Silence!

 

The chaotic events swept around the disciples of Jesus. At the Passover meal He told them His time had come, that He would be betrayed by one of them, and be taken to die. Later that same evening, He led them to Gethsemane where His prayers were interrupted by guards accompanied by Judas. In terror they fled into the night after Peter’s brief bluster with one of the soldiers. They watched from a distance while Jesus was subjected to a mid-night interrogation. Peter’s courage collapsed and he swore he did not know Jesus, then fleeing into the night sobbing. With the dawn Jesus was dragged from Herod’s court to Pilate’s palace, then beaten to a pulp, and finally handed over for crucifixion. The mob taunted Him as He hung on the cross, until the earth shook and the sky darkened, then He died!

When the tempest died, there was only silence, the awful silence of fear and confusion.

Can you imagine the heaviness in the air when they assembled in secret the day after the Crucifixion, stunned by what they had seen and heard over the previous 48 hours?

Jesus’ promise of Resurrection was incomprehensible, therefore forgotten. He was dead, buried, and their hopes seemed to die with Him.

Christian friend, sometimes we live in those moments, too. Sometimes life takes on a frenetic pace, filled with chaos, and then comes the silence after the storm passes, or death finally comes, or the divorce decree is finalized, or …  

Yes, the silence can be hard, full of grief and questions, wondering what choices could have been different.

The ancient counsel of the Word is that we learn to wait. "The nations are in an uproar, and kingdoms crumble! God thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress." (Psalm 46:6-7, NLT) “Be silent, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10, NLT)  The Hebrew word that is translated ‘silent’ in that line is one that includes the meaning of weak, feeble, or faint. When we become more aware of our limits, of our inability to control life, we can become more aware of the Presence of God’s Spirit. The silence can serve a holy purpose.

Most of us do not deal well with those times, however.  We fill up the silence with noise, activity, words, music, and distractions; afraid to be alone with our thoughts. Are you willing to engage the silence, to wait in faith,

As we approach Good Friday, I urge you to find a time and place of retreat to silence. Many churches are open for prayer on Maundy Thursday. Make time to go and sit quietly, hands and heart open to God’s Presence. (Faith Discovery Church, 33 Brass Castle Road, Washington, NJ will be open from 9 to 3)  Or perhaps your sanctuary is the back yard at your home, or a corner of a park, or a pathway in the woods.  The place is not that important. The willingness to listen, to keep silence, to ‘know that He is God,’ is the aim.  Great comfort can be found when we are wrapped in a profound awareness of His Spirit when we silence ourselves before Him!

Here is a word from the Word.
"But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy."

(Habakkuk 2:20-3:2, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

____________________

Once Again

Jesus Christ
I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing
Poured out to death
Many times I've wondered
At Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again

Once again
I look upon the cross
Where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy
And I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life

Now You are
Exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens
Where one day I'll bow
But for now
I marvel at this saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again

 

Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross my Friend

 

Matt Redman

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