Our Lord’s Silence
In John 19:6-11 we see Pilate, had a day of grace and an open door put before him, but refused to enter, choosing his own sinful way, shutting the door, to never open again.
John 19:6-11
[6] So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, "Crucify, crucify!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him." [7] The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God." [8] Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; [9] and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. [10] So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" [11] Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
Our Lord’s Silence
Our Lord's silence, when this appeal was made to him by Pilate, is very striking. Hitherto he had spoken freely and replied to questions; now he refused to speak any more.
The reason of our Lord's silence must be sought in the state of Pilates soul. He deserved no answer and therefore got none.
He had forfeited his title to any further revelation about his prisoner. He had been told plainly the nature of our Lord's kingdom and the purpose of our Lord's coming into the world and been obliged to confess publicly his innocence.
And yet, with all this light and knowledge, he had treated our Lord with flagrant injustice, scourged him, allowed him to be treated with the vilest indignities by his soldiers and held him up to scorn, knowing in his own mind all the time that he was a guiltless person.
He had, in short, sinned away his opportunities, forsaken his own mercies and turned a deaf car to the cries of his own conscience.
Hence our Lord would have nothing more to do with him and would tell him nothing more. 'He gave him no answer.'
Here, as in many other cases, we learn that God will not force conviction on men and will not compel obstinate unbelievers to believe and will not always strive with men's consciences.
Most men, like Pilate, have a day of grace and an open door put before them. If they refuse to enter in, and choose their own sinful way, the door is often shut and never opened again.
There is such a thing as a day of visitation', when Christ speaks to men.
If they will not hear his voice and open the door of their hearts, they are often let alone, given over to a reprobate mind and left to reap the fruit of their own sins. It was so with Pharaoh and Saul and Ahab, and Pilate's case was like theirs.
He had his opportunity and did not choose to use it, but preferred to please the Jews at the expense of his conscience and to do what he knew was wrong.
We see the consequence. Our Lord will tell him nothing more.
FOR MEDITATION: Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces' (Matt. 7:6).
Thank you for reading!