Yet He did not open His mouth…So He did not open His mouth…Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
(Isa 53:7,9 NASB)
Verses 3-6 says much about the people through their treatment of Jesus. The next three verses say as much and more of Jesus in His response to that treatment.
Much of this chapter presents itself as the standard of injustice. It would be foolish to think that Jesus was not hurt by all the things said of Him and how most folks felt toward Him, after all, He was truly and fully human. He did not have a super hard heart or a beyond human thick skin. No, every mean spirit, every cruel word, every biting criticism, every insensitive mocking all were felt to the core of His being. It was His own creation, His own people whom He loved that had despised Him causing Him great grief.
To such Jesus was silent. Silence in suffering and in the unfairness of injustices is prescribed by faithfulness. What could He have said? “I’ll get you for this.” “You better stop or I’ll get mad?” “If you don’t knock it off, I’ll destroy the whole lot of you.” The silence is not only of a human mouth, but also of a godly character. The silence is a part of knowing one’s appointment. For Jesus it was to come as the Savior. Silence comes from knowing one’s calling. For Jesus it was to receive the punishment and death for lost man. Silence comes with knowing the reward. For Jesus it was that man would be saved through His atoning death.
Oppression, affliction, judgment, assigned with wicked men…yet He suffered it all in silence till giving up His spirit. I could afford to learn much from Jesus. If He remained silent to that which He did not deserve, most certainly I should be as well for what I do deserve. Before the world I in silence yes but not before the Lord. For me to be silent is not why Christ suffered in silence. He did so that my voice could be heard – before the Father. I will not remain silent for what I deserve. I, for whom the stroke was due will cry out to Jesus my Redeemer cut off out of the land of the living. I will cry out the name of Jesus before the accusations of the Law against me.
Jesus, while I might suffer in silence before this world, may I never fall victim to thinking I need bear affliction in the silence of loneliness, for I have you. Thank you.
