Silent Love

The accused stood silent among the seething anger and pointing fingers in the room. Some hurled various accusations but no agreement of two witnesses could make the charges stick. This court took place in abnormal circumstances that violated its own rules. The accused was arrested without charge, they meet in the High Priest’s home into the darkness of night, and on the day of celebration and worship. In an act of desperation the judge steps down from his office of guarantor of justice to vehemently take on the role of prosecutor. The High Priest hurls a leading question to the accused. “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” The life of a man hangs in the stillness of the air. All eyes are starring intently into the face of one they loathe, fear and don’t understand. The accused says, “I am”. Men gasp at his words as he continues “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” “Blasphemy!” yells the judge. That this man claims to be God, who has divine authority over us, and will establish his future rule and reign with power. The High Priest tears his clothes and pronounces his verdict, and immediately the court sentences the accused to death.

The volcano of anger, fear and hate erupts as officers grab the condemned, spit on his face, and blindfold him. They mock his divine acknowledgement yelling “Prophesy!” and striking the defenseless man in the face as they mercilessly beat the Christ, the Son of God. He was sentenced to death not for murder, stealing, or any violation of the law, but for simply being who He is, the Son of God. – Mark 14:53-65

Why? For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… John 3:16, and This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. – 1 John 4:9,10

Why would the innocent willingly stand condemned to death? Out of love. The Son of God, full of immeasurable power who set the stars in the heavens before life on earth, who always was and always will be took our place of condemnation. With each virulent insult, hurl of degrading spit, or rage of balled up fists that slammed into his cheek…He took it out of love. Love for the world and specifically love for you. If you were present in that mockery of a court room that fateful day, and could catch the eye of Jesus. You would gaze into the depth of unfailing, unflinching, unwavering love which has no bottom. His gaze would penetrate into your soul that would transcend the swirling hate and rage of others and in contrast offer a longing tenderness of compassion for you. His silence is a gift of his life so that you may live. A life of freedom from guilt, sin and death – that you might receive his gift of eternal life with Him.

Thank you Jesus.