MATTHEW 26:57–64 – Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
THEME OF THE DAY: WE DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO RESPOND. There is an amazing action our Lord takes in today’s riveting account of Him before Caiaphas, the high priest. It actually is no action. Enter the scene. Jesus is seized and placed before Caiphas. False witnesses come out of the woodwork to accuse Jesus of some crime worthy of death. Confusion abounds as no one has their acts together. The high priest, probably frustrated with not finding credible evidence against Jesus, looks straight at the Lord and basically says, “Don’t you have anything to say? No defense? Don’t you hear them? Aren’t you going to defend yourself?” And here is the action, no action of Jesus . . . But Jesus remained silent.
Friends, we don’t always have to respond to everything said to us or about us. Nor do we always have to give an opinion about a current hot topic in our culture that often leads to emotionally charged conversations that might damage our testimonies for the Lord Jesus. Oh, two more things. Be careful in how much we talk. Let these words of Solomon make us more prone to listen than talk – When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent (Proverbs 10:19). And the other thing is to be mindful of who we are in conversation with. Again King Solomon – Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself (Proverbs 26:4). We will know quickly if the conversation unfolding before us is one we should be a part of. A fool is easily discerned in a few sentences. And once that discernment is made, guard our tongues or as Solomon says, “We will be like the fool.”
Yes, our Lord is our example in all of life, and the lesson learned from Him today is this – we don’t always have to respond. And when we do, here is a good prayer to offer, “Lord, give me wisdom to know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it.”
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I speak too much and often when I should remain silent.”
QUOTE: “We don’t always need to defend ourselves. With many words comes much potential for sin.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim