Read Mark 15:1-5
Speech is Silver, Silence is Golden.
Early in the morning, during Jesus’s trial, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law, and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plan of what to do with Jesus. So they bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. At one point, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said yes.
The chief priests made all kinds of false accusations against Jesus and Jesus never responded. He kept silent and this amazed Pilate. Pilate couldn’t believe Jesus wasn’t trying to defend himself.
There’s an old adage that says, “Speech Is Silver, Silence Is Golden.” It means that sometimes our silence is more powerful and impactful than a bunch of words. I think that’s true in Jesus’s case. What was impactful about Jesus’s silence?
1. Jesus was accused of so much, but his silence reinforced in the heart of Pilate his innocence. Sometimes when we try to defend ourselves our voice cracks and gets loud. We panic and get shaky with our words. In the end, it only makes us look guilty. But silence, mixed with humility, does just the opposite.
2. Jesus was also silent because he wanted to die. I mean, he wanted to give his life for the sins of the world. So his silence was mixed with humility and love. His love for us drove him to be silent. He didn’t want to be found innocent because there would have been no sacrifice for our sins. His Silence Was Golden.
I think we could all learn from this. There’s a time to speak, but there’s a time to be silent. Silence can become more powerful than words if mixed with humility and love. When you are in a conversation and it gets heated, and you feel you are unjustly accused or attacked by a cohort, family member, even an enemy, look at them. Make eye contact. But don’t try and outdo their arrogance with a look of arrogance. Give the look of true humility and love. They will see your heart of Love and humility and it will break through their pride. It will break down that wall of arrogance. Sometimes it provokes more anger and hostility from your accuser but that’s only because inside they’re feeling true conviction. Don’t engage in hateful conversation. Keep that look of love and humility in silence. Sometimes walking away takes away their need to be in control.
God, help us all to maintain a heart of love and compassion and humility when we speak but all the more when we are silent. Silver Is Speech, But Silence Is Golden.”
