The Silence of Jesus

The Silence of Jesus

“He that says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6.

“As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent; He opened not His mouth.” Isa. 53:7.

“I will dwell in them and walk among them,” (2 Cor. 6:16) is the promise of God. It only as this promise is fulfilled to the believer, that the “Silence of Jesus” can be known in the daily life. Let us remember that it is not that we may copy Jesus, but rather that we yield ourselves to Him that “the life of Jesus” will be manifested in our mortal body.

His Silence over His blessing of others

“He sent him away to his house saying, neither go into the town nor tell it to anyone Mark 8:26.

“He charged them that they should tell no one.” Mark 7:36.

He wanted to be hidden and to silently bless and help souls. The Master’s work was so “modest” and with as little “noise” as was possible. It is said of some whom He asked, so that His reputation spread far and wide, and He was given much trouble to deal with the multitudes. The “silence of Jesus” in this respect is that we should not “spread far and wide” the “fame” of that instrument God uses in blessing us, but rather that we tell what the Lord has done and allow His servants to pass on in quiet and unobtrusiveness to do His work.

His Silence in delicate difficulties

“When therefore the Lord knew how that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making . . . more disciples than John . . . He left Judea.’’ John 4:1, 3. “The Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard . . .”

Reports even came to Him, and He took trouble to answer these “reports” by wise action. He could not allow even an apparent rivalry between His great forerunner, John the Baptist, and Himself, in the eyes of the religious world. So, He simply and quietly withdrew! The trouble was met by His silence and His self-effaced action. So may it be with us, to let there be wise action in similar circumstances and silence, so that others are not hurt.

His Silence over the glory of the Mount

“He was transfigured before them . . . As they were coming down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no one what things they had seen. . .” Mark 9:2, 9.

Whilst the Lord Jesus walked on earth as Man, only the three disciples knew of that glory on the Mount! The world did not know, neither did the majority of the followers of Jesus, for we are told the chosen three “kept the saying.” (2 Cor. 12:6).

What the Bible conceals from us is very wonderful when we consider it. The veil is lifted off the things of God, only just enough to give a glimpse into the unspeakable glory for those who are admitted within the veil. Detailed accounts of God’s deepest and most sacred dealings with His children are, if not wrong, at least not wise. Again, there is also the danger of the “natural man unable to receive the things of the Spirit,” turning away saying, “This is a hard saying,” and walking no more with the Lord—stumbled by things he cannot understand. The “Silence of Jesus” over the glory of the Mount is a message to all those who know something of the Mount of Transfiguration.

His Silence during the trials of the Cross

“The cup that I drink you shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized with you shall be baptized . . .”

This was all He said to the men who asked to share His throne. He did not describe in detail what “drinking the cup” would mean. It would be time enough when they came to it! “You cannot bear them now,” He tenderly said of the “many things” upon His heart before He went to Gethsemane. He told them of the Cross, and that it would mean some cost, but of that path through the valley of deep darkness He was silent. Let us then co-operate with His restraining hand upon us, when He keeps us from exposing too fully the path of the Cross, as well as the Mount of Glory. The “glory” would overpower the babes, and so would the way of Calvary. God will lead us all on as we are able to bear it. Let us be tender with the babes and yet not shrink from speaking faithfully when God’s time has come for every soul.

His Silence over the traitor disciple

“Very truly, I tell you, that one of you shall betray Me. The disciples looked at one another, not knowing of whom He spoke.” John 13:21, 22. So silent had He been! So lovingly had He treated Judas as one of the rest, that they had no idea who He meant. Never by word or look had He shown them the traitor. How “displeased” the ten were with the two disciples who asked for the Throne (Mark 10:41), so how could the Lord Jesus expose Judas, or arouse their partiality, and produce division amongst His little band? Let us be silent in similar circumstances and not arouse partiality in those who care for us, when God is leading us to Calvary through the instrumentality of a Judas. Let us never speak, if we can avoid it, of the human instruments in the pathway of the Cross, nor omit the stooping to wash their feet. To “bless” those who “despitefully use you,” (Matt. 5:44) is just what Jesus did.

His Silence over the deep things of God

“These things I said not to you from the beginning . . . I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:4,12.)

He “spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33, 34.)

The power and the need of silence in the spiritual life must grow upon us as we follow from point to point the example of the Lord. Silence over the “glory,” silence over the suffering path, and now silence over the things of God which are beyond the stage of growth of others who look to us for help. The Apostle Paul had also learned this lesson. I fed you with milk and not with meat, for you were not able to bear it, he writes again to the Corinthians. To “confess Christ” is quite a different thing to forcing “strong meat” on babes.

Silence over questions

The Lord knew that nought but the experimental teaching of the Holy Spirit could unfold to these disciples, all they wanted to know. How full of questions we are. “Why?” “How?” “When?” How we want spiritual things made clear and plain in our minds, forgetting that God wants to do for us exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask and think! How wisely the Lord does it with His questioning disciples. The silence of Jesus here is a need for all who are in the position of teaching others. He only answered the question with the words, “You shall know by and by. The Holy Spirit will teach you;” “wait.” Let us leave our own questions with God, and lead other questioning hearts to do the same.

His Silence in false accusations

The chief priests accused Him of many things. Pilate again asked Him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marvelled. (Mark 15:3,5). The Apostle Peter writes years afterwards of this wonderful silence of the Son of Man. When He was reviled, He reviled not again. When He suffered, He threatened not. His silence was divine. No mere human being could have been silent there, being innocent and guiltless, and allowing Himself to be led as a lamb to the slaughter.

To be as a sheep, silent at the hand of the shearers. This silence before Pilot, and then the silence of the Cross in the midst of the untold agony. Silence only broken 7 times with brief words of wondrous meaning. This silence of Jesus was the climax to a life of God; silence in circumstances when men must speak. This is the example for all 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 Pet.1:15). And by taking His cross as our cross, we having died . . . in Him and with Him, live to 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 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 questions only to be answered by God the Holy Spirit, 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 need.

“Silent” where apparent rivalry between servants of God seems imminent; our silent withdrawal without explanation, irrespective of our “rights.”

“Silent,” yes “Silent,” in the judgment hall, when criticised and falsely accused of many things.

“Silent” when the character of our accusers would not bear the light if we were but to speak, yet silent like Him, for He “opened not His mouth.”

Oh, You anointed Christ—the Lamb of God—You alone can live this life of silent self-effacement in a world of self-assertion and self-love.

Would that You would live this life in me!

“These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” (Rev. 14:4).