Staying Silent: Isaiah 53:7

As we continue moving forward in our year looking at connecting points between Jesus’ life and the Old Testament, and prophecies that Jesus fulfilled while He was here on earth, we come to a prophecy that seems simple on the surface, while also being a prophecy that must have been overlooked or misunderstood for those living in the first century. Moving through the sequence of smaller events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, not only was the betrayal, oppression, and hostility predicted and foreshadowed, which we’ve focused some of our previous podcast episodes on, but so was Jesus’ response when He was accused.

Let’s read the verse that contains this prophecy. While I am tempted to read more of the chapter that this verse contains, the chapter itself is so powerful that it would be easy to let it derail us regarding this verse’s significance. However, don’t be surprised if we look back to this chapter filled with prophecy a few more times prior to the end of our year podcasting about Jesus’ life.

Our verse and prophecy for this episode is found in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 53, and we will read from the New American Standard Bible translation. In verse 7, Isaiah writes of the Messiah:

⁷ He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

In this brief verse, we discover that the Messiah God would send, when He was being accused and condemned, would not open His mouth to respond. In an amazing way, while the gospels do include a small number of statements Jesus makes during His trial, and John’s gospel includes a short conversation Jesus has with Pilate, it appears as though the gospels emphasize Jesus’ preference for simply remaining silent.

In Mark’s gospel, chapter 14, starting in verse 53, we read what happened when Jesus was brought before the religious leaders. Mark tells us that:

⁵³ They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. ⁵⁴ Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers and warming himself at the fire. ⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. ⁵⁶ For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying, ⁵⁸ “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” ⁵⁹ Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. ⁶⁰ The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” ⁶¹ But He kept silent and did not answer.

According to Mark’s gospel, Jesus stayed silent and did not answer the charges and false testimony that was being spoken about Him. Looking at the bigger narrative, it is only after the chief priest demands an answer in a way that Jesus could not stay silent that Jesus opens His mouth to speak. Oddly enough, if Jesus had stayed silent or acted mute for this entire event, I suspect that the religious leaders’ trial would have fallen completely apart, especially after what we just read in Mark’s gospel was happening during the point when Jesus was silent.

Moving forward, Mark’s gospel then describes Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Mark, chapter 15, opens in verse 1 by saying:

¹ Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. ² Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” ³ The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. ⁴ Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” ⁵ But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

It would seem according to Mark’s gospel, that Jesus preferred to stay silent than to speak. Even the answer Mark tells us Jesus gave Pilate is not much of an answer. Jesus’ response doesn’t deny Pilate’s assertion, but it also doesn’t really speak strongly in its favor. It is almost like Jesus responded with something like, “Those are your words” or “If that is what you would like to believe or claim.” However, after the religious leaders start accusing Jesus, Jesus stops talking and remains quiet.

Jumping over to Luke’s gospel, we discover that Pilate sent Jesus over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. In Luke’s gospel, chapter 23, starting in verse 8, Luke tells us that:

⁸ [Now] Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. ⁹ And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. ¹⁰ And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. ¹¹ And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.

In Luke’s description of this event, everyone present openly mocked and taunted Jesus while He stayed silent. Nothing Jesus could say would bring God glory, and nothing Jesus could do would fit better into God’s plan than simply staying silent.

In an amazing fulfillment of prophecy, while Satan used the religious leaders at every point in Jesus’ trial to push Jesus to speak, Jesus only truly spoke when He chose to, and the points in time where Jesus chose to speak that morning were few and far between.

It is interesting in my mind that Jesus would choose to stay silent. While staying silent when being accused does not technically admit guilt, one could logically conclude that it assumes guilt because it would be very easy to deny whatever accusation was claimed.

When Jesus stayed silent, He assumed our guilt without admitting to anything. If Jesus had cut through the accusations with the spoken word of truth, everything in the trials Jesus faced would be exposed as a fraud. Looking at every other challenge the religious leaders bring Jesus’ way prompts us to conclude that Jesus was perfectly capable of besting the logic and traps of the religious leaders. The only reason for Jesus to stay silent was because He actively chose to do so.

By staying silent, Jesus assumed our guilt on His journey to the cross. By dying the death He did not deserve, Jesus made redemption possible for those who choose to accept Jesus’ life in place of our own. For those who give up their lives in favor of Jesus’ life, He promises redemption and a home in a perfectly recreated New Heaven and New Earth where there won’t be any more pain, disease, sin, or even death.

Jesus stayed silent for you and for me, because His goal was making salvation possible for God’s people.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always open by challenging you, intentionally seek God first in your life and choose to place your hope, faith, trust, and belief in Jesus. Accept the gift of His life in exchange for yours, and let Him transform you from the inside as you move through life with Him.

Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow personally closer to God and to Jesus each and every day. While pastors, authors, speakers, or even podcasters have ideas to share, take everything you read, see, and hear and test these ideas against the truth found within the Bible. Within the Bible, discover a God who loves you more than you could possibly imagine.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!