack to a new zoo called Whipsnade. Warnie had a motorcycle with a sidecar, and Jack rode in the sidecar. When they set off, Jack did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. By the time they reached the zoo, he did! He said it was like waking up and finding that you are already awake.

That Christmas Day, Jack took Communion at Holy Trinity Church, near his home. This time he really believed. And Warnie had come back to faith that year, too. Now the two brothers shared their faith, as they had shared everything since they were small.

God sent his Son Jesus into our real world. The story of Jesus is not just a beautiful story. It is true! Jack spent the rest of his life telling people so. You can believe it, too.

Dear Jesus, thank you for coming into our world. Thank you that your story is true. Help me to know you and love you. Amen.