As violence and strife increasingly characterize the society in which we live, courts of law are filled with cases trying those accused of crimes of every degree and description. Regardless of how heinous his offence, every accused criminal is guaranteed a defense lawyer. Occasionally an accused party will stand in his own defense without a lawyer, but no one expects to prove his innocence before the judge who has power to punish him by remaining silent. History’s most famous and important trial, however, concerned One Who remained silent, according to the prophet Isaiah: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isa. 53:7).
The defendant spoken of by the prophet is none other than the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. His mock trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court, was the culmination of the fierce opposition He had faced from the Jewish religious leaders throughout the days of His public ministry. These scribes and Pharisees had frequently sought to destroy Jesus’ influence through hateful argumentation and guileful questions. Although these efforts were to no avail, Jesus had now been betrayed into their hands by one of His Own disciples, Judas Iscariot, and by force of arms taken captive. False witnesses were then marshalled against Him, and the high priest, pretending to be a spokesman for justice, “arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?” After this grueling ordeal in the night, the next morning Jesus was led before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate who asked Him, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” To this honest question the Lord of Glory gave the truthful answer, “Thou sayest.” But “when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.” (Mt. 26:62; 27:11-14). When Pilate despaired of finding Jesus chargeable of any fault, he sent him to King Herod who “questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.” (Lk. 23:9-11). What were the thoughts of Christ’s heart at this time enabling Him with such meekness to be led like an unsuspecting lamb on its way to be butchered or sheared? The Apostle Peter who viewed His sufferings tells us: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” (I Pet. 2:23). The Son of Man knew that His life rested not in the hands of His persecutors, but in the hands of His heavenly Father Who would not leave Him in the grave, but would raise Him again, triumphant over sin, death, and hell.
Dear reader, if you are wondering what all this means to you, consider for a moment how God’s Word describes your standing as a fallen sinner before the Judge of All the Earth: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Rom. 3:19). In the day of judgment you will be speechless in guilt, not in innocence, for failing to fulfill God’s law in your every thought, word, deed, and motive. You owe a sin debt to the holy God which you cannot pay. A ransom must be found to secure your escape from hell. Look not for righteousness in yourself, but in the personal righteousness of the Saviour, and trust in His blood as the purchase price for the enslaved and condemned sinner. The Saviour’s dying love will inspire your love and obedience, and you will be able to testify with the Apostle John, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (I Jn. 4:17).