THE SOUND OF SILENCE

Can you hear the silence?  There are a few people around.  The disciples are there.  Spies sent by the Pharisees and teachers of the law are there.  And it is quiet.  The silence is heavy as people wait for Jesus to speak.  BUT he is silent.  Sorta looking off in the distance.  Watching the children play.  Can you hear the silence?

Of course not.  Jesus was not silent! 

Jesus healed the crippled woman and then was not silent on the hypocrisy of the synagogue leader.  “You hypocrites!”  Jesus had compassion.  The synagogue leader had none.  Jesus was not silent!

Jesus did not let the teachers of the law off the hook either.  “They walk around in flowing robes … have the most important seats in the synagogues … devour widow’s houses …”  Jesus warned people to be careful who they believed and followed.  Jesus was not silent!

Jesus spoke out against using the law unjustly.  The teachers of the law and Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus.  He called them out.  “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Then Jesus encouraged a sinner to change.  Jesus was not silent!

Jesus was not silent when his house was taken over by money changers.  “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?  But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’“  Jesus demanded respect for a place of worship.  Jesus was not silent!

Can you hear the silence?  Of course not.  Jesus was not silent! 

SILENCE

Silence:  silence toward wrongdoing means supporting it

               silence means yes

               silence means being “not in opposition to”

               silence means tolerating and supporting

I used familiar passages to point out that Jesus was not silent.  He spoke up.  So, I wonder.  Are we to be silent?  But, I know the answer.  And the answer is no.  We are called to follow the Word of God and not what is being said and written in the pages of society’s papers and news.

We are called by God to speak against injustice and oppression.  We are called to defend the children and the unborn.  We are called to support family and stand against abuse.  We are called to share our faith in Jesus Christ. 

….. and yet … we are silent.

 

 

SCRIPTURES USED

The crippled woman:  Luke 13:10-17

The teachers of the law:  Mark 12:38-40

The adulterous woman:  John 8:2-11

The clearing of the temple courts:  Mark 11:15-17