A controlled silence

I am not thinking of being so shocked that you are lost for words. Nor of feeling so intimidated that you cannot give a response. But perhaps for someone today God is teaching you what it is to have a controlled, purposeful, confident silence. Here is what I mean:

“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent.” (Matthew 26 v 59-63)

So here is the picture:-

The numbers of your accusers has risen. Now it is the whole of the Sanhedrin, the full council and they have one outcome in mind, your death. But they are going to have to work hard on the truth, to twist it that is. They need stories to collaborate and that is the problem for though many come forward no story is consistent with another. But finally they get 2 people to say the same thing about what Jesus said about the Temple. This is it. They have him. He had that week cleansed the temple, he had healed the blind and the lame within it, many had heard him say he was greater than the temple and so they have their charge; this man thinks he is above the temple of God, a charge that carries the death penalty.

Now how would you defend yourself in this position? Have you ever been in a similar situation? Are you now?

Would you be outraged by the lies, the manipulative deceit and the religious nonsense?

Jesus reveals his sovereignty and his control despite the threat.

When you know the truth then you are free even if you are contained by lies. The most powerful reply you can give to someone is sometimes your silence. In this context we see silence as holy, powerful and sovereign. It is a choice and we are wise to make it.