Keeping Silent

And when the chief priests and leaders brought their charges against him, he did not say a thing. Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear what crimes they say you have done?” But Jesus did not say anything, and the governor was greatly amazed.

Matthew 27:12-14 (CEV)

He didn’t say anything.

These men, some of His own people, were telling lies about Him and attempting to get Him put to death.

People were going to beat Him, spit on Him, mock Him, hate Him, scream for His death, nail Him to a wooden cross, and watch Him as He hung in agony until He died.

He knew He had done nothing wrong.

And He kept silent.

Are we the same way? When someone “persecutes” us (gets on our nerves, says something mean to/about us, ignores us, etc.), how do we respond? Do we erupt, or do we stay calm? Do we say something nasty back, or do we keep silent? Do we start judging them, or do we try to understand? Do we hold a grudge, or do we forgive?

It’s so easy to say something, to reply meanly, to make them hurt as much as you were hurt (or more). It’s so easy to rant about how they did this and this and this, and not listen to why they did it.

It’s so easy to say something, and it’s so hard to keep your mouth shut.

We are followers of Jesus. We call ourselves Christian, “little Christ.” We say we want to serve Him, to obey and keep His Word.

And His Word talks again and again about the importance of being silent, of watching what you say, of speaking good things instead of bad things. His Word says to be quick to hear but slow to speak. His Word says that the tongue is an unruly evil, and that death and life are in its power. His Word says we will have to one day give account for our words, for what we said.

There’s a saying about how, if you don’t have something good to say, to just not say it.

That’s something we should all strive to do. If we don’t have something good to say, if our words could hurt or cause drama, then we should keep silent.

Jesus didn’t say anything hurtful, even though He was being hurt.