Transcript
Speaker: The following podcast is a Jill Devine Media production. Christianity has become known for judgy people, strange words, ancient stories, confusing rules, and a members -only mindset. This is why I stayed away from the church for so long, but it's not supposed to be that way. I'm Jill Devine, a former radio personality with three tattoos, a love for a good tequila, and who's never read the entire Bible.
Speaker: Yet here I am hosting a podcast about faith. The Normal Goes Along Way podcast is your home for real conversations with real people using real language about how faith and real life intersect. Welcome to the conversation. I'm Jill Devine, the host of Normal Goes Along Way and our Holy Week reflection and prayer time continues with Laura Fleetwood.
Speaker: It's Wednesday morning and the Bible does not tell us what Jesus did today.
Speaker: People speculate that after the exhausting days of riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and being at the temple on Monday and confronting the religious leaders on Tuesday and knowing of Judas's betrayal, that on Wednesday, perhaps he went away with his disciples and rested. I love this about Jesus. I love that he modeled the rhythm.
Speaker: of rest. I don't know anybody who worked harder than he did. When you imagine the emotional, physical and mental energy it took to walk this journey, knowing what he knew and loving how he loved,
Speaker: and doing it all anyway, remembering that he is a human with a need for rest and renewal and restoration and time with his father and with his friends. We imagine that today he rested.
Speaker: that he filled himself with the love of his father, with the love of his friends. He prepared his mind through prayer for what was to come. He prepared his body through rest and nourishment of good food and drink for what was to come. He prayed and let his soul speak the truth to his father, who was the only one who understood.
Speaker: Nobody understood what was happening. Not even those closest to Jesus. He tried to tell them. He tried to prepare them. But how could you be prepared for the ultimate rejection of someone who is pure love? Jesus rested today and so should we. We should be reminded that we are human beings with human
Speaker: capabilities and human limits. Our bodies need rest. Our minds need restoration. Our souls need rejuvenation and filling with the spirit. So today I invite you to follow in Jesus' footsteps and rest.
Speaker: Because tomorrow things are going to be intense. Tomorrow the action really begins. After tomorrow, there is no turning back. And so today we rest and we rejoice in the goodness of God. Dear Heavenly Father, how difficult it is for us to truly rest in you.
Speaker: Honestly, it's difficult for us to rest at all. Our habit is to pick up a phone or turn on the TV instead of truly resting body, mind and spirit. I knew Jesus was the perfect model for us of how important rest is just before these last days of his life. When he could have been trying to do lots of things that he wanted to fit in, he could have been trying to
Speaker: see the people that he wanted to see one last time. Instead, he chose to rest and spend time with you and to spend time with those that he truly loved. Lord, let us live by his example today. Let us love well. Let us appreciate all that you have given us.
Speaker: For tomorrow, the dark journey really begins. And so today, we ask you to help us rest. Amen.
