THE SILENCE OF THE LAMB

          The prophecy of Isaiah is the fountainhead for any discussion about Jesus as The Lamb Of God.  Wedged in the middle of Isaiah  53 is verse 7 - -  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet HE DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.  Perhaps due to our now mostly non-agrarian society, a   somewhat obscure observation is made here that we typically fail to recognize.  When a goat is being shorn or slaughtered you can hear it bleating a mile away.  But when a lamb is being shorn or slaughtered it is strangely silent.  No resistance.  No bleating.

          Before Caiaphas the high priest , Mt.26:62-63a records:  The high priest stood up and said to Him, ‘Do you make no answer?  What is it that these are testifying against You?’  But JESUS KEPT SILENT.  Likewise, before the Roman governor, Mt.27:13-14 states:

Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?’  And He did not answer him with regard to a single charge…”  A similar silence is also manifested before King Herod:   he questioned him at some length; but He answered Him nothing (Lk.23:9).  Have you ever wondered why Jesus remained silent?  Was Jesus caught off guard or surprised by this inquisition? 

Was He tongue-tied and paralyzed by this unfolding drama (cf. Mt.10:19-20)?  Was He without power?  At His arrest He told His dis-ciples to put away their swords, saying, Do you think I cannot call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels (Mt.26:53)?  None of these proposals suffice in providing a satisfactory answer as to the silence of Jesus.

          The expression, “opening one’s mouth” is an idiom describing the “making of a defense”.  Jesus did speak a few words at His trial.  cf. Mt.26:63b-64;  Mt.27:11  &  Jn.18:19-23.   The best explanation of Jesus’ prominent silence is provided by Peter (1Pet.2:23) - - when reviled, He did not revile in return;  when suffering, He kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.  Here we witness Jesus yielding to the Father’s will.  This is a portrait of meekness, which is not weakness but power under control.  The meek-ness of Christ was at the heart of His taking up His cross.  It is also at essential to our discipleship - - taking up our cross and following Him (Lk.9:23).  God later revealed this vital lesson to Paul - - My grace is sufficient…for power is perfected in weakness (2Cor.12:8).

          So if we want to test ourselves as to how we’re doing at bearing our cross, we must ask, “How meek are we?”.  When life goes awry are we able to entrust ourselves to God?  When all seems to tumble in can we stand strong in God’s providence?  When a col-lapse comes can we weather the storm trusting in His grace?  When we lose a loved one to death, are we able to affirm, “blessed be the name of the Lord”?  When illness comes and death knocks at our door are we able to entrust the future to our loving Father?  Can we grasp the truth that “power is perfected in weakness”?  Can we say with Paul, I am well content with weaknesses, with dis-tresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong (2Cor.12:10)?     

                                                                                Terry Siverd / Cortland Church Of Christ