We live in a society of civil rights issues and freedom of speech marches and supreme court rulings. Our society is very much a self-centered one. How dare anyone infringe on my rights? And I’ll admit, as one who enjoys to blog regularly, I’m thankful to be able to voice my opinion and God’s truths regularly.

Recently, though, I came across a disturbing Biblical account, and I wondered how I would measure up in the same scenario. I wondered if I could let my thoughts–my rights–my pride go and simply remain quiet in the face of unjust behavior.

In Matthew 27:12-13 we read these familiar words, “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.”

So ok, we’ve heard the story. We understand that, as Isaiah would say, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.” (Is. 53:7). But do we really understand this story? Do we really let ourselves experience it?

In the preceding verses of Matthew 27, a gruesome, cruel picture is painted of exactly what Jesus was going through. Here are just a few of the things Jesus was experiencing:

– spat in His face, beat Him, slapped Him (26:67)
– bound Him (27:2)
– scourged Him (27:26)
– stripped Him (27:28)
– put a crown of thorns on Him, mocked Him (27:29)
– spat on Him, struck Him on the head (27:30)
– mocked Him (27:31)
– crucified Him (27:35)
– blasphemed Him — while He was on the cross (27:39)
– mocked Him (27:41)
– reviled Him (27:44)

Yes, you read that right. And if you’ll read it again, you’ll see that He was verbally assaulted 5 different times! More than half of which occurred while He was hanging on the cross. It is right in the midst of all of the mocking and getting spat upon and slapped that Jesus remains silent in the face of His oppressors.

My question is: could you? Could I?

We live in an ever-growing intolerant nation. Pretty soon, most Christians will become the target of verbal assaults, if they aren’t already experiencing such. Fortunately for us, we live in America, so we can take to social media or call the news  and easily exploit the injustice!

Wrong.

Peter tells us this in 1 Peter 2:18-23. And yes, I mean us:

“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

Jesus, our perfect example, was silent in the midst of persecution. He was silent in the midst of betrayal and mockery and disrespect and injustice. He didn’t allow pride to come on the scene and control His tongue. Instead, He humbled Himself, knowing He would be exalted in a matter of days. We are given the same promise by James in James 4:10. If we will remain humble, God will exalt us.

Does this mean that Christians should be doormats? Maybe not. But I don’t think it means we can feel justified in standing up for ourselves. Standing for God’s truths? Always. Standing for Christ’s name? Eternally. Defending His cause? Until death. But our own selves and our own lives and our own freedoms? That’s not the example we’re given in Peter’s epistle, and it’s not the example we’re given by Christ’s life.

And really, which of us is going to be treated more unjustly than Christ? Still, He found the strength to remain silent. Could you?