Welcome to the Jesus Christ Was Silent post. The following scriptures and comments were given by Pastor Merrill Caviness of the Riverside Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church on Sabbath, 4 April 2020 on the internet due to the Corona or Covid19 virus.
Jesus Christ Was Silent
Turn in your Bibles to Matthew 27:11-13.
Matthew 27:11-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
Jesus Faces Pilate
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”
Let us look at page 734 in the Desire of Ages manuscript written by Ellen White, the most published American woman.
“Jesus was taken, faint with weariness and covered with wounds, and scourged in the sight of the multitude. And the soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium, and they call together the whole band. And they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, and began to salute Him, Hail, King of the Jews!
And they … did spit upon Him, and bowing their knees worshiped Him. Occasionally some wicked hand snatched the reed that had been placed in His hand, and struck the crown upon His brow, forcing the thorns into His temples, and sending the blood trickling down His face and beard. Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth! Behold the oppressor and the oppressed.
A maddened throng enclose the Savior of the world. Mocking and jeering are mingled with the coarse oaths of blasphemy. His lowly birth and humble life are commented upon by the unfeeling mob. His claim to be the Son of God is ridiculed, and the vulgar jest and insulting sneer are passed from lip to lip. Satan led the cruel mob in its abuse of the Savior. It was his purpose to provoke Him to retaliation if possible, or to drive Him to perform a miracle to release Himself, and thus break up the plan of salvation.
One stain upon His human life, one failure of His humanity to endure the terrible test, and the Lamb of God would have been an imperfect offering, and the redemption of man a failure. But He who by a command could bring the heavenly host to His aid—He who could have driven that mob in terror from His sight by the flashing forth of His divine majesty—submitted with perfect calmness to the coarsest insult and outrage.
Christ’s enemies had demanded a miracle as evidence of His divinity. They had evidence far greater than any they had sought. As their cruelty degraded His torturers below humanity into the likeness of Satan, so did His meekness and patience exalt Jesus above humanity, and prove His kinship to God. His abasement was the pledge of His exaltation. The blood drops of agony that from His wounded temples flowed down His face and beard were the pledge of His anointing with “the oil of gladness ( Hebrews 1:9 ) as our great high priest.
Now look at Matthew 27:15-23
Matthew 27:15-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
Taking the Place of Barabbas
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”
But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
The name Barabbas in Hebrew means son of the father.
Jesus is the Son of the Father God. Which Son of the father will you chose?
Matthew 27:24 New King James Version (NKJV)
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
We see in verse 24 that Pilate washes his hands as he could not find Jesus guilty of anything. The religious rulers stirred up the crowd to the point that Pilate gave in to the religious authorities call to crucify Jesus of Nazareth. Friends, we all have blood on our hands. It is incredible that Jesus Christ Was Silent. HE left heaven to come and save mankind from their sins.
Now let us turn to Luke 23:39-43.
Luke 23:39-43
39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
The Roman soldiers took everything from Jesus, even the clothes HE wore. The Roman soldiers could not take HIS Power to save the repentant thief on the Cross.
Friends, the World can take away everything from us but the world can never take away our relationship with Jesus Christ. During this time of the Corona Virus, China Virus or COVID19 Virus outbreak, many people feel that their freedoms have been taken away. How are you using the time at your home?
My wife Patricia and I are spending more time in prayer each day. I have gotten rid of some of my ‘stuff’ also. We are getting our exercise each day, studying the Bible each day and making healthy food. Let us know how you liked the Jesus Christ Was Silent post by commenting below. You can also read other messages in our Spiritual Category by clicking the link below.