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 to our own amazement that our Savior was silent. “Jesus made no reply.” It wasn’t because Jesus was at a loss for words; the Jewish temple guards, who were certainly not friendly to Jesus, had marveled that “No one ever spoke the way this man does” (John 7:46).
To be sure, in the life of every disciple of Christ there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. The key is to have the wisdom and discernment to know the time.
So much can be said about these two words — no reply — that should bring great encouragement into the life of every Christian. “Jesus made no reply” 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 by the shore, “Come” and they became fishers of men.
Jesus said to the little man perched in a tree, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately” and he rose up into the ministry of the Gospel along side of his Master.
Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Will you give me a drink?” and she received the living water of life and became the first evangelist in her town of Samaria. Many there became believers.
Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” and she left His presence forgiven and faithful to Her Lord.
These are just a few of the many examples of the words Jesus used to bless others. He gave no reply to Pilate, refusing to provide a defense against the false accusations leveled against Him, but He never missed the opportunity to defend and bless others.
Where has Jesus spoken into your life and brought you great blessing? Remember, Jesus made no reply because He chose to take our place and die on a cross. Jesus made no reply 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 that before its shearers is silent” (Isaiah 53:7). But when it comes to your relationship with Him, He has not stopped speaking life to you, and He will not all the way into glory.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 