“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 dumb,
so he opened not his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:7 (RSV)
Isaiah described an afflicted, silent Messiah, whose mouth was closed. Jesus was very outspoken throughout His ministry, until His arrest. There’s a contrast between the Rabbi with a whip, who turned over the money changers’ tables, and the wounded Lamb of God, who carried His blood stained cross up Golgotha’s hill. Jesus showed us by example, that there’s a time to speak out boldly and a time to be silent.
He silently submitted to His arrest, until Peter sprang into hero mode, and cut off someone’s ear. Jesus abruptly told him to put away the sword, saying,
“Don’t you think I can call upon my Father and he’ll provide me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)
He was saying no one needs to ever use violence on His behalf.
Twelve legions of angels is equal to 72,000 angels, just standing by in case Jesus called upon them for deliverance, but He chose not to be delivered, but to deliver us instead.
When Jesus was silent during the questioning by Pilate and Herod, He barely answered any of their questions, except to say things like,
“From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Jesus spoke boldly to assert His authority in the beginning of His ministry, but later used the powerful tool of silence, to show that His authority is not of this world. In silence we can find peace in our pain, knowing that God is still God.
He embraced silence toward the end of life, and His last words spoken from the cross have special significance for us. From the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” By forgiving His accusers and murderers, Jesus overcame evil with good. It’s a reminder that we are to follow Him and overcome evil with good.
When he cried out in Aramaic, saying, My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”, Jesus didn’t lose faith in His Father, He was quoting Psalm 22, a psalm full of Messianic prophecies that were fulfilled by Him. One of the prophecies in that Psalm was that men would gamble for His garments, predicted 1,000 years before His crucifixion.
Jesus fulfilled 300 Messianic prophecies in scripture. Isaiah’s prophecy in the 53rd chapter, described a Lamb led to the slaughter, who was “pierced” for our iniquities.
His purpose was foretold and fulfilled, even in the darkest moments on the cross. As we trust and cling to Jesus, we will find purpose in the dark and painful seasons of our lives.
Mark Twain said, “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” People live longer, more fulfilled lives when lived with a sense of purpose.
Jesus ministered to the criminal hanging next to Him, saying, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Even on our worst day, there is someone nearby who is also suffering and needs us. Our faith is anchored in God and in what He says, so our words can be few. The things that matter most, require the fewest words.
Jesus could have talked more, and given indisputable proof of who He was, but there is a time when silence is the most powerful tool. Whatever cross we are currently carrying, there is a time to be silent and trust Jesus, who always is walking beside us, saying, “Trust Me, I’ve got this.”
Lord, help us to embrace the beauty of silence as you walk beside us in the victory of your resurrection.
