The Omnipotence of His Silence

by Michael McKinley

Christ in his passion was mocked on several occasions and each time the mockery occupied a unique place in his experience. First he was mocked by Israel, next he was mocked by the pagan world, then by a descendant of Edom, a false brother, and finally by all these together. He was mocked by the Sanhedrin, by Pilate’s soldiers, by Herod and then by them all as they stood before the cross….

In the midst of this gruesome abuse our Lord stood unflinchingly, leaving himself at the mercy of his enemies, he who by a word could have destroyed them. But he maintained the omnipotence of his silence…. In his bearing in the midst of vile abuse, the Saviour left us an example that we should follow in his steps. We cannot be faithful to Christ in this world and avoid reproach and contempt, and in this our bearing should correspond in some measure to that of the master when he was so defamed.

— Frederick S. Leahy, The Cross He Bore (pp. 58-59)

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This article has been reposted from www.9Marks.org. This article on the 9Marks’ website may be accessed here.