Silence: A Saving Grace | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Silence: A Saving Grace | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lakella Davenport
05/25/23
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Silence: A Saving Grace

Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)- “A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger.”

“But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled,” (Mark 15:5).

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover,” (Luke 22:1). “Now the chief priests, and elders and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;” (Matthew 26:59). When Jesus was brought first before the high priest he held his peace at first. Then when the high priest asked Jesus whether he was the Christ in Matthew 26 verse 63, “Jesus said unto him,” in verse 64, “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” In verse 65, the high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy and they found him guilty of death in verse 66, and later Jesus was led away to Pilate in Matthew 27, verse 2.

Jesus was brought before 3 individuals before being crucified. Luke 22 verse 54, states Jesus was brought before the high priest first, then to governor Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1), then to Herod (Luke 23:7), and then back again to Pilate (Luke 23:11), before finally being crucified.

Silence is the softest answer you can give. Jesus spoke and answered Pontius Pilate only once when he was brought before him. After that, Jesus answered Pilate by saying nothing when he was put on trial by the (chief priests, scribes, elders,and council) and facing crucifixion. No spoken answer was the softest answer he could give. Jesus not answering verbally speaks volumes about his character and his purpose and mission during his time in the flesh as a man here on Earth. Jesus not answering verbally anymore turned away wrath from Pontius Pilate, the governor. According to worldhistory.org, “Pontius Pilate was the fifth,” governor, “ to serve in the Roman province of Judea.”

This is what Pilate asked Jesus, when Jesus responded only once. “And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it,” (Luke 23:3). “Then Pilate said to the Chief Priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man,” (Luke 23:4)(Luke 23:14). Pilate continued to plead with the chief priests, scribes and elders for Jesus' innocence since Jesus refused to defend himself. “And he said unto them the third time why what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and let him go,” (Luke 23:22). Pilate pleaded 3 times with the Jewish leaders/people but had no success. They still chose to crucify him and for Pilate to release Barabbas a murderer unto them (Luke 23: 17-19) (Luke 23:23). It was custom for the governor to release at least one prisoner at the feast (Luke 23:17).

According to www.verywellmind.com, “some researchers suggest that 80% of communication is mostly nonverbal (without words) involving actions and gestures.” We can speak volumes to others in conversation through our body language, disposition and demeanor alone. The Bible doesn't directly say it, but we can infer from scripture that Jesus' first answer to Pilate about being the King of The Jews, The Christ, is a soft answer compared to the answers of the chief priests, scribes, and Jewish people who wanted to crucify him. The Bible states their answers were loud and that they were crying out loudly to have Jesus crucified. Their answers were grievous and stirred up anger within the crowd, prompting them to further want Jesus crucified. “And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified,” (Luke 23:23). “But they cried saying, Crucify him, crucify him,” (Luke 23: 21).

Jesus didn't try to make a case for himself or try to save his own life. In Matthew 26 verses 52 and 53, Jesus tells his disciples and one of his disciples who used a sword to cut off the ear of one of the high priest's servants; to put away his sword and not fight back. Jesus told his disciples, “Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”

Pilate and his wife both called Jesus a just man in Matthew 27, verses 19 and 24.

In conclusion, Jesus' silence while on trial for blasphemy, is the saving grace that saved us all.

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