April 8, 2020 –Holy Wednesday Devotion by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Silence
Lectionary Readings for Holy Wednesday 2020
Devotion – Psalm 62
The Bible does not make reference to the events of that Wednesday before Good Friday. It is known as a day of silence, because the Bible is silent on it. However, it was a day of preparation. Judas was making plans with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus. Jesus and the other disciples were preparing for their Passover meal, the Last Supper. It was day of preparation for final moments. Only Jesus knew what was coming. If you only had one more day or one more meal with your friends, how would you spend it? What would you tell them? The Last Supper, which takes place on Thursday, was that last moment for Jesus of just being with His friends.
While I encourage you to read all of Psalm 62, I want to highlight Psalm 62:5-8 ESV, which states:
5For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
When was the last time you sat in silence with God? When was the last time you sat in silence at all? We are not always comfortable in the silence. Often, we have to have music or television on as background noise. But I encourage you to spend some time in silence before God. In the silence, God can speak to us. In the silence, we can organize our thoughts. In the silence, we can find peace. When we went to Yellowstone years ago, one of the rangers told us that the number one commodity Yellowstone had was silence. People would go there just for the silence, to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.
In the silence, we can take refuge in God. All of us experience troubled times at some point in our lives. Many people are troubled by what is going on in the world today. Our salvation, our hope, and our glory, all comes from God. We can place our trust in God, because He has taken care of us before, and He will again. God is always there watching out for us. Sometimes, we need to take action. But sometimes, we need to be patient and wait upon the Lord. God is always active, always working in our lives through the good and the bad. And sometimes, we just need to rest in the silence.
Closing
I pray that you are able to find peace and refuge in God. God is the source of all our hope and salvation. May God grant you peace in these troubled times, and may you find rest and renewal in God’s presence.
Silence
Lectionary Readings for Holy Wednesday 2020
- Isaiah 50:4-9
- Psalm 70
- Hebrews 12:1-3
- John 13:21-32
Devotion – Psalm 62
The Bible does not make reference to the events of that Wednesday before Good Friday. It is known as a day of silence, because the Bible is silent on it. However, it was a day of preparation. Judas was making plans with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus. Jesus and the other disciples were preparing for their Passover meal, the Last Supper. It was day of preparation for final moments. Only Jesus knew what was coming. If you only had one more day or one more meal with your friends, how would you spend it? What would you tell them? The Last Supper, which takes place on Thursday, was that last moment for Jesus of just being with His friends.
While I encourage you to read all of Psalm 62, I want to highlight Psalm 62:5-8 ESV, which states:
5For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
When was the last time you sat in silence with God? When was the last time you sat in silence at all? We are not always comfortable in the silence. Often, we have to have music or television on as background noise. But I encourage you to spend some time in silence before God. In the silence, God can speak to us. In the silence, we can organize our thoughts. In the silence, we can find peace. When we went to Yellowstone years ago, one of the rangers told us that the number one commodity Yellowstone had was silence. People would go there just for the silence, to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.
In the silence, we can take refuge in God. All of us experience troubled times at some point in our lives. Many people are troubled by what is going on in the world today. Our salvation, our hope, and our glory, all comes from God. We can place our trust in God, because He has taken care of us before, and He will again. God is always there watching out for us. Sometimes, we need to take action. But sometimes, we need to be patient and wait upon the Lord. God is always active, always working in our lives through the good and the bad. And sometimes, we just need to rest in the silence.
Closing
I pray that you are able to find peace and refuge in God. God is the source of all our hope and salvation. May God grant you peace in these troubled times, and may you find rest and renewal in God’s presence.