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!
Easter Sunday is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a memorable experience for everyone, especially in Kids Ministry. Whether you’re at our Champions or North Klein Campus, there are opportunities to serve and be a part of what God is doing in our church. Click the appropriate link below to sign up to serve on Easter Sunday, or visit our general serve page to find other ways to get involved.
- Serve at Champions Campus on Easter Sunday
- Serve at North Klein Campus on Easter Sunday
- General Serve Page
We’d love for you to be part of this special day as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!