DAY 9

Matthew 27:12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” ¹⁴ But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Isaiah 53:7 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.

Consider:

About 700 years before Jesus would come into the world, Isaiah the prophet foretold that there was coming a righteous servant who would suffer for the sins of many. One of the markers of this servant is that he would be silent in his suffering.

When he was accused of blaspheming God, Jesus did not try to defend himself. He knew that he was innocent, that it was not his own sin that he was dying for, but rather the sins of many. Jesus, looking out at the joy that was set before him in the pleasure of his Father, silently drank the cup of God’s wrath for the sins of the world.

But three days later, the city would start to murmur with joyful whispers growing to resounding shouts of a joyful message that would one day be proclaimed to the ends of the earth: Jesus, the silent suffering servant who was crucified, is risen! May we have courage and grace to boldly proclaim the message of the lamb of God who was silent as he endured death in our place.

Point to Ponder and for Prayer:

Although Jesus was silent when he was accused, he calls us now to be the opposite of silent, to proclaim the good news that Jesus is not dead but alive. Pray that God would give you the opportunity today to invite someone to Easter Sunday or to tell someone about the meaning of Easter.

Thomas Walters