Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 1
Thursday


TO SPEAK OR
NOT TO SPEAK

READ:
Mark 14:53-65
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[Jesus] kept silent and
answered nothing.
__Mark 14:61
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Sometimes silence is the best response to a false charge. At other times we must speak up.

When false witnesses accused Jesus as He stood before the Sanhedrin, He "kept silent" (Mark 14:53-61). Defending Himself would have been useless. Furthermore, he was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:7. But earlier in His ministry, jesus rebuked the Pharisees, challenging them to prove that He sinned (John 8:13-59).

A pastor resigned from his church because a few members made untrue statements about him. He thought it unchristian to defend himself, and in some instances it is. But in this case, the troublemakers needed to be confronted and their false charges refuted. He should have urged them to repent or face church discipline.

Saying nothing may allow wrongdoers to go unchallenged in their evil ways. But if God's Spirit leads us to remain silent, or if we want merely to try to salvage our wounded pride, then we should hold our tongue.

Are you being falsely accused? If you discern that it's futile to argue, or if your pride has been hurt, ask God for grace to say nothing. But if you feel concern for the wrongdoers and want to see justice done, speak up! __Herb Bander lugt
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`````````````````````Lord, give us wisdom to discern``````````````
```````````````````When what is false must be revealed```````````
``````````````````Or if we need Your grace and strength```````````
```````````To close our lips and keep them sealed. __D. De Haan`````
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Silence can be valuable;
don't break it unless you can improve on it.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Mark 14:53-65*************

53 And they led Jesus away
to the high priest; and with
him were assembled all
the chief priests, the elders,
and the scribes....

55 Now the chief priests and
all the council sought
testimony against Jesus to
put Him to death, but found
none. 56 For many bore false
witness against Him, but
their testimonies did not
agree.

57 Then some rose up and
bore false witness against
Him, saying, 58"We hear
Him say, 'I will destroy this
temple made with hands, and
within three days I will build
another made without
hands.'" 59 But not even then
did their testimony agree.

60 And the high priest stood
up in the midst and asked
Jesus, saying, "Do You
answer nothing? What is it
these men testify against
You?" 61 But He kept silent
and answered nothing.

Again the high priest asked
Him, saying to Him, "Are
You the Christ, the Son of
the Blessed?"

62 Jesus said, "I am. And
you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the
power, and coming with the
clouds of heaven."

63 Then the hight priest tore
his clothes and said, "What
further need do we have of
witnesses? 64 You have heard
the blasphemy! What do you
think?"

And they all condemned
Him to be deserving of
death. 65 Then some began to
spit on Him, and to blindfold
Him, and to beat Him, and to
say to Him, "Prophesy!" And
the officers struck Him with
the palms of their hands.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Many believe that Mark's gospel was written primarily to a Roman
audience, who had a very different legal system than the Israelites.
For that reason, these details of Jesus' trial were especially important
to their understanding of the events. __Bill Crowder