The Silence of the Lamb
Luke 23:1–12
1. Jesus remained mostly silent before Pilate and completely silent before Herod, even when falsely accused and mocked.
2. The sermon highlights how Jesus’ silence exposed the emptiness of worldly power: Herod and Pilate, former enemies, became “friends” through self-interest and shared contempt for Jesus (Luke 23:12).
3. Pilate and Herod found “no guilt” in Jesus multiple times, yet injustice prevailed because of human motives. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus’ blameless character spoke louder than any defense.
4. The sermon warns against impulsive speech, defensiveness, gossip, or venting anger (drawing from Proverbs, James, and stories like Lincoln’s unsent letters or the THINK acronym: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind).
Luke 23:1–12
1. Jesus remained mostly silent before Pilate and completely silent before Herod, even when falsely accused and mocked.
- How does this connect to the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7, and what does it reveal about His trust in the Father’s sovereignty?
- Share a personal experience where you felt accused, misunderstood, or attacked—did you feel pressured to defend yourself loudly, or were you able to entrust the situation to God in silence or restraint? What might “meek wisdom” look like in that moment?
2. The sermon highlights how Jesus’ silence exposed the emptiness of worldly power: Herod and Pilate, former enemies, became “friends” through self-interest and shared contempt for Jesus (Luke 23:12).
- In what ways do we see similar “false unity” today—alliances formed around resentment, shared grudges, political expediency, or self-preservation rather than truth and righteousness? How can Jesus’ example help us avoid joining or forming such alliances?
3. Pilate and Herod found “no guilt” in Jesus multiple times, yet injustice prevailed because of human motives. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus’ blameless character spoke louder than any defense.
- Reflect on James 3:13–17, which describes wisdom from above as “pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy.” How does Jesus’ silence model this kind of meek (not weak) wisdom?
- In your own life or relationships, when have you seen restraint and quiet trust “speak” more powerfully than words?
4. The sermon warns against impulsive speech, defensiveness, gossip, or venting anger (drawing from Proverbs, James, and stories like Lincoln’s unsent letters or the THINK acronym: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind).
- Think of a recent situation where you were tempted to speak harshly, defend yourself impulsively, or share negatively about someone. What would it have looked like to follow Jesus’ example of sovereign silence or godly restraint? How can we practically cultivate this in our daily interactions, social media use, or conflicts?