Silent Before His Accusers
Devotional by Abigail O’Neel
Read Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 26:59-63, Matthew 27:12-14, John 10:7-18
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
Matthew 26:59–63
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 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.”
Matthew 27:12-14
Jesus Before Pilate
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
John 10:7–18
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
Devotional
Isaiah 53:7 offers a compelling glimpse into the steadfast resolve of the Suffering Servant:
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”
Centuries later, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy with breathtaking precision. As He stood before the Sanhedrin, falsely accused of blasphemy (Matthew 26:59–63), and before Pilate, charged with sedition (Matthew 27:11–14), He offered no defense. Pilate marveled at His silence, asking, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” Yet Jesus, the Lamb of God, remained silent. Why?
Adrian Rogers seeks to understand this mystery: “Had Jesus justified Himself, He would have condemned me.” He stood in our place, and in doing so, he had to bear the weight of our sin. A defense from Jesus would have unraveled the very purpose of His mission: to lay down His life willingly and vicariously for His sheep (John 10:11–18). Instead of defending himself, he became guilty in the sight of God—not guilty actually, but because he bore our guilt in our place, becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)—so that we might become the righteousness of God.
His silence was not weakness or defeat; it was a deliberate act of the Good Shepherd to lay down his life for His sheep and secure their redemption (John 10:11-18). Charles Spurgeon reflects on the submissive silence of Jesus, noting that while we are like sheep in our foolishness, Jesus is like a sheep in His perfect patience. Stripped of honor and glory, Jesus endured the cross so we might enter through Him—the door—and find abundant life (John 10:9). Romans 8:1 declares the result:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
In His silence, Jesus fulfilled prophecy and revealed the depth of his grace, ensuring our guilt is silenced forever.
Action Step: Serve with Us on Easter Sunday!
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Jesús stood silently in my place to pay the price for my sin. I am always amazed by this sacrifice that God loved us so much and knew we were incapable of redeeming ourselves that He made a way. Jesus thank you for your sacrifice, I pray that as we go through this week that many hearts are stirred and more people come to know Jesus in a personal way. .
Two charges! Jesus was charged with blasphemy and charged by the Father (John 10:18). Just finishing up studying Revelation this week and the many contrasts throughout, so this contrast jumped out at me too! There really are only two choices, to follow Jesus who listened to the Father or not! One brings life and one brings death. Praise God for abundant life!
IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME, AMEN.🙏📖🕊✝
Heavenly Father,
Seeing your Son on trial, did you cry?
Watching your creation reject your Son, you were silent.
Your redemptive plan was unfolding.
Hallelujah Father, your plan was being fulfilled.
IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME, AMEN.✝🕊📖🙏
I am so undeserving of this act of grace/mercy/love. Instead of leaving us to die in our sin, Jesus completely took on the sins of the world, ensuring that we would have abundant life and freedom from the bondage if sin that was present before his death, burial, and resurrection. Thank you Jesus for laying down your life for your sheep, that while we were still sinners, he died for us! Wow… what a beautiful gracious God we serve!
Thank you God for Jesus!! Thank you Jesus for your Blood that washed away all of my sin. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Worthy is the Lamb! Worthy is the Lamb! For He alone is worthy! Blessed be His Name! Thank you Lord for all that You have done for me and given me! I exalt your Holy Name! Just to imagine all the humiliation, torment, false accusations, afflictions, and abhorrent conditions brings tears to my eyes! Knowing that your follow-through commitment was part of God’s Plan of Redemption, and your willingness to comply brings tears to my eyes and tugs at my heart! You Alone are Worthy to be Praised! I exalt your Holy Name! Your silence paid our price!
The silence of the Savior spoke louder than any other action for it ultimately led Him to the cross. But what speaks the clearest and the boldest is that His silence also silenced my guilt, causing Jesus to receive a punishment that belonged to me. I’ll be forever grateful for the posture and position my Lord took for us all, but especially me.
GOD Thank you for your Mercy and grace for sending your only son Juses Christ to to die and share his blood to clean are sin and save our souls
Thank you Jesus. Thank you for your sacrifice. Though I am undeserving, I am so grateful.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Humbled and amazed once again this morning by the power and faithfulness of our God and Savior. Without your sacrifice on the cross where would I be without you? Thank you Jesus!! Amen
Thank you, Lord for all the blessings of this day. Amen.
How many times should I have just shut my mouth, listened and loved…silence can be strength.
Great point for married couple
We are blessed to know that Jesus loves us no matter what our sins are and that love is forever.
Love so amazing, so devine…….. I cannot thank You enough, Jesus, for dying for my sins, for all Your grace and love.
A debt he paid but didn’t owe., a death he endured but didn’t deserve., a love he gave but we didn’t earn. Thank you Lord Jesus, Savior, Master, my all in all !!!!
Matt 26:63 – Matt 27:12-14 – Every time I read all these verses I always found myself screaming ” Save yourself Jesus”! ”
Then there is john 10:11 – The truth – That my salvation came from Jesus silence and His sacrifice and it counted for the forgiveness of my sins.
Then John 10:14-18- Reveals that God always knew we would sin but he saved us anyway knowing that the more we came to know Jesus and his love the more we would all love Jesus and want to please Him .
There, it is the comfort in knowing.Jesus understands our trials and doubts and he is not interested in casting us away at our first missteps.
Thank you Jesus for all you went through for me! I feel so not worthy of receiving such a sacrifice.
I would also reference the fact in Hebrews 12:1-3 that it is similar to how we are going to see in the fact that running the race with endurance despises our shame. I mean that is how I will reference this devotional because it said that, in my point of view, let us run the race with endurance.
I’ve wondered why Jesus was silent before His accusers the notion always caused me wonder. When I have been accused of things, no matter how big small ridiculous or serious, and I believe this is true if most people, I am defending myself before the accusation has even been completely made known. My mind automatically begins to justify defend make excuse for my actions or proving otherwise. It’s almost a default mode that only in my “more mature” years as an adult do I think before I speak in my own defense.( most of the time:))
But Jesus accused even to death….silent….Wow!
This suggestion in today’s devo is so amazing! So enlightening and such a picture of the true nature of a loving God. Thank you Jesus!