Christ was not known to be slow of speech. He was not one to be quiet much less silent. He had much to say and was always teaching and preaching. He commanded the Spirits, heal the sick, raise the dead and gave sight to the blind. His eloquence caused the most learned people of his day to sit back in silence, dumbfounded as they listen to him and marvel at his teachings. He was able to defend and protect his Disciples and any who came to him seeking help. He had sharp rebukes for the gainsayers of his day. But when he stood before Pilate the Governor to be judged; he responded to questions as to whether he was the king of the Jews, or whether he was a King, but he would not say one single solitary word in his defense. When he was accused by the Chief Priests and Elders he answered nothing. When Pilate asked him about the things they were saying about him he never said a word; so that even Pilate marveled at his silence concerning the charges been made against him.

Christ was perfect in all his ways. He was God incarnate. Should God then defend his actions before men? Was there one perfect enough to receive evidence against God that the Son of God should defend in his presence? Was not God the Father; Judge of all? Is it not true that Pilate and the accusers of Christ were performing the task so ordained for them to carry out? Should he then have opened his mouth and change the divine nature of so perfect a Sacrifice for us? Should he have interfered on his own behalf and cause to be marred so dedicated and pure an Offering for sin? Was he not a picture of our defenselessness to Sin? Was not he the one who was presenting himself guilty, waiting for the sentencing to be carried out? Was not his silence more powerful than an eloquent response to his gainsayers? Their accusations provided the evidence necessary for the judge to use in deciding his fate. His calm endurance was the infinite answer to all. He would go to his execution without once ever flinching. He was the Sacrificial Lamb and he was laying down his life on his own terms. He was setting the example for many to follow. Yes: many did follow; as Christianity saw many martyrs who stood before their executioners with calm endurance, despising the pain and shame and proving to the world that it’s better to die for Christ than to live for the world. As Christ stood before Pilate the epitome of the humble and penitent Believer; he was fulfilling his words, spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken”: (Isaiah 53:7-8). This Man of Sorrows is the power of Salvation for all. “He is able to save them to the uttermost, who come unto God by him, seeing he ever live to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7: 25).Today we are assured that we do not have to defend ourselves against the gainsayers with respect to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can face our accusers with the same calm endurance knowing that Jesus is our defense. His promise is: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Hebrews 13: 5) and (Matthew 28: 20). HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH and secured for you Eternal Life.

Love you always with the joy of the LORD.  Be blessed.

W. Bennett