Spiritual Strength For Each Day
“But he held his peace, and answered nothing” (Mark 14:61).
I have been deeply moved by this silence of Jesus during His sufferings. This silence is a part of His accomplished victory. The mocking challenge of the enemies, “Save thyself, and come down from the cross” (Mark 15:30) was silenced by His silence. His triumphal cry, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) was made all the mightier through His preceding silence, and caused the centurion to exclaim, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). How little of this nature of Jesus we have! Why do you defend your doings so vehemently? Why do you continually justify yourself? Remember what your Savior did, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). The Lord Jesus was determined to go the way of dying, that we might live. This is why He was silent. We can go no other way than that which He went, and this is the way of dying. The flesh seeks its rights, but the spirit is silent. Those who belong to Christ can be silent, even in the face of gross injustice. Those who love their flesh, however, become indignant and talk a lot. Do you know this silence before God? Our speaking to God in prayer is important, but it is even more important that God can speak to us. Do you listen to Him? He tells us, “Hear, and your soul shall live” (Isaiah 55:3).
