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JESUS IS SILENT (LUKE 23:8-12)
REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Jesus is Silent” To be silent means to be mute or refuse to speak. We shall reflect on the fact that Jesus may be silent when you want Him but you will hear Him when you need Him.

Dear friend in the Lord, Jesus may be silent if we want Him but He will speak and embrace us when we need Him. When Pilate did not find any merit in the the accusations levelled against Jesus by the Council, he sent him over to Herod, the King of Judea to be tried. Herod asked Jesus to display his power and made a mockery of Him without adjudicating over the case brought before Him. We are told “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 a sign of some sort. 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. (Luke 23:8-11) It appeared Herod wanted Jesus but did not need Him in his life. Jesus answers to those who need Him and not those who want Him. Jesus was silent because Herod wanted Him for amusement and demonstration of His powers. Herod did not need Jesus to preach the Good News to him and Nicodemus did. Those who earnestly needed and yearned for Jesus through faith like the woman with the issue of blood and the Samaritan woman experienced the divine and restorative power of Jesus in their lives. We are greatly assured in Jeremiah 29:13-14 that “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. “

Today, Jesus appears to be silent in the lives of many people who claim to be Christians. Like Herod, we only want Jesus to fulfil our physical needs and not for our salvation and eternal relationship with God. We want Jesus to set us free from poverty, give us employment, grant us visas, open doors of prosperity, marriage and a whole lot more. Yet, we don’t need Him because we are not ready to accept Him as Lord and Saviour and offer our lives to Him as a living sacrifice. When we consider the example of the two robbers who were crucified with Jesus, we can see that one wanted Jesus but the other needed Jesus. The one who wanted Jesus said to Him, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39), Jesus was silent and did not answer Him, but when the other criminal who needed Jesus said ” “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. (Luke 23:40-42) Immediate, Jesus answered Him, “Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Beloved in the Lord, the choice is yours today, do you want Jesus or do you need Jesus in your life?

In summary, we have discovered that Jesus may be silent because we want Him, but He will answer us, and we will experience His divine presence in our lives when we earnestly need Him and yearn for an eternal relationship with Him. Shalom.

PRAYER (HYMN: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR)
1. I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2.  I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh. [Refrain]

3. I need Thee ev’ry hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain. [Refrain]

4. I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill. [Refrain]