In 1952, John Wayne starred in the Academy Award-winning movie 性视界传媒淭he Quiet Man.性视界传媒 Wayne played an Irish-born former boxer named Sean 性视界传媒淭rooper Thorn性视界传媒 Thornton. Thornton was the epitome of the strong, silent type. He was a man of few words, but, when he spoke, his words carried weight.
性视界传媒淭he Quiet Man性视界传媒 came to mind last week as I conducted the funeral of a man who was also the epitome of the strong, silent type. He was a quiet man but well-loved and respected. He was highly intelligent. When he spoke, his words carried weight.
At his funeral, though, I couldn性视界传媒檛 help but talk about another quiet man 性视界传媒 Jesus.
Jesus was the strong, silent type.
Don性视界传媒檛 get me wrong. Jesus wasn性视界传媒檛 shy. He definitely could talk when he needed to. Jesus wasn性视界传媒檛 like his cousin, John the Baptist, however. He wasn性视界传媒檛 big and boisterous. From what we can see in the Bible, Jesus seemed to be more soft-spoken.
But that性视界传媒檚 not why I call Jesus the strong, silent type.
I call Jesus the strong, silent type because, at his trials, he barely said a word. Jesus stood on trial five different times during the 24 hours before his death: before Ananias, the former high priest; then before Caiaphas, the current high priest, together with the entire Jewish ruling council; then before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate; then King Herod; then Pontius Pilate again.
As his enemies hurled insults and accusations at him, Jesus never said a word in his defense. Some 700 years earlier, the Prophet Isaiah prophesied about that moment when he said, 性视界传媒淗e was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth性视界传媒 (Isaiah 53:7).
Why did Jesus stay silent? Why didn性视界传媒檛 he say a word? Many took his silence as a sign of weakness. But really, Jesus was being the strong, silent type. Even though he was completely innocent 性视界传媒 even though he could have called on his legions of angels to rescue him 性视界传媒 Jesus remained silent. He didn性视界传媒檛 defend himself.
Jesus remained silent because he loved you so much.
He allowed evil men to insult, accuse, and convict them. He allowed them to beat, whip, and kill him in order to suffer your punishment in your place.
And because he did, you are forgiven for all the ugly and thoughtless words you say in anger. Because he did, you are forgiven for all your lies. Because he did, you are forgiven for your gossip and pride. You are forgiven because Jesus stood silently by and let his enemies kill him and his Father punish him for you.
That kind of love, that kind of forgiveness, that kind of sacrifice demands and deserves a response. Now is not a time to be silent. Open your mouth and thank him. Sing out your praises to him in church. Tell everyone what he has done.
Tell them what the Quiet Man has done for you.
