Silence

The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.
Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying,
"Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!"
But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.
Mark 15:3-5

What was so remarkable about Christ’s silence? What would amaze Pilate about Jesus not feeling compelled to give answers to the accusations made against Him? It is not hard to discover the reason Pilate was amazed. We only have to look at our own experience with accusation. It is human nature to defend. If we are guilty, we defend by rationalizing our behavior and trying to explain why we acted in an inappropriate way. If we are innocent, we refuse to give footing to the finger-pointing. We will declare our blamelessness to the bitter end. The silence of Christ defied the very nature of humanity. This amazed, or we might say, puzzled Pilate.

At the heart of all humans is the nagging need to be right, even if they are wrong. That insatiable desire is connected and linked to our longing to be loved. If we are guilty of wrongdoing, then we are in jeopardy of being rejected. This launches into action self-defense mechanisms that will try at all costs to keep up in a positive light so that others will readily accept us. The fact that Christ seemed to be totally disconnected from this haunting quality of humanity caught Pilate’s attention. It was magnified by the fact that Pilate was acutely aware of Christ’s innocence.

What was the secret of Christ’s amazing ability to not defend Himself? It was the confidence and security He felt in His Father’s righteousness and love. Jesus’ silence in the face of false accusations spoke loudly to Pilate’s heart concerning that security. Jesus did not have to defend Himself because His trust was connected to the Defender of His Soul, His Almighty Father, in whom He had complete trust.

…and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously…
1 Peter 2:23

Pilate may not have connected all of the dots when he observed Christ’s disconnect from the overbearing propensity of our human nature to defend ourselves, but the calm assurance of Jesus’ demeanor in the face of death captured the attention of Pilate to the point of astonishment.

Our ability to rest in quiet assurance in the face of accusation is the true test of our confidence in Christ. Can we withstand the temptation of our souls to defend ourselves, not only when we are wrong, but also when we are right? Only when we are totally anchored in the assurance of our Father’s love and justice can we rest in the silent security of our acceptance, whether we are right or wrong. As we do so, a world bound by self-defensive override will marvel at the loud and clear message made by this silent act of surrender.

T