The apostle writes years afterward of this wonderful silence of the God-man:

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats” (1 Peter 2:23).

His silence was Divine. No mere human could thus remain dumb and innocent and guiltless, allow Himself to be “led like a lamb to the slaughter,” to be as a sheep dumb in the hand of the shearers. This silence before Pilate and then the silence on the Cross in the midst of untold agony —silence, broken only seven times, with brief words of wondrous meaning—this silence of Jesus was the climax to a life of God-like silence in circumstances when men must speak; a life of silent waiting until He was thirty years of age ere He entered on public ministry and made His lamb-like way to the Cross; a life of silence over glory unspeakable with His Father and suffering untold at the hands of men; of tender silence over blessing to others and over Judas’ traitor path.

This is the pattern for all who would follow His steps; the pattern for the one who would walk as He walked, by His walking again in them. And how can it be? Only by seeing the calling and accepting it (1 Peter 1:15). And by taking His Cross as our Cross, “we having died” in Him and with Him can thus live unto God, and then the silence of Jesus can be known in truth, and we shall be:

Silent in our lowly service among others, not seeking to be seen of men.

Silent over the glory of the hours on the Mount, lest others think of us above that which is written.

Silent over the depths of the Calvary pathway that led us unto God.

Silent over the human instruments permitted of God to hand us over to the judgment hall and the forsaking of our nearest and our dearest.

Silent whilst we stoop to serve the very ones who have betrayed us.

Silent over the deep things of God revealed in the secret places of the Most High, impossible to utter to those who have not yet been baptized with that baptism without which they will be straightened in spiritual perception until it be accomplished.

Silent over questions only to be answered by God, the Holy Ghost, when that day dawns for the questioning heart, and silences all doubt by the glorious revelation of Him who is the answer to all our needs.

Silent when forced by others to some position where apparent rivalry with another much-used servant of God seems imminent, only to be hushed by utter self-effacement, and our silent withdrawal without explanation, irrespective of our rights.

Silent —yea, silent in the judgment hall of our co-religionists, when criticized and falsely accused of many things. TRACT

Live Thou this life in me.

There is no scene in all the Bible more majestic than our Savior remaining silent before the men who were reviling Him. With one quick burst of divine power, or one fiery word of rebuke, He could have caused His accusers to be laid prostrate at His feet. Yet He answered not one word, allowing them to say and do their very worst. He stood in THE POWER OF STILLNESS —God’s holy silent Lamb.

There is a place of stillness that allows God the opportunity to work for us and gives us peace. It is a stillness that ceases our scheming, self-vindication, and the search for a temporary means to an end through our own wisdom and judgment. Instead, it lets God provide an answer, through His unfailing and faithful love, to the cruel blow we have suffered.

Oh, how often we thwart God’s intervention on our behalf by taking up our own cause or by striking a blow in our own defense! May God grant each of us this silent power and submissive spirit. Then once our earthly battles and strife are over, others will remember us as we now remember the morning dew, the soft light of sunrise, a peaceful evening breeze, the Lamb of Calgary, and the gentle and holy heavenly Dove. A. B. SIMPSON

The day when Jesus stood alone And felt the hearts of men like stone, And knew He came but to atone— That day “He held His peace.” They witnessed falsely to His word, They bound Him with a cruel cord, And mockingly proclaimed Him Lord; “But Jesus held His peace.” They spat upon Him in the face, They dragged Him on from place to place, They heaped upon Him all disgrace; “But Jesus held His peace.” My friend, have you for far much less, With rage, which you called righteousness, Resented slights with great distress? Your Savior “held His peace.” L. S. P.

I remember hearing Bishop Whipple of Minnesota, who was well known as “The Apostle of the Indians,” voice these beautiful words: “For the last thirty years, I have looked for the face of Christ in the people with whom I have disagreed.”

When this spirit drives us, we will be immediately protected from a feeble tolerance of others, narrow-mindedness, harsh vindictiveness, and everything else that would damage our testimony for Him who came not to destroy lives but to save them. W. H. GRIFFITH-THOMAS