The Power of Silence
By Darlene Franklin
“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
For a masterful debater and storytelling like Jesus, His silence throughout His trial was deafening.
The times He did speak resonate like a shout. When He was arrested by armed soldiers, He said, “Am I leading a rebellion …. that you have come … to capture me?” (Mark 15:48). It’s as if He was saying, “Don’t you know I would’ve come willingly?” For that was His plan all along, from the beginning of time.
Alarmed, His disciple Peter responded took out his sword, as if to fight them off, but Jesus stopped rebuked him. The all-powerful King of kinds allowed these mortal men to arrest Him and lead Him one step closer to His death.
When asked by the religious leaders how He’d respond to the pack of lies brought against Him, Jesus didn’t answer. Perhaps because doing so would stay His execution—one that had long been prophesied, a death He’d been born for.
But then a question regarding His identity arose: “Are you the Messiah?”
Allowing no room for doubt, He replied, “I am.”
He went on to speak of His coming kingdom, one beyond their reach, one they seemed unable to see though it was unfolding right before them.
But when beaten and mocked, He held His tongue. He didn’t defend Himself nor did He call on angels to fight on his behalf. Instead, He endured each blow willingly.
For us.
Jesus exercised a selective silence. He testified to God and His purpose but didn’t complain or vindicate Himself. He demonstrated a determined or resolute silence, an obedience to His father’s will, marked by the strength to submit and endure. He refused to let the power of His words defeat why He came to earth—to seek and save the lost and pay for the sins of all mankind.
The Lord’s temporary silence now fills the universe with the sounds of His salvation. He endured it all to reconcile us to Himself. He purchased our life in His death, and all He asks in return is that we believe.
Darlene Franklin, a contributor to Wholly Loved’sdevotional project, is a best-selling author of fiction and nonfiction works. Her claim to fame is that she continues to write from a nursing home. She keeps going because God keeps giving her more assignments. She’s written more than fifty-five fiction and nonfiction books, including Pray Through the Bible in a Year and of Cash and Cats in Love Comes on Kitten Paws. Check out a complete list of her books on Amazon and visit her Facebook Pageto stay up to date with her and her writing.
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Originally published Friday, 30 August 2024.
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