Can you imagine not complaining when somebody does something bad to you? We all whine and complain about the least little things. But silent strength is impressive.
Never was silence so eloquent as when Jesus stood before His accusers and did not open His mouth. In Isaiah 53:7 Isaiah said, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.”
Now we first need to understand the nature of this silence. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t speak. It was when He didn’t speak that was impressive. Jesus did speak during His trials and crucifixion. He spoke to the high priest and the court official. He spoke to Pilate. He spoke seven times during His crucifixion. He answered questions, and He defended the Truth. He even spoke of His own need, as when He said, “I thirst.” But what He didn’t do was complain. What He didn’t do was defend Himself. What He didn’t do was to revile His accusers and threaten those who hurt Him.
The word “oppressed” in Isaiah 53:7 is a Hebrew word that means “to press or urge; to drive or push.”
He was harassed, and pressed, and pushed. They shoved Him around. They mocked Him and forced Him this way and that. He was in their grasp and under their control. Yet, “He opened not His mouth.” He stood before them in silent strength.
You see, it wasn’t that He wouldn’t speak when necessary. But He would not defend Himself or complain. The reason, of course, was that if He had uttered one word of protest or complaint, it would have denied the voluntary nature of His suffering. Our Lord’s silence during His trials and crucifixion was more powerful than His accusers’ words of hate and oppression. “He was oppressed…yet He opened not His mouth.”
Listen. Jesus didn’t complain – because He was voluntarily dying for your sin.