"Jesus remained silent and gave no answer".(vs.61)

Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin like a lamb before the slaughter. Peter gazes through the courtyard window and watches as the false accusations turn into violent mockery. In all this, the Son of God, the creator himself, he who with a single word created all there is - stood in silence. God was on trial and said nothing in his defense. Mark says, "Jesus remained silent and gave no answer." (vs.61) The Old Testament prophet Isaiah offered the picture of a lamb that would not resist the inevitable slaughter. "As a sheep before her shearers is silent so he did not open his mouth." (Is.53:7)

There is only one time Jesus gives a reply and that is when asked if he is "the Christ the son of the Blessed one." His response only gives more fuel to increase the rage of his accuser but it also fans a spark of hope to Peter's dying passion. "I am", said Jesus, "and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming in the clouds of heaven." (vs.63) I can picture Peter with his forehead and eyes barely visible over the sill of the window screaming a silent "YES" in his heart. Certainly this was the moment Jesus was waiting for. What high drama! Oh this will be good, thought Peter. But the moment never comes and Peter's hope dies again as he watches Jesus return to his silent subjection to these cruel haters of God. Peter perhaps returned then to the fire, suddenly aware of how cold it has become. Dying fires in one's soul will do that. Someone perhaps looks up as a quick flicker of the fire reflects Peter's angry face and it is a servant girl who recognizes this rugged face as belonging to Peter. Peter becomes enraged at her discovery. "You also were with the Nazarene Jesus, she said." (vs.67) "But he denied it. 'I don't understand what you're talking about' and went out into the entrance."

I believe that Peter's outburst was out of anger for Christ's silence and unnecessary toleration of the abuse at the hands of his captors. Peter had stood tall for Jesus, even willing to defend him with the sword at his arrest in the garden. And here when the pressure was really on, it was Jesus who had weakened. Why does he just stand there and put up with all this? Jesus, why? You who could with a single word could wipe them all out, why don't you act? I don't understand it. Lord you just stand there and say nothing. They spit on you. Hit you! This is what I believe led to Peter's denial. It was his silence that angered Peter. Peter did not want to have anything to do with a God who just stood there and put up with such injustice. A few moments later when identified again, he was even vehement in his denial. "I don't know or understand what you are talking about. I don't know this man you are talking about." (vs.71) Every impulse in Peter's being cried out against the silence of God. God should have acted in power and demonstrated his might - but he didn't. He said nothing. Peter was willing to die to defend Jesus. He was not afraid. He was the only one of the twelve willing to go this far for Christ. He did not deny knowing Jesus for fear of his own life, he denied him because he expected more from God.

Elie Weisel in his book Night describes a scene in the concentration camp where as a teenager he spent four merciless years of his life. The guards had gathered the whole camp to the center to hang a young boy of only twelve for a crime the authorities considered worthy of death. It was painful for Elie Weisel to witness this injustice but they were all forced to look. Hiding behind several well-respected Rabbis, Weisel overheard their conversations that helped shape his view of God to this day. One Rabbi muttered as the gallows held the lifeless frame of the young boy, "where is God now?" "He is there! Hanging on the gallows", replied the other Rabbi.

Peter and these Rabbis were not the only ones who stood marveling at God's silence. I am currently looking over that windowsill with Peter and wondering why is God not doing more? Many join me there wondering why God does not do something about the condition of my twelve-year-old son. God I know you can do more, but it just seems that you are standing there. You could with one word completely change this situation but you aren't. Why Lord?

We have one advantage over Peter and that is that we know how the story ends. I have the comfort of knowing the full story. Jesus allowed the forces of darkness to overcome him to prove that they could not destroy him. What Peter saw was strength not weakness. Jesus' silence and willingness to absorb the abuse and hatred was a statement that nothing, not even death, can defeat God. "He too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death." (Heb.2:14) Even the cross could not defeat him for it was there that death was vanquished. And do you know what that says to you? It says that nothing, even the worst circumstance - even death - can defeat you. Peter was to later reflect on this ,understanding that the silence of God was for the benefit of our salvation. "When they hurled their insults at him he did not retaliate; when he suffered he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." And then it is here that it all makes sense to Peter as he comes to terms with why Jesus endured the abuse. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to our sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds we are healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

There will be times when God will seem silent, not because he is unable to respond but because he has already responded. I trust this will give you strength in whatever trial you are experiencing. You too can stand and take the abuse if you will only lean on Jesus' strength. In him, nothing can defeat you! There will be times when you will need to say nothing. God will give you the courage too. Your silence against the onslaught can be a testimony to others of God's enduring strength. Let the example of Jesus give you that courage. "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Heb.12:3)

If man is not ready to risk his life, where is his dignity?-André Malraux (1901–1976)

With silence one irritates the devil. -Bulgarian Proverb

Great souls suffer in silence. -Johann Friedrich von Schiller (1759–1805)

Copyright (c) 1999, 2000
E-sst, LLC
All Rights Reserved
Please see the License at Copyrights for restrictions and limitations
Note: Copyright does not apply to KJV text.