Silence is when we listen only to the voice of God, whom we rely on, and humbly obey His words in faith.

Silence is when we listen only to the voice of God,

whom we rely on, and humbly obey His words in faith.

 

 

The high priests and the Jewish council (Sanhedrin) sought evidence to condemn Jesus to death.  Many people came forward and gave false testimony, but they could not find any substantial evidence.  Finally, two people came forward and testified, saying, "This man claimed he could destroy God's temple and rebuild it in three days."  The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Why do you not answer?  What is this testimony these men are bringing against you?"  But Jesus remained silent and did not respond (Matthew 26:59-63, Korean Modern Bible).  As I reflected on this passage, several thoughts came to mind:

 

(1)    When I think of the high priests and the Jewish council seeking evidence to condemn Jesus, I believe this is the fulfillment of Jesus' words in Matthew 20:18: "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death ..." (Korean Modern Bible).  They wanted Jesus to be sentenced to death and crucified. 

 

(2)    Apostle Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death" (Luke 22:33, Korean Modern Bible), but he fled and then returned, following Jesus at a distance to see how things were unfolding (Matthew 26:56, 58).  However, Apostle Paul not only felt as if he had been sentenced to death (2 Corinthians 1:9), but even though he had "done nothing deserving of death or imprisonment" (Acts 26:31, Korean Modern Bible), he actually ended up in the lowest position, like a prisoner on death row (1 Corinthians 4:9).  When he was accused by Jews from Jerusalem of various crimes, he said, "If I am guilty of doing anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die" (Acts 25:7, 11, Korean Modern Bible).  The reason Apostle Paul could say this was because he relied not on himself, but solely on God, who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9).  God is the one who hears the groans of those imprisoned and frees those sentenced to death! (Ref.: Psalms 102:20).

 

(3)    When I reflect on the verse, "Many people came and gave false testimony, but they could not find any substantial evidence" (Matthew 26:60, Korean Modern Bible), I agree with the verse, "A false witness only tells lies" (Proverbs 12:17, Korean Modern Bible).  What comes out of the heart of a false witness are "evil thoughts, murder, adultery, immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander" (Matthew 15:19, Korean Modern Bible).  A person who gives false testimony is like someone who harms their neighbor with a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow (Proverbs 25:18).  Those who oppose us will give false testimony against us (Ref.: Psalms 27:12).  They will accuse us of things we did not even know about (Ref.: 35:11), and they will make false statements about us (Ref.: Proverbs 24:28).  The Bible clearly says, "Do not give false testimony against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16, Korean Modern Bible).  Those who give false testimony and falsely accuse the innocent will be punished by God (Ref.: Isaiah 29:21).

(4)    Many people gave false testimony, but the last two individuals provided testimony that could lead to substantial evidence against Jesus.  Their testimony was, "This man said that he could destroy God's temple and rebuild it in three days" (Matthew 26:60-61, Korean Modern Bible).  In fact, Jesus had said, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days" (John 2:19, Korean Modern Bible).  However, neither the Jews who heard these words (v 18) nor the two men who gave testimony against Jesus (Matthew 26:60) knew the truth: "The temple Jesus was referring to was His own body" (John 2:21, Korean Modern Bible) [Jesus' disciples did not remember this statement until after Jesus' death and resurrection, and only then did they believe in the Scriptures and the words Jesus had spoken (v 22)].  Therefore, both the two witnesses and the high priests and the Jewish council, as well as all the Jews who accused Jesus, believed that He had committed the sin of blasphemy against God's temple.  The reason was that, in the Old Testament, the temple was the place where God's name dwelt, and when Jesus said to destroy the temple, it was seen as a blasphemy against the temple and, by extension, as a crime against God's name, which was considered sacrilege (Jeong-Hyun Lee).

 

(5)    Even though two people were giving unfavorable testimony about Jesus, He did not respond and remained silent (Matthew 26:62-63).  Why did Jesus not defend Himself?  Why did Jesus not explain that the temple He was referring to was not the actual building of the Jerusalem temple, but His own body?  Why did Jesus keep silent?  The answer is found in Isaiah 53:7 (Korean Modern Bible): “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.”  Silence, though it involves not speaking to anyone, is ‘listening to God’ (Henry Nouwen).  Silence is hearing the words of many false testimonies, criticisms, gossip, and misunderstandings of God's word, but it is also about hearing only the voice of the God we rely on (Ref.: 2 Corinthians 1:9, Korean Modern Bible) and humbly obeying His word with quiet faith.