2/12

Mark 15:4-5

⁴And Pilate again asked him, "Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you." ⁵But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Pilate was the Roman provincial governor and the only one who could order an execution. He had seen many cases and knew the way people acted under threat of crucifixion. The chief priests were piling on the accusations to try to get a death sentence. Normally defendants would say or do anything to escape such a fate. After each accusation Pilate would look to Jesus for His response, but there was none.

Pilate was amazed. How could anyone go quietly to such a horrific end? Even if some of the accusations were true, surely a person would want to qualify them in hopes of a reprieve. Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah 53:7b, "and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth."

Jesus knew why He had come. He was the Lamb of God that was about to be slain for the sins of the world. He would take the wrath of God for every sin so that we might have life. His silence was the Lion of Judah's deafening roar declaring He was submitted to the will of the Father for the salvation of humankind. It shouts, "I love you!" to all who have ears to hear.

Consider: Jesus' example of complete trust in the Father and willingness to do His will gives us an example to follow when we are accused. Instead of squirming and trying to argue, we can look to our heavenly Father for our defense. The greatest defense ever given was the Resurrection. That will be ours as well. It will declare to all creation that we have trusted Jesus to save our eternal souls.