The
Marvel of Silence
Text;
Mat 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor
asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto
him, Thou sayest.
Mat
27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he
answered nothing.
Mat
27:13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things
they witness against thee?
Mat
27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the
governor marvelled greatly.
Intro;
As Christ stood before Pilate, his silence in the face of the
accusations caused the ruler to marvel. Here was one who stood in
silence while others would have been raving against the accusers or
trying to justify themselves. Christ needed to do none of this, for
his life and actions spoke for themselves. How different from the
cringing, whining, blaspheming rabble which usually stood in this
place.
I.
This was the silence of dignity.
As
a king, he refused to submit to the cries of a mob and be intimidated
by them.
II.
this was the silence of Obedience.
A.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?
Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born,
and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness
unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Will the Son of God now fight against his own eternal purpose?!
III.
The world will still marvel many times at the silence of a child of
God. Let's learn when to keep our peace.
Eccl
3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a
time to speak;
A.
The silence of Obedience and Worship..Hab 2:20 But the LORD
is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
B.
The silence of Meditation. Psa 63:6 When I remember thee upon
my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
C.
The silence of listening. Eccl 9:17 The words of wise men
are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
D.
The silence of assurance. 2 Tim 1:12 For the which cause I
also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know
whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I have committed unto him against that day.
E.
Silence in the face of reviling.
1
Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;
for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he
is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1
Pet 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that
judgeth righteously:
1
Cor 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we
bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
F.
The quiet of waiting on God.
Lam
3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the
salvation of the LORD.
G.
The quietness of service.
2
Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord
Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
1
Th 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business,
and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
[Cartoon
of piano tuners with sledge hammers, "Watch ME!"}
H.
The quietness of satisfaction.
Eccl
4:6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full
with travail and vexation of spirit.
God's
people have nothing to complain about.
