Jesus Remained Silent

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

JESUS REMAINED SILENT

 

Luke 23:8-12

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends — before this they had been enemies.

NIV

Although Herod questioned and questioned Jesus with many words, hoping to get Jesus to do some miracle, Jesus just stood there silent. Normally, we would think because we are told so that when we ask Jesus for something, he will any us, and do whatever we ask in his name. But Jesus just stood there silent, because Herod was not seeking to know Jesus, or wanted to know about the kingdom of God, but only wanted a magic act, to be entertained by Jesus. We do wonder if we Christians only come to Jesus for a miracle, or when we have some need, we want fixed. Of course, Jesus has told us to come to him if we are weary and heavy burdened and He would give us rest. We know he wants us to come to him to have life. We know that unless the Father enables us, that is the Spirit convicts us of our sin, and our eyes and hearts have been opened to this, we will not be able to come to Jesus for life. However, we also know that we do not just want to come to Jesus because He can do a miracle for us, but that we have come to him for life, and he gives us life and life abundantly, for eternal life is as abundant as it can be. If Jesus never does another thing for us, having a life is all we need. Yet, we know Jesus is healed all that came to him, but it was because they believed, they had faith in Jesus. Herod never demonstrated faith, but just wanted a show. If we have faith in Jesus we will gain life, but we lose our lives, Herod was not interested in losing his life to gain life through Jesus,  he just wanted a show, and when he did not get one, he made fun of Jesus, mocked him, discrediting him. Isn’t that what happens today by those who do not know Jesus, and are not willing to come to him for life, but want to mock and discredit Jesus as Lord and Savior, perhaps seeing him as a good man, even a prophet, but not who he truly is, the Son of the living God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the giving of life. Let us always come to Jesus in worship and adoration, with a heart of thanksgiving, for He has made us whole, He has given us life eternal. Of course, Jesus will answer us, He is always there for us, He will heal, and He is always willing to heal, to provide, to sustain us through our life here until He comes back for us to take to that place He has prepared just for us. But for Herod, Jesus remained silent. Jesus will not answer the mockers.