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 27:13-14)
Pilate pressed our Lord to speak on His own behalf, and we read that Pilate was amazed that Jesus remained silent. Yet in another passage of Scripture we read, “No one ever spoke the way this man spoke” (John 7:46). So we can be sure that the Son of God wasn’t at a loss for words!
So much can be said about our Savior’s silence that brings great encouragement into the life of the Christian. For every disciple of Christ, there are times to speak and times to be silent. The key is to possess the wisdom and discernment to know and understand the times. Jesus was silent when words might have brought a blessing to Himself. But never did He withhold His words when He could bless others.
Jesus said to the fishermen He found down by the shore, “Come,” and they became fishers of men.
Jesus said to the man up in a tree, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately,” and the diminutive tax collector rose up into the ministry of the gospel alongside his Master.
Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Will you give me a drink?” and she was given “living water.” That woman became the first evangelist in her town of Samaria, where many would become believers.
Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” She left His presence forgiven and faithful to Her Lord.
These are just a few of the many examples of the words of Jesus blessing others. Jesus was silent in the presence of Pilate, refusing to provide a defense against the false accusations, but He never missed an opportunity to defend and bless others.
Where has Jesus spoken in your life that brought you great blessing? Remember, Jesus was silent before Pilate because He chose to take our place and die on a cross. Jesus was silent so He could drink the full cup of God’s wrath. This was the time for Jesus to be silent, because His silence testified to Him being the True Lamb of God, who was silent “as a sheep before its shearers is silent” (Isaiah 53:7).
When it comes to your relationship with Him, however, He has not stopped speaking words of life to you, and He will never go silent, not one time, all the way into glory.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 