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.
Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)
Jesus went to the cross silent. As I read Isaiah 53:7 while meditating on the message of the cross, it touched me.
It’s interesting that Isaiah compared Jesus’ ordeal to a sheep being sheared. Sheep are one of very few animals who stay quiet while being sheared. If you tried flipping a cat over on its back to give it a buzz cut, that cat would be anything but quiet. But you can flip a sheep over with its legs in the air and it won’t utter a sound.
Why do you think Jesus was largely silent when He was being taunted, beaten and crucified? Why didn’t He once complain, fight or pull back as He was being stripped of His dignity?
Jesus was quiet because He had the power to stop them with a word. He walked in authority and could have ended his suffering at any given moment, but He didn’t. He went to the cross willingly and lived out every moment of pain, rejection and betrayal by choice.
Jesus wasn’t killed; He gave His life. And He’d do it all over again for you if He had to. That’s how much you’re worth to Him.
Jesus gave His life for you so that you can live out every benefit He gained for you. Now it’s up to you to continually discover more of what you’re entitled to as a believer so you can live out the amazing life He has for you.