There’s not much written about this day during the holy week timeline, so much so that it’s commonly referred to as “Silent Wednesday” or “Silent Day”. But important things still happen in the silence…

Jesus remains at the home of his friends in Bethany as they make preparations for the Passover celebration. I hope he took comfort in their presence, even as he knew these earthly bonds were soon to be changed forever. I’m sure he spent time in prayer, shoring himself up in God’s presence to breathe in strength for the hours ahead. I wonder if by now anyone truly realized the significance of what his sacrifice would mean….and if they understood that the true Passover lamb that was always sacrificed for this meal as a remembrance of God’s hand of salvation from Pharaoh in Egypt…..was in the kitchen helping Martha cut the vegetables. I mean….imagine! Sometimes we know these stories so well we tend to see them in the way we saw old grade school film strips – this happened – then this – and then this…..like a fluttering documentary of a far away time and place that is very removed from you and I today. But that is so not the case with any part of this story….it’s OUR  salvation story, and it bears looking at and remembering with all the fresh insight God has to provide.

Another important thing that happened on this day was the final turning of Judas from disciple to traitor as he approached members of the Sanhedrin to offer his services in the entrapment and capture of Jesus. They were all too happy to accept his offer and a plan was set in motion that would take less than 24 hours to result in the imprisonment of the sinless Son of God. It’s easy to shake our heads and find contempt for this man who hadthe up close and personal access to Jesus that most of us try to imagine having at that time. Scripture tells us that “Satan entered him” which is the only explanation that seems remotely fathomable, yet I don’t think we can let Judas out of all responsibility. Because to do so, would mean to release us from our own….

Tomorrow we will remember the last supper and the act of service as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. We’ll go with him to the garden and wonder if we would have stayed awake with him as he desperately prayed for relief. And we’ll hold our breath as he is betrayed, captured and taken away to the first of several trials. Tomorrow’s a big day.

But important things still happen in the silence…..so for tonight, let’s just sit with Jesus, and allow His glorious spirit to settle into all the silent places we aren’t ready to face yet. We know we’ll have to. We know they’re out there and we even know that God will give us all we will need and more. But maybe we can take a rest from the battle tonight….and just lean into the silence with our amazing savior and brother, Jesus. Can you even believe we get to call Him friend? So humbling….

So much love,

Shellie ♥

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Take a Moment
Will Reagan