Isaiah 53:7-9--The Prophecy
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. 8He
was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut
off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9And he
made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no
violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
The Fulfillment--
Luke 23:8,9--Silence before Herod
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long
season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle
done by him. 9Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
Matthew 27:12-14--Before Pilate
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13Then said
Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14And he
answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
John 19:9-11--before Pilate
And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave
him no answer. 10Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that
I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11Jesus answered, Thou
couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he
that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
Acts 8:29-38--Isaiah 53:7 is the passage that the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading when Phillip
shows up and explains that this is talking about Christ.
Christ’s crucifixion was not:
1) Was not a defeat, nor a win for Satan--Christ chose to die rather than worship Satan
2) Jesus was not tricked--He rationally approached the cross
Christ’s crucifixion was:
1) Part of God’s plan since the foundation of the world
2) A fulfillment of long ago prophecy
3) The main focus of Christ’s life--it was His offering of Himself
Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Hebrews 7:27
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then
for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without
spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Christ silently endured because He knew God’s plan and the joy it would produce. Total
confidence leads to total submission.
Our Example:
1 Peter 2:21-24
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who,
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our. .
We follow His example by suffering for Him and doing so in like manner--quietly, committing
ourselves to God, the true Judge.
Romans 8:31-37
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that
spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely
give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we
are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us.
When we keep silence amidst opposition, persecution and suffering we show that we trust our
God. We show that we trust His Word, His plan and His promises.