Whenever someone attacks you unfairly or criticizes you, how do you handle it? Sometimes it can be hard to hold your tongue, but for Jesus, it’s not. Jesus doesn’t defend himself amongst all the lies he was accused of in Matthew 26 because he had you on his heart – he took the blame.
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada Sharing Hope and today is Good Friday.
JONI: And Shauna, you know the Good Friday story [everyone does] recorded in Matthew 26. Jesus was arrested, dragged before the Sanhedrin, a whole company of angry accusers around. They made him stand before Caiaphas the high priest who was seated. Around him were assembled all the teachers of the law and the elders. They were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two men made the charge that Jesus said he would destroy the temple of God. Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. [Don’t you find that curious that he didn’t defend himself]?
Now, most of us can get a little worked up when we are falsely accused. Sure, we can handle “valid” criticism [or maybe we can’t!]. But when someone attacks us unfairly or misrepresents the facts; when a person twists the truth, or smears our reputation, spreads a false report, we simply must defend ourselves; we are compelled to speak up on our own behalf and set the record straight. But look at the way Jesus responds as he stood before that ridiculously unfair kangaroo court. He could have set the record straight, but he didn’t defend himself at all. So, the high priest inasmuch yells in his face, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony these men are bringing against you?” And you have to wonder, why didn’t Jesus answer?
Why didn’t he defend himself? Well, because it wasn’t himself he was defending. His guilt wasn’t on the judgment seat; our guilt was. In a way, we were the ones on trial and Jesus was standing there in your place and mine – taking the abuse, the judgment, the accusations, all the scorn that rightly belonged to us. In light of our sins and rebellion, it was fitting that he said nothing and gave no answer. The charges were all true, but they belonged to us. Isaiah 53 describes that moment when Jesus stood silent before Caiaphas. The seventh verse says, “He was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” And we cannot open our mouths, either. Whatever charges hateful people could have pressed against us, it is clear we deserve the judgment, and our guilt is proof of our sin. But Isaiah 53:5 tells the hope-filled ending to this Good Friday tragedy. It says of Jesus, “he was pierced for our transgressions; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
SHAUNA: And listening friend, today on Good Friday, Joni and I want you to pray with us: “Lord Jesus, you didn’t speak for yourself or defend yourself against those hateful lies, because you had us on your heart. You took the blame for us. On the cross, you willingly took the punishment we deserved and died the death we should have died. What a Savior! What a Friend! Oh, Jesus, if it weren’t for your gracious favor, we’d be nothing but burnt toast. So, on this Good Friday, on this this horrible, wonderful day, thank you for rescuing us from ourselves! And this Easter weekend, Lord help us share our stories of redemption with those who have yet to know your favor. In your precious name, we pray, Amen.”
© Joni and Friends