NO MAN SPOKE OR WAS SILENT LIKE JESUS

“No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied. (John 7:46)

Make no mistake, no man ever spoke the way our Lord Jesus Christ spoke. No one ever spoke such truth in so much love. No man every spoke such blessing over burden and life over death. But it doesn’t end there, because no man ever was silent the way our Lord Jesus Christ was silent. He refused to cast His pearls before swine.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. (Matthew 27:12-14)

As our sin-bearer, Jesus knew there was no defense of sin, so He spoke not. He made no defense for Himself, not even in the slightest degree, for He knew the task at hand as the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world . . . bound and silent before the great Judge of the universe. The world is always trying to explain its way out of one predicament after another. Self-justifying is the way of the sinful heart. But He who knew no sin but rather became sin for us remained silent when a single word from His lips could have ended all of His pain and suffering. The prophet’s prediction was fulfilled, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

Let this truth encourage you today! Jesus proved Himself to be the Savior of the world through the words He spoke and through His silence. His patient silence secured our salvation. Perhaps the lesson we should learn today is that there are times to speak up and there are times to remain silent. Let us, at every opportunity, speak up for the advancement of the cause of the kingdom of Christ. And let us, at every opportunity, remain silent for the advancement of the cause of our own kingdom. Let us not get caught up in foolish and stupid arguments, but let us speak the truth of God’s love for a lost and hurting world—a love that is displayed in all its radiant beauty by the person of Jesus Christ. This will assuredly make us most like our Master.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!