Mark 15 - Jesus' quiet strength

When Jesus was wrongly accused, He kept silent and did not say anything.

"But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled." (Mark 15:5)

In the two occasions that Jesus answered something, it was to proclaim that He was the Christ (Mark 14:62; 15:2). Other than that, there was no need to say anything. He also found no need to defend Himself of the wrong accusations, because they won't stand anyway.

What strength.

Compare this to the other various groups of people that we also read about today.

Pilate. He found nothing wrong in Jesus, knew that it was because of envy that the chief priests handed Jesus over (Mark 15:10), but yet "wanting to gratify the crowd", sent Jesus to be crucified.

We all had times when we "wanted to gratify the crowd" too. Maybe it is not a big crowd, but perhaps our friends, our colleagues, or our bosses. When we clearly know what is right, do we stick by it, or are easily swayed by the people's cries? Do we have the strength? This is especially important for leaders who can make or break a congregation. The chief priests "stirred up the crowd" (Mark 15:11) to achieve their aims, while Pilate simply wanted to gratify the crowd. Under such leadership, the people were led to the pit.

The soldiers. They mocked Him (Mark 15:16-20), clothing Him with purple and twisted a crown of thorns for Him, and salute Him, and struck Him, and bowed to worship Him... I dislike this part the most, because I found it totally redundant the things they did. They were like jokers, taking advantage of the opportunity to make fun of the victimised one. Did they have to do that? They only need to lead Jesus away to the place of Crucifixion, right?

Have we ever taken advantage of the opportunity to make fun of a victim? Sometimes, when bullying take place before our eyes, have we allowed our tongues to slip to add some unkind words in too? These soldiers went with the flow and wanted to be part of the party to humiliate Jesus. Did they know what they were doing? Or they were simply gratifying themselves too? Cheap thrills, I would say.... No strength, like our Lord's.

Those who passed by, the chief priests, and the scribes (Mark 15:29-32). See the words that came out of their mouths.

"Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"

"He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the Kiing of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe."

Unkind, mocking words. Words of sarcasm. Words that can pierce the heart, the heart of God.

If you really think about it, these people who passed by have no need to say anything. Jesus was already crucified, they have already got what they wanted. Yet, in their weakness, perhaps in an attempt to further justify themselves that they are right and trying to win more people over to themselves, they made such comments. But if we actually delve deeper, such people are actually insecure.

No where near the strength of the Lord Jesus, whose quiet confidence showed His security.

Aren't we like the passer-bys too? There must have been many times when we have sought words for security. Sometimes, we seek to know what someone else is thinking or feeling. Sometimes we speak unkind words to unleash our negative emotions. In our attempt to fill up the awkward silence, have we spoken rash words or unnecessary things? In our attempt to make ourselves look bigger, have we put others down?

This is also a timely reminder for me as a teacher, that I do not put my students down, especially in an attempt to command respect from them; that even during times when I seemed to be losing ground, I do not speak harsh, rash, sarcastic, unkind words in an attempt to gather back my "power".

Let's not be hasty with what comes out from our mouths.

I am also seeking the strength of Jesus, to be like Him, quiet and confident. There are some things which need not be known, before the opportune time, so let me be still and wait on the Lord.

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)