Lenten Theme Hymn: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say," ELW 332
Devotion
1I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast."
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
and he has made me glad.
2I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one;
stoop down and drink and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
3I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"I am this dark world's light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I'll walk
till trav'ling days are done.
Text: Horatius Bonar, 1808-89 (Public Domain)
The silence of God that flowed out of Jesus' last breath on the cross will continue in the silence of the tomb on Holy Saturday. Yet even in this silence, God speaks to us, offering us the simple silence of waiting and rest. The hymn "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" beckons us to consider how to rest today, but it calls us to a rest that makes us uncomfortable and fearful: the rest of silence in the darkness of the tomb. For after all, Jesus lay completely dead in the earth; hope seemed lost.
Yet we can, with God's help, embrace the discomfort and come to Jesus for rest. We can be confident that when we come to Jesus full of the weariness of living, worn out and sad, still here at the tomb we will find in Jesus our resting place.
Prayer
Jesus, help me in my discomfort, in the places of life that make me weary and sad. Give me your rest, Lord. Amen.