He Did Not Open His Mouth

There are several things that the Lord's accusers brandished against him before Pilate. One of them is that he perverted the nation, another is that he forbade paying tribute to Caesar; a third was that he claimed the title of king. A fourth was that he stirred up the people, and a fifth, that he disturbed them.

All these things are a bouquet that the world offered to the Lord. If he were among us today, without a doubt, he would offer them to him again. As we know? Because he does so with his true followers. "If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you too" (John 15:20).

Of none of them, however, he defended himself, although he had arguments to spare. He "was speechless, and did not open his mouth" (Is. 53:7). The lies against him crossed back and forth; the false testimonies flew like arrows to nail his heart. But he didn't open his mouth.

Throughout history many times this has also happened to many Christians. However, they have not always imitated him. They have not always shut their mouths. Rather, they opened it to let out of it a river of insults, a barrage of threats. They were Christians who had very little to do with Christ.

They knew his name, but not the beauty of her person. They spoke of his doctrine, but without his spirit. Some of them were very prominent, and figure prominently in history. But they did not shut their mouth. They did not follow his Master in his death.

Following Christ means following him in his life and in his death. It means walking as he walked and allowing himself to be judged unfairly without defending himself. Following Christ is much more than saying: "I follow Christ". Sooner or later, all followers of Christ go through "the test of whiteness", which is the participation in his sufferings.

Have you been willing in the past to suffer without opening your mouth? Are you willing to suffer it in the future?

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