Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.--Matthew 27:11b-13 (emphasis mine)
He answered nothing. Jesus held His peace. What a wondrous example of wisdom...SILENCE.
But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;
And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear,
And in whose mouth is no response.
For in You, O Lord, I hope;And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear,
And in whose mouth is no response.
You will hear, O Lord my God.--Psalm 38:13-14
You, my Jesus, was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, You opened not Your mouth. You faced so much unjust suffering and were accused of so many things and answered them nothing! You knew they could have no power against You unless it had been given to them by Your Father in heaven. Your surrendered completely to His will for the joy that was set before You and endured the cross...You died because You had set Your love upon ME!! before the foundation of the world!! You desired me and chose me as Your peculiar treasure to be with You always and forever...AND YOUR CHOOSING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ME BUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR MERCY, LOVE AND COMPASSION.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: --1 John 3:1a
It is written in Your word that no Man spoke as You spoke, but silence was Your answer to Your accusers and Your to Your persecutors. You bore it all, speechless and said not a word in Your defense...not a word to stop Your slaughter. You were the perfect self-sacrifice. You, who knew no sin, bore our sins for us and took the punishment we so rightly deserved! Our sin is defenseless. Nothing can be said in excuse of human guilt and no one can save us but our God and it was to Him that You committed Yourself! Such a beautiful and perfect example You left for us in the face of suffering. Silence is so very often the perfect response to an opposing world. Quiet endurance answers so many questions so much better than words often can. Thinking on the martyrs who spoke volumes as they gave up their lives for what they believed. How utterly awesome, Father that in Your Son's silence He proved conclusively that He was the true Lamb of God by fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy!
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.--Isaiah 53:7
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.--Isaiah 53:7
Oh Father, may silence be my wisdom as I face an opposing world who hated You without a cause and because I follow You, will hate me, also.
May I consider my Jesus, who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself and may this keep me from becoming weary and discouraged in my soul knowing that I have not yet resisted to bloodshed striving against sin.
May I do as Your precious Son did in the face of persecution and oppression:
“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;--1 Peter 2:21-23
When I suffer according to Your will, Father, I pray that I do not take offense; but instead commit my soul to You in doing good...You are my faithful Creator. You have seen and observed both my trouble and my grief and will repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You...Into Your hand, then, I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me. You have abolished death and brought immortality to light through the Gospel. May I live for You unashamed for I know whom I have believed and like Paul am confident that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. May my last words be as my Jesus:
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.--Luke 23:46
