CHRIST the SILENT ONE: “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (Isa 53:7). It is no small thing when the Word of God was silent. The little word “yet” emphasizes His silence in spite of His suffering, while the little word “so” stresses His silence because of His submission. Isaiah prophesied, “He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street” (Isa 42:2), fulfilled by His unwillingness to promote Himself (see Mt 12:15-21). He was silent before the Syrophoenician (15:23) when she called Him Son of David, for as David’s heir He had come to Israel. But her faith was only enlivened by this, and when she used His universal title, “Lord,” He met her need. And He was silent before the false priest (26:63) and the false judge (Jn 19:9) and the false king (Lk 23:9). No silence was more eloquent than His.
