Silence of the Lamb of God; Mk. 15, Mt. 27, Lk 23

May the mumbling commence!

When one is questioned in a court of law, what does silence suggest?  In the United States, anyone accused of a crime can plead the fifth amendment – on grounds that they may incriminate themselves.  So, does silence before one’s accusers in court suggest guilt?  That is often our assumption. 

Well, the Lamb of God was silent before his accusers.  To borrow from a book title and a movie that was made from the book, it was the silence of the Lamb of God.  Read from the synoptic accounts of the trial below:

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.  "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate.

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 

The chief priests accused him of many things.  So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of." 

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. (Mark 15:1-5)

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" 

But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor. (Matthew 27:11-14)

Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.  And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." 

So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." 

But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." 

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.  When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.  When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.  He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.  The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.  Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.  That day Herod and Pilate became friends – before this they had been enemies. (Luke 23:1-12)

“Yes, it is as you say.”  That was the only answer that Jesus offered to Pilate.  Not only was Jesus silent before his accusers but these are the only words that come out from his mouth.  These words do not seem to rebut.  They seem to admit guilt. 

But they are spoken to ensure that the will of God be done.  Jesus said six words in complete obedience to his Father’s command.  Jesus knew that his execution was the only way to move forward in the task that God had set for him. 

He was to be the sacrificial Lamb of God to restore right relationship between humanity and God.  Christ’s silence does not condemn him.  It condemns us in our sinful nature.  Jesus took the fall for you and for me.  Will you accept his sacrifice for your sake?  Or will Christ’s labor of love go for not in your case? 

Christ’s silence before his accusers is predicted in the Hebrew Scriptures:

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;

       he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

       so he did not open his mouth. 

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

       And who can speak of his descendants?

For he was cut off from the land of the living;

       for the transgression of my people he was stricken. (Isaiah 53:7-8)

Christ is silent before his accusers.  But we are not called to be silent.  We are called to witness to the whole world what Jesus has done for us.  Let us speak.  Let us testify. 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out