Keeping Silent
Keeping Silent
62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men
testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I
put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
Matthew 26:62-63
The creator of the world was in court being judged by his creations. More than that, a perfect man
was being judged by imperfect sinners. The absurdity of this night cannot be overstated. Imagine if Jesus
had decided to play his hand. Imagine if he suddenly called a legion of angels and they appeared within
that place? Imagine if Jesus was to show his true glory to them as they sneered? Imagine if God the Father
were to spoke up in defense of his beloved son? But none of that happened. Those sinful, prideful men
were allowed to play their games and fulfil their schemes. Jesus kept quiet.
Not until they put Jesus under the third commandment of using the Lord’s name and setting Jesus
under an oath by the living God does Jesus finally speak. He doesn’t do anything to try and defend
himself, however, but instead seals his fate by telling the truth. In John 8 Jesus says that the truth sets us
free, but apparently not for Jesus.
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of
Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 26:64
I always wonder if those men’s hearts were full of fear. Deep down they must have known that
Jesus was truly the Messiah and that he was with God. They must have known that all of their actions had
nothing to do with the word of God but was instead about their own ambition and power. Did they fear or
was their hearts so darkened that they truly believed their own lies?
As human’s, it can be hard to know when to be silent and when to speak. We know so little of
God’s plan in our life that it can be a real dilemma. Part of the problem is that many of us don’t know our
purpose. Jesus did. He knew that it was the cross where his Father needed him. He could have spoken up
and defended himself but that would only disrupt his goal. When he did speak, they were words that made
his future sure. It was not a bright or happy short term future but he knew it was God’s will.
We must also struggle to find our purposes. If we know where God wants us to be, we will have
better insight in the words we speak and the actions we take. Let us strive to connect with God and know
his thoughts and plans for our lives.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto