When Silence Thunders
by Rev. Kirby Williams
The powerful reason for the Lamb's silence during His trials.
Text: Matt. 27:11-14
Date: 04/03/2026, the Good Friday service.
Series: "Good Friday" Part 17
Occasion: Good Friday
Description:
In this message we continue our lengthy "once-a-year" series harmonizing the various Gospel accounts of Jesus' activity on Good Friday. In this episode we turn back to Matthew where Jesus is still in His civil trial before Pilate. The members of the Sanhedrin, after condemning Him to death, bring him bound before the Roman governor of Judea with allegations of sedition. Except for a single enigmatic answer when asked if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus remains silent before both Pilate and His accusers. This amazes Pilate as He tries to understand why this serene, dignified and obviously innocent man does not defend Himself. But as we shall see, Jesus has a crystalline focus on the Cross and defending Himself will not aid in bringing that about. When faced with unbelief, persecution, and the wickedness of our culture, Christians often ask today why the Lamb is silent. We will answer that question by showing He has never been silent-- only focused. And if we fail to hear His thunderous voice from heaven, it is because we are listening for the wrong words.
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I. Introduction, Jer. 12:1-2; Job 9:24; Psa. 13:1-2.
II. Exposition of the text, Matt. 27:12-14.
A. Context, John 18:36-38.
B. Grappling with the Lord's silence, Luke 23:10.
1. Silent before His accusers, vs. 12, Luke 23:2,5; Matt. 22:21, 27:11; Rom. 13:6.
2. The governor's amazement, vs. 13-14.
a. The governor's plea, vs. 13.
b. Reasons for silence, vs. 14a.
i. No one was interested in the truth.
1) The Sanhedrin and the Jews, Matt. 27:3-4.
2) Pilate and the Romans.
3) Herod Antipas.
ii. The blindness of unbelief, John 18:38.
1) The Sanhedrin and the Jews.
2) Pilate and the Romans, John 18:38.
3) Herod Antipas.
iii. The march to the Cross, Luke 2:34-35, 9:22,51; Acts 2:23.
iv. The fulfillment of prophecy, Isa. 53:7.
c. Pilate's amazement, vs. 14b, John 19:10-11.
3. A consistent silence, Matt. 26:62-64.
a. A consistent theme, John 18:21, 19:1-3; Matt. 26:64,67; Luke 22:67, 23:9,11.
b. With good reason.
III. Application
A. Jesus on trial.
B. Who is winning and who is losing?
C. The Lamb is NOT silent!
D. The reason we despair, Matt. 24:14, 28:18-20, 25:31,32.
E. A lesson for the church, John 14:6, Rev. 1:8, 17-18, Isa. 45:18, 22-25.
IV. Conclusion
