The Response of Silence

It’s funny that as I’m writing this devotional, I also happen to be watching the movie The Passion of the Christ. And even as I was reading the passage for today, I was watching it unfold on screen. A coincidence? Maybe. But even with the understanding that The Passion of the Christ is just one man’s depiction of scripture and not scripture itself, I was struck by how accurately it portrays what was happening as Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin. If you have the chance, I’d watch the movie. Or better yet. Read the story the movie was based on.

Read Mark 14:53-15:5

Try to picture what is going on as Jesus stands before the high priest. He’s surrounded by an angry mob, and person after person comes forth to accuse him. He hasn’t done anything wrong, and yet he doesn’t speak in his own defense. His response to his accusers is silence. Why do you think that is? I think that when Jesus said “Not my will but yours be done” to the Father, he meant, I will take whatever abuse they heap on me. Jesus bore both the wrath of God on the cross, but also the shame of being accused, beaten, and crucified like a common criminal. His response to his accusers? Silence. Full acceptance that God’s will was going to happen.

Spend sometime this day reflecting on Jesus and his response as he stood before the high priest. Yes, his silence spoke volumes about his character and his submission to the Father’s plan. But the few words he spoke before the high priest speak immensely about his person. He is God. “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Death couldn’t hold him in the grave. While the Sanhedrin accused him of threatening the temple, Jesus was only telling everyone that he was the perfect sacrifice.

Take some time to reflect on the Easter story and journal. What emotions spring up in you when you hear the story of the crucifixion? What thoughts has God put in your mind as you reflect on Him and all that He’s done for us through his Son?

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7