From:  Mary Padgett Ministries, Inc.
A Word In Due Season

STRENGTH IN QUIETNESS

Scripture:  Mark 15:5  "But Jesus answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled."

The tongue is a small member of our body, but it controls the course of our life like the rudder that controls the direction of a ship (James 3:4-5).  It takes much strength and discipline to control the tongue and remain silent in the midst of accusing voices.  Yet we see Jesus as He did just that.  The chief priest, elders, scribes, and the whole council delivered Jesus to Pilate for interrogation.  There were many false things witnessed against Him, but Jesus did not try to defend Himself.  Rather, He responded in the power of quietness and stillness.  Jesus could have called the angels to the scene or demonstrated some sort of miracle in the midst of His accusers to prove His identity, but He just stood there silently, and Pilate marveled at His response.

Jesus' quiet response came because He was confident in who He was.  He knew He was the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Jesus lived in this confidence and demonstrated it in His quietness.  There was no need on His part to prove to anyone that He was the King of the Jews.  He allowed His Heavenly Father to validate His identity.  God said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  Why can't we be like Jesus and exercise this same self control?  Instead, we try to have the last word to prove a point or defend our stand.  We somehow feel that if we stay in the verbal ring the longest, we are the victors in the confrontation or debate.  We try to prove who we are and what we know rather than depending upon God's validation.

Isaiah 30:15 says, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."  Confidence in the God we serve allows His power to quietly work within us.  His gentle strength within becomes a mystery to our enemies.  Like Pilate's response to Jesus, those about us marvel at our quietness and our strength.  When we give a soft answer, it will turn away their wrath and conquer the evil that is set against us.  They will be amazed at our forgiveness towards them, which will set them free, and they will be overwhelmed by the love that flows through our lives and will be drawn to our Savior. +++

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