Matthew 26:57-68 | 1 Kings 19:11-13 | Gospels in Lent Track: Matthew 13-14
He does this a lot, you know.
Jesus, in the face of an opportunity…doesn’t say a word. We’ll soon enough see him pretty quiet before Pilate. And honestly, when we stop and think about it, Jesus is silent about a lot of things we’d kind of like answers about, or at least more specific answers.
Nine-year-olds shot by an assault weapon?
40 refugees killed in a fire?
Variant sexuality?
War?
We search what we have of Jesus’ words for these and other conversations and situations. Most often, the gospel witness is silent.
Jesus himself, serving as his own witness, is mostly silent in the trials of Holy Week. Most of the time, we’d like a God who is decisive and quick. Sometimes, we have that God. But God in Christ often is not so quick and decisive, despite our desire.
It is right for us to sit with this silence and ponder just why it is.
Matthew 26:57-68
Those who arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest. The legal experts and the elders had gathered there. Peter followed him from a distance until he came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered that area and sat outside with the officers to see how it would turn out.
The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. They didn’t find anything they could use from the many false witnesses who were willing to come forward. But finally they found two who said, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’”
Then the high priest stood and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to respond to the testimony these people have brought against you?”
But Jesus was silent.
The high priest said, “By the living God, I demand that you tell us whether you are the Christ, God’s Son.”
“You said it,” Jesus replied. “But I say to you that from now on you’ll see the Human One sitting on the right side of the Almighty and coming on the heavenly clouds.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He’s insulting God! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you’ve heard his insult against God. What do you think?”
And they answered, “He deserves to die!” Then they spit in his face and beat him. They hit him and said, “Prophesy for us, Christ! Who hit you?”
1 Kings 19:11-13
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Prayer
God,
You were in the silence with Elijah on Mount Horeb. And you were in the silence of Christ before Caiaphas, Herod, and Pilate. And you were in the silence of that first Easter Resurrection morning. And if I’d shut up for a moment, you’d be in the silence even here, even now.
Lord, I know there are times to speak. Talking is how you began to create the world and all that’s in it. And Jesus actually spoke a lot of words.
But Lord, help me to know my silence, when and where and for how long. Give me wisdom in speaking and discernment in choosing not to speak.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.