Not A Single Word---Luke 23: 8-12

[blackbird]

I'm preaching a character study through the 4 Gospels--------and this close to Easter I am focusing on two in particular----that being Pilate and King Herod

I preached on Pilate today and am in the process of developing a message pertaining to King Herod

I noticed in Luke 23: 8-12 when Jesus is having a confrontation with King Herod that---------the text says that Jesus "answered him not a word"

Here's where I am looking for imput from you

Why do you suppose that Jesus never answered Herod?? I mean, not one single word!! Why do you suppose that Jesus chose to remain silent and refused to speak??

 

[Grasshopper]

Perhaps to fulfill prophecy?

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

 

[Marcia]

Some guesses:
1. To fulfill Is. 53:7b: "Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth."

2. Because Herod was the civil ruler and not the Jewish leaders, whom Jesus blamed for misleading the people.

3. Because Jesus knew Herod as the civil ruler was not responsible to understand who Jesus was.

4. Because Herod only wanted to see Jesus perform miracles: "Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him" (Luke 23:8).


These may be really bad guesses; I'm just guessing these off the top of my head.

 

[Bobby]

Perhaps to fulfill prophecy?

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

:thumbs:

He has no need to defend himself...wonder why he did quote some Isaiah 59 or something?

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

Why? Because there was no need to.

You must remember that there was never a time when Jesus was helpless or powerless. At any time he could have stopped it, at any time he could have called angels to his rescue, he could have performed miracles, he could have come down from the cross at any moment. He gave his life, it was not taken from him.

Jesus could have opened his mouth and spoke words of his defense. If He want to he could have spoken words that would turn every heart in that crowd to him. He could have defended himself to Herod in such a way that the Romans and Jews had set him free. But that wasn’t the plan was it.

Sometimes we need to remember that. When afflicted by the trials of this world, when we feel like we are in trouble and oppressed and we cry to God for deliverance and He does not show up, we need to remember that it is not because He can’t, but because that is not His will.

What would the point have been had Jesus answered him, Jesus wanted to go to the cross. It was always his choice.

Many preachers have mistakenly preached that when Jesus prayed in the garden, “That this cup pass from me,” that he wanted to get out of the cross. His prayer was that he could get to the cross. He was afflicted and tormented and sweat drops of blood. His prayer was to survive the night and make it to the cross. And he prayer was answered.