Today’s Scripture: Mark 15:33-36 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Tyler Connoley):
I will always remember the day my friend Brent sat and cried with me. At church that Sunday, the theme was “compassion.” Focusing on God’s compassion as I went forward for Communion triggered a strong emotional response in me, and I began crying uncontrollably as I went back to my pew. After receiving Communion himself, Brent saw me quietly sobbing in my pew. So, he stopped on his way back to his seat, and sat with me instead. I don’t remember if he put his arm around me or even touched me, and I know he didn’t say anything. He simply cried with me, and it was exactly what I needed at that moment.
More often than not, our response to people who are in emotional or spiritual pain is similar to the people’s response to Jesus’ crying out on the cross. We want to do something, anything to make it better. And the things we come up with aren’t effective.
Hearing Jesus cry out, the people tried to figure out what he was saying. Eloi sounds similar to Eliya, which could be a shortened form of Elijah (Eliyahu) in Hebrew. So, someone said, “Maybe he’s calling for Elijah!”
Someone else ran to get something for him to drink, thinking that might help. But this was — almost literally — like responding to the tears of a dying man by handing him a Kleenex. It wasn’t at all what he needed.
Another person responded with morbid fascination. “Wait, maybe Elijah will actually show up.” This was the Reality TV response — finding entertainment in someone else’s pain. The person seemed to be hoping something more interesting than a slow, painful death on a cross might happen.
None of these people responded with what Jesus really needed, which was simply for someone to witness his emotional and spiritual pain, and perhaps cry with him.
Thought for the day: Often, the only thing we can do for people in emotional or spiritual pain is to share that pain with them. Yet that itself can be a greater gift than all the things we think will make them feel better.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.
Dear Be Still readers,
In the very near future, Found Pearl Press (Jesus MCC’s publishing ministry) will be publishing our first volume of devotionals as a printed book. The book will be entitled, Quench! refreshing devotionals by gay, trans, and affirming Christians.
We’re looking for a few testimonials from users of Be Still and Know to use for the back cover. Would you be willing to let us know what Be Still and Know means to you? If we use your testimonial, we’ll send you a free copy of Quench! as a token of our thanks.
Please email your testimonial to bestill@jesusmcc.org, along with your name and the best way to contact you. Submission of a testimonial constitutes permission for Found Pearl Press to use the testimonial at its discretion.
All we need is two or three sentences — but we need these ASAP! Could you email a few lines right now?