Isaiah 53:7 says, “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 silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

You are at the dentist’s.  He is about to drill a hole in your tooth.

It is best to remain silent.  Anything you say will make matters worse.  You will get in the way of the drill.  And what he is doing is for your good, to achieve a cure, to stop decay and destruction.

Be patient and endure the suffering.  But, if you are like most people, you do not want to feel any pain.  If there is pain, very likely you blame someone for the injustice.

Jesus Christ suffered the pain and shame of the cross for you in silence.  He did not call out in anger.  Jesus was obedient to the Father’s will even unto death.  The thieves crucified on either side of Jesus reviled Him even though He suffered to bring them life. He did not curse His tormentors.  He prayed to the Father to forgive them.  That is strange.

His silence spoke powerfully.  Why was He silent?  Pilate pondered that because (Mark 15:3-5 ESV) “the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, ‘Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.’  But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.”

Jesus could have answered every charge and shown His innocence.  But it was necessary for a truly innocent man to die for guilty sinners.

Otherwise, no satisfaction for sin would have been made.  Jesus took your guilt and remained silent.

Jesus accepted the “cup” that the Father gave Him to drink.  It was the cup of death for sin.  By drinking the poison you deserved, He spared you.

Jesus “was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter.”  He let them heap guilt upon Him.  He suffered the scourging, thorns in His brow, and holes in His hands and feet for you.  By His death, He stopped the decay and destruction from sin for all who trust in Him.

He remained silent and took your place on the cross so that you might cry out with praise of His name for God’s love, mercy, grace, and

eternal life given to you on the cross of Jesus.  Amen.  

Pastor Raymond Van Buskirk, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Baytown, TX www.rlcbaytown.org