“But Jesus refused to answer a single word, with the result that the Governor was greatly surprised.” (Matthew 27:14)
This was Jesus at His trial. The Governor, Pontius Pilate was astounded that Jesus didn’t reply to the accusations the priests and elders were shouting at Him. It astounded him because Jesus had always had an answer to any contradiction from the priests and elders when He was teaching in the synagogue. His wisdom had surpassed their understanding. His teachings had revealed their hypocrisy, their wickedness and their sin. But now, there was not a word from Jesus.
For one thing, Jesus had given Himself to this moment. There was not one thing that He wanted to change about it. It was God’s Will. It was what He came on earth to do. Their accusations, insults and hatred were prophesied. God’s Word would be fulfilled. Isaiah gives us a picture of the suffering Servant when he prophesied about Jesus. “All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the LORD made the punishment fall on Him, the punishment all of us deserved. "He was treated harshly but endured it humbly; He never said a word. Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared, He never said a word.” (Isaiah 53:6-7) And Peter in writing about submitting to authority wrote how Jesus left us an example. “It was to this that God called you, for Christ Himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in His steps. He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from His lips. When He was insulted, He did not answer back with an insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but placed His hopes in God, the righteous Judge.” (1Peter 2:21-23)
Peter gives us some insight into the silence of Jesus. Jesus knew what was in man. His answers were not going to change what God had purposed and spoken in His Word. He kept silent because His hope was not in any man, but in God. He knew He had to go through what God had purposed. And His hope was in God and His Word that He would be raised in glory. He was placing His hope in the authority of God and not man. “Pilate said to Him, "You will not speak to me? Remember, I have the authority to set you free and also to have you crucified." Jesus answered, "You have authority over Me only because it was given to you by God. So the man who handed Me over to you is guilty of a worse sin." (John 19:10-11) Likewise, we should obey all authority because authority comes from God. “Everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God's permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God. Whoever opposes the existing authority opposes what God has ordered; and anyone who does so will bring judgment on himself. For rulers are not to be feared by those who do good, but by those who do evil. Would you like to be unafraid of those in authority? Then do what is good, and they will praise you,” (Romans 13:1-3)
Paul wrote to the Philippians in appreciation of the money they’d sent with Epaphroditus and to teach them to continue in the faith even in their difficulties, mentioning that being courageous in the face of their enemies will demonstrate to them that they have the victory and will win. “Don't be afraid of your enemies; always be courageous, and this will prove to them that they will lose and that you will win, because it is God who gives you the victory.” (Philippians 1:28) This was the attitude of Jesus at His trial. Why should He have struggled. They thought they would be done with Him, but actually, He knew He would have the victory in the end.
When Peter and John were arrested and then let go with the stern warning not to preach Jesus, they returned to the disciples, and they pray. “For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, Your holy Servant, whom You made Messiah. They gathered to do everything that You by Your power and will had already decided would happen.” (Acts 4:27-28) Again we see that God’s Will was done just as He said. And all that has been prophesied by God’s prophets will be fulfilled. God is the final authority. Governments and rulers may think they are ruling how they want, but God has ordained whether good or bad rulers and governments rule. It is all for God’s purposes which we will understand when we reach heaven.
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