February 22nd Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JESUS REMAINED SILENT      

Matthew 26:57-63 “Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled . . . many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent.” 

John, chapter 2, records Jesus’ words and their context that the men in today’s text witness against Jesus in Caiaphas’ court. Jesus had turned over the money changers tables, scattered their money, and driven them out of the temple. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16) The Jews responded to Jesus’ actions: “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:18-19) Then verse 21 says, “. . . the temple He had spoken of was His body.” 

Jesus, as the teacher, the Rabbi He was known to be, could have returned to the incident in question and demonstrated the witnesses took His words out of context. He did not. He remained silent. He did not defend Himself. His silence was in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” 

As Sunday’s devotion said, Jesus was not deterred. As Monday’s devotion said, “Jesus resolutely faced His accusers in Caiaphas’ chambers, Pilot’s courtyard, the cross, the nails, the verbal abuse, the rejection of the crowd to keep God’s promise of salvation.” Jesus gave no defense because He was guilty, not of the sins with which the Jews accused Him of committing, but rather the sins of the world. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

Prayer: O Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world. Thanks be to God! Amen. 

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,  
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.  
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o’er us;  
Have mercy on us, O Jesus! O Jesus! 

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,  
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.  
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o’er us;  
Thy peace be with us, O Jesus! O Jesus!  

Lamb of God, Pure and Holy // LSB 434 (vs. 1, 3)