There is silence that aids in bringing calm and restful peace. Moments of silence provide the opportunity for things to be pondered. Sometimes, due to being so accustomed to the lack of silence, people seem to be uncomfortable when there is a long silent pause; perhaps anxiously waiting for what is coming next. Some silence can be good for the soul as our focus is lifted toward God in growing trusting faith.
However, there is silence that arises when there is cause for the rising of a storm within oneself. On an occasion of interaction between Jesus and some Jewish leaders, it was inner conflict which resulted in their silence. We read. . .
“(1) One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. (2) And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. (3) And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” (4) But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. (5) And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” (6) And they could not reply to these things.” (Luke 14:1-6 ESV)
Jesus’ question regarding what was lawful prompted silence among these watchers poised to trap Him in His actions. This first silence exhibited was a stubborn silence. They had learned from earlier experience they could not win an argument with Jesus. Therefore, they refused to respond to Jesus’ question probably for fear of being trapped by it themselves. The second silence was a silence of conviction; they were convicted within themselves of their own guilt, thus having no response they could give in the wake of what Jesus stated they would do following the healing He had brought to a fellow human being. They could not respond to the reality of valuing the life of personal property over the life of a person. Both Jesus’ action and words silenced them, leaving them in the inner turmoil of being put in their place of unbelief.
Rather than being left in stubborn silence in connection to the life and teachings of Jesus, let us be drawn into the acceptance of the way, truth, and life He is (John 14:6) and share that reality with those around us. Rather than remaining in the conflict of unbelief, may our heart be open to He Who came full of grace and truth (John 1:14) and so experience the rest and peace He has invited us to come to receive in Him. (Matthew 11:28-30) Because of Jesus, even with unrest around us, we can experience stillness within as we trust in His power to work on our behalf and the eternal promise of which we are assured in Him!
Have a great day EXPERIENCING STILLNESS OF SOUL IN JESUS!
Carl
