Silence of the Lamb

"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaugher, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." -Isaiah 53:7 [NIV]

The Prophet Isaiah foretold of Jesus' remarkable ability to control His tongue in the most difficult of circumstances. Jesus spoke only a few times in the final days of His life while shouts and accusations were showered toward Him with great passion. When He did speak, it seems that He did so at great personal cost. But, after all, that is what Easter is all about.

Jesus asked the soldiers in Gethsemane, "Who is it you want?" (John 18:4, 7) and He identified Himself as the One they sought to arrest by stating, "I am" (18:5-6, 8). These words led to Jesus' being bound and His followers released. He spoke again when He told Peter to put away his sword, explaining that He must drink the cup the Father has given Him. (18:11). Later in John 18, Jesus speaks again but only to answer legal questions. Again, His answers (and questions) only seem to dig the hole deeper.

What is missing in Jesus' few words is any sign of defensiveness or blaming or making excuses. He doesn't threaten or strike back. He doesn't do what I would do! How different is He than me?! In the midst of false accusations, scoffing, spitting, beatings, and ridicule - He kept mostly quite. Through six unjust trials He did not open his mouth.

A quick look at the gospels confirms this: In Matthew 26 (and Mark 14) we're told that Jesus remained silent when false witnesses accused Him before. He did speak when they charged Him under oath by the living God to tell them if He was the Christ, the Son of God. (vv.62-63) He responded by simply telling the truth - and they declared that He was worthy of death. (v. 66)

Over and over, Jesus was falsely accused, unjustly convicted and brutally beaten even though He had been declared innocent. Again - not the way I would have reacted. I am quick to defend myself over the more insignificant offense or unfair treatment! Are you? I suspect you are just like me - and unlike Jesus.

Let's let that sink in for awhile. Think about specific times you've sought to defend, excuse, blame, or retaliate in the past...or even right now as you read these words.

Why did Jesus keep silent? Isaiah 53:10 tells us: It was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of hte Lord will prosper in the land. Isaiah goes on to say that His soul suffered and that he bore the sin of many. This includes the shame of false accusations, unjust treatment, and ridicule.

Jesus did not defend Himself precisely because He did not die for Himself. He took all our sin and all of the punishment that goes with that sin. A part of the punishment we deserve is the shame that comes from our sin. I know that I've been saved the shame of public exposer for many sins I've committed. Some of those false accusations lobbed at Jesus were true of me - and He took it becuase I deserved it! I cannot tell you how much that means. I think I would rather die (which I also deserve) than to be fully and publicly exposed, wouldn't you?

Also, had Jesus spoke up and defended Himself - had He spoken with the same power He used in the garden and those who heard Him fell down in reverent fear - He would not have been condemned and crucified. He would have been exhonerated and we would have been (justly) executed. Join me in praising God and thanking Jesus for the silence of the Lamb.

From Grace, George.