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.