Jesus, Who Could Make No Reply

Pilate asks Jesus whether he is the King of the Jews, and three times declares that he finds no guilt in him. Yet when the chief priests stir up the crowd, he washes his hands and gives way to the cry to crucify him.

Had Jesus defended himself there, he might have gone free. But then the plan of salvation that God had long prepared would have come to nothing. His silence, then, was not helplessness; facing the suffering he had to bear, he was not swayed by his feelings.

The name of God’s people is not to be taken lightly. Those who bear it need to be bold in what is right and, for the salvation of souls, must learn like Jesus to endure patiently and to keep silent.