WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Turn to Matthew chapter 26. 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:13.599 Pastor Doug and Royal are away visiting their family in England. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:15.919 We're going to continue on in the Gospel of Matthew. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:19.839 We've been studying this gospel for uh quite a while now. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:30.239 We're coming towards the end of the gospel, but Matthew chapter 26, and we'll be looking at verse 57 down through verse 68. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:35.439 If you are using our Pew Bible and not sure where that is, it's page 883. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:42.479 Matthew 26, verses 57 down through verse 68. 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:46.719 This is what Holy Scripture says. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:58.960 Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:03.679 Peter was following him at a distance, right to the high priest's courtyard. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.359 He went in and was sitting with the servants to see the outcome. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:19.200 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:28.400 Finally, two who came forward stated, This man said, I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:35.280 The high priest stood up and said to him, Don't you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you? 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:38.000 But Jesus kept silent. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:47.920 The high priest said to him, I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:52.319 You have said it, Jesus told him. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:02:00.640 But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:06.239 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, He has blasphemed. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:08.719 Why do we still need witnesses? 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:11.280 See, now you've heard the blasphemy. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:12.879 What is your decision? 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:16.319 They answered, He deserves death. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:20.000 Then they spat in his face and beat him. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:24.319 Others slapped him and said, Prophesy to us, Messiah. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:26.080 Who was it that hit you? 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:29.759 Let's look to God once more. 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:47.599 Lord, we have the prophetic word made more certain, to which we do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day rises and that morning star rises in our own hearts. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.840 Lord, again shine on us this morning. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:03:00.879 We ask this that your glory might be seen, that Christ might be known and marveled at. 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:03.039 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:07.919 Have you ever been accused of something? 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:13.120 Is your first impulse just to remain quiet? 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.439 I think for most of us, the answer is probably not. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:21.120 We are ready to launch in and defend ourselves. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.840 You can see this especially in children. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:26.479 Children, we're glad you're here in the service. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:29.520 We are delighted that you're able to hear the word of God. 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:34.800 But children have a special knack for defending themselves. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:36.800 Johnny hit me. 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:38.479 No, I didn't. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:40.319 I was just stretching. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:45.120 Well, well, I did hit him, but it's because he was teasing me. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.039 Now, are adults really that much better? 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:58.719 We control ourselves a little bit more, but if you ever go on X, it was formerly Twitter, not that much has changed. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:05.120 We are ready to activate our inner lawyer, as Paul Tripp says. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:13.520 But notice in our passage in verse 63, Jesus kept silent. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.959 It wasn't an absolute or permanent silence. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:21.040 He does finally speak in our passage. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:26.879 But right at the crux of false accusation, he remains silent. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:34.720 And then at the end of the passage, they're taunting him, they're beating him, they're asking him to prophesy. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:40.079 They want him to speak, but we don't find him here in Matthew saying anything. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:45.600 Isaiah 53, verse 7, Ethan read this earlier. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:51.439 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:05:03.600 Like a lamb led to the slaughter, and like a sheep, silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:11.519 We found fulfillment again and again in the Gospel of Matthew, and we're seeing it here today. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:21.839 Matthew is showing us under inspiration of God that Jesus is the silent lamb that Isaiah spoke about. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:28.319 You've probably thought about the glory of the suffering lamb. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:32.639 Have you pondered the glory of the silent lamb? 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:40.959 That's what God is calling us to do today, to ponder the glory of the silent lamb. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.560 Jesus had every opportunity to defend himself. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:56.079 If ever anyone deserved to defend himself, if ever anyone was truly innocent of the accusations, it was Christ. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:06:05.920 And yet, unlike all the self-justifiers of the world, this one who actually had the ability to justify himself chooses to remain silent. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:18.800 The glory of this silent lamb is all the more remarkable when we consider more and more who it was that remained silent. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:24.240 Sometimes Christians speak of the three offices of Christ. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:28.800 They don't mean like his home office and his work office, his remote office. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.040 They don't mean he was governor or mayor. 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:37.439 This is language that's borrowed in part from the Westminster Catechism question 23. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:40.879 What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer? 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:52.079 And here's the answer: Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:57.040 So they're roles that Christ fulfills to bring salvation. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:05.360 And those roles of prophet, priest, and king very wonderfully encapsulate so much Bible truth. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:09.199 There were many great prophets in the Old Testament. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:11.759 Jesus comes as the greatest prophet. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.399 There were many priests in the Old Testament. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.480 Jesus comes as the final priest. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:21.519 There were kings, even kings as great as David and Solomon, but Jesus is the greatest of all kings. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:38.639 So we're going to use those offices of Christ, prophet and priest and king, as a lens this morning to consider just how amazing it is that this Savior, this Lamb, would remain silent. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:45.839 First, the silent lamb is the silent prophet. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:50.480 The silent lamb is the silent prophet. 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:53.439 Now already we have attention. 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:56.480 Prophets aren't people who are quiet. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:00.560 The nature of their job is that they speak. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:03.920 Look again at verse 67. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.959 They spat in his face and beat him. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:14.240 Others slapped him and said, Prophesy to us, Messiah. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:16.160 Who was it that hit you? 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:20.720 They're asking him to prove himself a prophet, to be a prophet. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:28.240 They're not treating him like a prophet, although they are treating him like the prophets of old, wrongly. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:31.680 But he doesn't do it. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:37.440 Luke tells us they had blindfolded Jesus, so that's part of why that they're slapping him. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.440 Whose hand was it that hit you? 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:53.200 They understand something of what a prophet is, that a prophet often has supernatural insight from God, but they're taunting him, even though he knows who's hitting him. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:55.120 It's no mystery to him. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:58.399 His eyes, Revelation 1.14, are like a fiery flame. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:00.399 He can see right through a blindfold. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:04.639 He knew Jesus would, Judas would betray him, Matthew 26, 25. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.000 He knows people's thoughts. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:07.200 Mark 2, 8. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:08.559 He knows all things. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:10.799 John 16, verse 30. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.279 So why doesn't he just meet their challenge and tell them? 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:20.080 Why doesn't he reveal the name of every hand that slapped him? 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:27.360 Why doesn't he reveal the names of their children, of intimate details of their lives that no one else knows? 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:29.840 He chooses to remain silent. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.960 Christ the Lord is on a mission from God. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:43.679 Completing that eternal mission is more important than satisfying himself in the moment before his accusers. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:47.039 He knows that he's fulfilling all scripture. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:58.639 And notice also that Matthew clearly shows us Jesus really is a prophet. 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:02.879 In verse 64, Jesus predicts what will happen. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:11.360 I tell you, Jesus says, in the future, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:19.440 So as a prophet, he is able to speak God's word and here to speak into what is to come. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:24.399 He's not merely a lamb who was slain, he's the great prophet of God. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:32.720 But even though he speaks about the future, he doesn't open his mouth to defend himself in the present. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.519 He's still this silent prophet. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.360 There's another compelling contrast. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:46.879 Throughout this passage, false witnesses are raging against the true prophet. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:50.559 In verse 59, you see leaders looking for false testimony. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:53.919 In verse 60, many false witnesses come forward. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:55.519 Then finally two are selected. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:59.919 Verse 65, the leaders conclude we don't need any more witnesses. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.320 Prophets are supposed to be witnesses. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:10.240 Not all witnesses are prophets, but all prophets are witnesses. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:17.200 So here are these false witnesses, and Matthew's bringing out a subtle but genuine contrast. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:21.120 Jesus Christ is the faithful and true witness. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:28.159 He's the one about whom it was said in Deuteronomy 18 that God would raise up a prophet like Moses. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:34.639 In Matthew chapter 17, verse 5, we already heard the voice of God thunder from heaven. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:37.679 Behold, my beloved son, listen to him. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:54.000 He's been identified as a prophet in Matthew, but the true witness, the true prophet, verse 63, keeps silent in the face of these false witnesses. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:56.879 Who ever heard of a silent prophet? 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:02.799 Jesus often speaks when he does speak, his mouth pours forth beautiful words. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.440 He's taught again and again in Matthew. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:12.320 But he stuns us in this passage with a prophet who is able to refrain from speaking. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.039 That's the glory of the silent lamb, who is a silent prophet. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:24.080 Second, the silent lamb is the silent priest. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:30.480 In our passage, Jesus has a lot of interaction with priests. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.080 Look at verse 57. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.639 He's led away to the high priest. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:39.600 In verse 58, Peter follows to the high priest's courtyard. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:44.639 In verse 59, the chief priests are trying to make Jesus look guilty. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:49.279 In verse 62, the high priest questions Jesus. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:52.320 In verse 63, the same high priest exhorts Jesus. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:56.000 In verse 65, the high priest tears his robes. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:01.600 So Matthew emphasizes over and over again, Jesus is dealing with priests. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:03.759 Jesus is dealing with priests. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:07.200 But who is Jesus himself? 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:15.759 Hebrews 3.1, consider Jesus the apostle and high priest of our confession. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:28.960 Hebrews 2, 17, he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God to make atonement for the sins of the people. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.360 We sing about this truth sometimes. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:35.440 Jesus, my great high priest, offered his blood and died. 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:39.360 My guilty conscience seeks no sacrifice beside. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:44.559 His powerful blood did once atone, and now it pleads before the throne. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:58.399 The one who could do what they never could do. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:03.279 They were condemning the one who can set us free from condemnation. 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:12.399 They wanted to kill the very priest who was willing to sacrifice his life so that his people might live forever. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:21.120 Do you see that that contrast there as it is filled out in Matthew's gospel and scripture? 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:27.039 And then in verse 62, it's the high priest who says, Don't you have anything to say? 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:30.399 Jesus kept silent. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:36.080 He could have rebuked all of them. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:39.679 He could have said, You fools, don't you see who's before you? 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.720 Don't you see that you yourselve need a priest? 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.639 You yourself need a mediator? 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:52.320 This trial that they put him under is going to lead to his death. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.200 Verse 66, they actually call for his death. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:04.159 But it's the very death of Christ that is part of his work as the great high priest. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:08.080 Because he's the priest who was also the Lamb. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:19.200 He's the priest who offered himself up as the final sacrifice, the atonement that's the only hope of sinners everywhere. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:27.279 What they sought to do with wicked hands was something that Christ knew was necessary for salvation. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.759 And he's willing to submit to it. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.200 Peter says it this way in Acts chapter 2. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:42.080 Though he was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.440 Read again this afternoon, Isaiah 53. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:50.879 By his wounds we are healed. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.440 Where do priests serve? 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:13.440 They serve in the temple. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.000 Now, before we expand on that, I'm going to draw out an application. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.759 What's the significance of the two witnesses here? 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:27.600 They're looking for witnesses, they disagree with each other, then finally two come forward. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:30.559 Deuteronomy 19, verse 15. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:34.960 You need two or three witnesses to make a case. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:38.480 So they're going by the book. 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:45.600 They have malice in their hearts towards the very Son of God, but they got to make sure they do everything right. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.960 If we need two witnesses, let's get two witnesses. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.360 What's the point of application here? 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:55.600 It's not, well, just ignore God's word, as long as you have a pure heart, it's all good. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:10.640 No, it's it's good to follow God's word, but you can be so intent on pursuing the right things to do that you miss Jesus Christ, that you miss the Savior. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:13.839 Friends, don't miss the Savior today. 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.480 Back to what they say. 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:19.759 Verse 61. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:25.839 If you're good Bible readers, you might say, Well, wait a minute, destroy this temple. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.119 Wait a minute. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:29.519 Didn't Jesus say something like that? 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:33.759 I mean, that they're not false witnesses, they're they're telling the truth. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.319 Well, not precisely. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:41.920 In John 2, 19, Jesus doesn't say that he would destroy the temple. 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:46.480 He says if the temple is destroyed, he would raise it in three days. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:53.680 So if Jesus ever said that he himself would destroy the temple, that's not recorded for us in Scripture. 00:17:54.720 --> 00:18:03.440 And yet, and this is an important and yet, Jesus does have the prerogative to change the place of worship. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:13.200 If he would have said he was going to destroy that temple, he had every right to do that as the Lord of glory, as the Lord of heaven. 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:21.119 He does tell the woman at the well in John 4, an hour is coming and now is when you will worship the Father, neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:24.559 True worshipers worship in spirit and in truth. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:28.640 It's not limited to one physical place now that Christ has come. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:36.720 So when Matthew calls them false witnesses, those are those are Matthew's words, obviously not the chief priest's words. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:45.119 When he calls them false witnesses, he's not emphasizing so much exactly what they said. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:54.559 Matthew calls them false witnesses because they want to put Jesus' words and actions in the worst possible light. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:19:02.480 They wanted to portray him as a rebel against God rather than a servant of God. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:14.799 Carson says it this way: their witness had some element of truth, but was evilly motivated and disregarded what Jesus meant. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:18.480 Let's insert another application. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:26.880 When you speak about others, do you go out of your way to portray what they said in the worst possible light? 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:29.119 That's false witness. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:31.680 Well, that that's what they said. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.519 Well, what did they mean? 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.400 What were they intending? 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.839 Well, I don't know. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:40.480 Then keep silent and sila for a little while. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:50.160 So often when we publicly, and if you have a concern with what someone said or even their motivations, it's okay to go to them. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:20:07.200 But isn't it true that so often when we publicly paint that spouse or that VBS worker or that co-worker in the worst possible light, it's because we have bitterness in our heart toward them. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.880 Consider your words. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.160 Love believes all things, love hopes all things. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:16.319 Now back to the testimony here. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:40.720 If the priests who are putting Jesus on trial here, if they would have listened carefully to what Jesus said, if these witnesses who came forward would have listened carefully to what Jesus said in light of all that he was doing, they would have understood that Jesus is indeed the fulfillment of all that the temple was intended to be. 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:52.559 They were so in love with their temple, their place of worship, but that was a gift to God to symbolize and picture a necessary meeting place between God and man. 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:57.039 And Jesus is the one who came and tabernacled among humanity. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:05.279 He was the meeting place of God and man, and in a greater and permanent way that no mere building could ever achieve. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:14.799 The priests that were offering the sacrifices there in that temple, they were meant to be temporary, pointing the way forward to this priest who was to come. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:21.279 As he says in John's gospel, destroy this temple in three days, I'll raise it up. 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:29.839 And then John tells us, and those who have eyes to see could understand he was speaking about the temple of his body. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:40.720 The words on the lips of the false witnesses contained what they needed. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:44.400 Here's the righteous priest. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.640 He's offered himself up for you. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:49.920 Turn and repent and hear and believe and trust. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:59.680 What might have been going through Jesus' mind when they gave that testimony intending to overthrow him? 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:04.799 Perhaps he thought, Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:09.039 How often I would have gathered you as a mother hen gathers her chicks, but you would not. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:13.920 Whatever was in his mind, he remained silent. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:21.119 And even that very silence points us to his mediatorial work. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:25.519 That just means his work as a substitute for sinful people. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:30.720 He's our substitute in his suffering and his death. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:34.799 And he's our substitute in his life. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:41.519 His life of constant, perfect, righteous response and trust in God. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.480 The scripture tells us to put our whole trust in God. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.880 Often, not always, but often. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:57.039 Often when we jump in to defend ourselves, we're not trusting in God. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:03.680 We're concerned that we need to defend our reputation or make an excuse about ourselves. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:07.680 And we're not thinking about God at all or submitting ourselves to Him. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:13.519 Jesus trusts God entirely with his whole being all of the time. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:20.000 And in this particular case, he offers up the righteous response of silence. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:24.880 And he's doing that, even that, on our behalf. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.920 Do you see? 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:33.519 So don't convince yourselves that from now on you'll always respond with perfect trust in God. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:36.880 First come to Jesus and receive his righteousness. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:42.160 The silent lamb is the silent prophet, the silent lamb is the silent priest. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:46.559 Finally, this morning, the silent lamb is the silent king. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:56.000 Now, under this heading, I am using silent in a little different sense, because it is actually the words of Jesus in our passage that point us to this reality. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:02.400 Verse 64, he does finally speak after the high priest puts him under oath before God. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:06.960 And he says, You have said it, he is indeed the Messiah. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:19.119 And then he goes on to say, I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:32.240 So he verbalizes his regal character, but when I say he's still the silent king, he doesn't enact that kingly authority right then and there. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:39.039 He doesn't choose to judge them and slaughter them right then and there. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:58.640 And we've seen, haven't we, in Matthew's gospel, even in these surrounding verses, how often Jesus allows himself to be killed rather than publicly showcasing his kingly authority by overthrowing all of those who would come against him. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:03.920 The Garden of Gethsemane, Peter draws his sword. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:08.319 Peter's ready, the fisherman is ready to become a heroic knight. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:11.680 And Jesus says, Not now, put your sword away. 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:17.359 He gives himself over to the soldiers, he gives himself over to the kangaroo court. 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:20.960 He gives himself over to walk the road of the cross and be hung in shame. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:26.720 He could have called 12 legions of angels, but he doesn't. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:32.480 He's a silent king who bends his head to the executioner's table. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:36.720 Think about Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:44.240 He's so powerful, but in that particular moment, he even shows the power by allowing himself to be killed. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:49.119 But we do need to mark his words in verse 64. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:54.480 You'll see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.960 There's regal language. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:08.240 We have this phrase, the Son of Man, and once again, it's not merely to indicate that Jesus is truly human, it's showing us he is the promised Messiah. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.559 This phrase comes from Daniel 7. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:14.400 Listen to verses 13 and 14 of Daniel 7. 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:21.119 I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:22.480 Do you hear, son of man? 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.480 Clouds of heaven, same as our passage. 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:27.680 He approached the ancient of days and was escorted before him. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:34.799 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:38.000 His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:41.200 His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:48.640 So in Daniel 7, we have the Son of Man ascending in the clouds of heaven, escorted into the throne room, and receiving a kingdom. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:51.759 God's Messiah is on par with God. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:58.640 That's why the high priest tears his robes and says he's blaspheming, he's calling himself God. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.519 He was. 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:13.759 And we see the vision of Daniel 7 beautifully fulfilled in Acts 1, when Jesus teaches them about the kingdom of God, and then it says a cloud received him up to heaven itself. 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:25.920 Now, here in our passage in Matthew 26, as I understand it, Jesus is warning his rulers that his reign as king will culminate in judgment. 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:28.799 We've seen this in Matthew. 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:30.640 Matthew 24, verse 30. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:34.160 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:36.319 All the peoples of the earth will mourn. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:40.799 They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:51.279 Revelation 1, 7, look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him, so it is to be. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:28:04.640 Revelation 14, verse 14, I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:11.920 That image we have, the cartoon image of the grim reaper, that's a cartoon. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:17.839 The son of man is the one in scripture who is coming with the sickle, and we do need to fear him. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:23.119 So please make no mistake about it. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:25.440 Jesus is never passive. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:42.960 He intentionally chooses not to execute his kingly authority in immediate judgment. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:47.759 He's not passive, but he is patient. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:56.319 Friends, if any of you haven't bowed the knee to King Jesus, wouldn't you do that today? 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:03.279 Embrace him while there is time, because the Lamb is also the lion. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:10.079 And he will roar in his fury, he will speak in his wrath, but he still invites us. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.599 Come to me now. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:16.079 All you that are weary and heavy laden, I'll give you rest. 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.400 You hear that sometimes? 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:31.920 If God is real, why do he let me get cancer? 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:34.240 If God is real, why do babies die? 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:36.319 If Jesus rose from the dead, why doesn't he appear to me? 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.839 Why doesn't he talk to me? 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:48.079 And I understand there are real questions to be addressed, but it never goes well for people who put Jesus on trial. 00:29:50.880 --> 00:30:00.319 Here in Matthew, Jesus has already spoken openly, clearly, plainly, time and time again, and they just don't want to listen. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:06.960 God has spoken in the created order, his power and divine glory. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.720 He's spoken through his word. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.839 Listen to him. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.799 Listen. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.960 Isaiah 53, 7. 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:20.880 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. 00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:28.559 Like a lamb led to the slaughter, like a sheep silent before her shears, he did not open his mouth. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:33.519 There is a unique glory here to Jesus. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:38.559 He is fulfilling a mission from God to bring salvation. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:41.279 And none of us can fulfill that mission. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:47.279 So there's a large and unique element about the way he acts here in this passage. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:53.599 But there is an element of his glory that we are called to mirror if we belong to him. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.640 Peter understood this. 00:30:56.799 --> 00:31:03.519 Pastor Doug brought this out last week, but Peter's learning his lesson here as he follows Christ. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:07.920 Matthew tells us that Peter was following along in a distance. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:16.640 And that same Peter who watched Christ, and he's going to actually deny Christ, but listen to what Peter will write later on. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:29.599 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:33.359 Peter says, Christ left us an example. 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:37.680 When he was insulted, he did not insult in return. 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:45.599 When he suffered, he didn't threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:55.119 So resist the urge to quickly and always activate that inner lawyer. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:07.279 If you're just trying to give someone the silent treatment, that's not what Jesus is doing here. 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:14.880 He's not trying to let them know I'm above speaking to you because you've got a lot of problems and I'm doing pretty good over here. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:17.440 That's not what's happening. 00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:22.079 Jesus is giving his heart and his soul over to God. 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:36.400 He's so entirely captured with trust in God and an embrace and understanding of God's purpose in his life that when his reputation is attacked, he can leave it aside and trust in God. 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:43.039 When he's physically assaulted, he can trust in God. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:45.119 I mean we we face all kinds of opposition. 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:48.720 Sometimes it's mockery, like he experiences here. 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:54.160 For some of us, at different points, maybe in the future, maybe some of you have in the past. 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.200 Who knows? 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:58.640 Maybe there's a physical threat to you. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:02.319 But are we willing to entrust our souls to God? 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:09.200 So, Mike, you're saying we're just supposed to lay down and let people run us over? 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:11.440 Sometimes, yes. 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:14.559 Because Jesus left us an example. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:21.200 Particularly when it's it's the cause of Christ that's at stake. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:26.079 That we should be eager to see Christ glorified. 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:31.759 It's not about us and needing to see ourselves justified. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:36.559 So, particularly when we're persecuted for Christ's sake, we can leave it to the Lord. 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:41.839 But wait a minute, Micah, okay, I I want to hear what you're saying. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:46.160 But even Peter said we have to be ready to give a reason for the hope we have. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:48.240 And Peter does say that. 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:51.279 But listen to the context of all that Peter says there. 00:33:51.519 --> 00:34:02.799 He says, In your hearts, regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that's in you. 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:15.440 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:25.039 Peter's point is not that we all have to be on a crusade all the time to defend our own rights, or else, who knows what could happen? 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:28.320 It's sanctify the Lord in your heart. 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:33.199 Be ready to give a reason when they ask for the hope you have in the gospel. 00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:37.280 That should be the thing that is first and foremost on our minds. 00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:41.679 Could it be, let me just ask the question. 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:52.239 Could it be that sometimes the reason we're so easily personally offended is because we think so highly of ourselves. 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:56.320 Not because we want to be such bold champions for Christ. 00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:58.480 And there's a place and a time to speak. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:02.800 Certainly, Paul appealed to his own rights as a Roman citizen at different times. 00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:06.320 But but what's controlling our heart? 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.880 Where is our worship flowing? 00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:14.639 Is it flowing to the Lamb or is it flowing to how can they think of me like that? 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:23.440 When's the last time we were content to be quiet and trust in God? 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:31.599 Now, for all of us, what we need most is to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:35.440 Listen to Isaiah 50, verses 4 to 7. 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:41.920 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are instructed to know how to sustain the weary with the word. 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:48.960 And listen as we put these words even on Christ the prophet, he awakens me each morning. 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:52.400 He awakens my ear to listen like those being instructed. 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:57.199 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious. 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:59.440 I did not turn back. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:05.920 I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:10.639 I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting. 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:15.920 The Lord our God will help us. 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:20.639 The Lord our God will help me, the Messiah says there in Isaiah. 00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:23.679 What a marvelous Savior He is. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:27.039 You know what He's doing right now as our King? 00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:30.320 He's upholding all things by the word of His power. 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:36.159 He's ordering everything in the universe for his glory and for our good. 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:40.400 You know what he's doing right now as our great high priest? 00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:44.480 He ever lives to intercede for us. 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:49.599 What is he doing right now as our prophet? 00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:52.320 He's speaking to us through his word. 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:56.800 Let's keep listening to him this day and this week. 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.239 Let's pray. 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:20.800 Oh Father, oh Lord God, how we thank you that we see glory in Christ time and time again, a glory that astounds us because it's it seems impossible for us to imagine our own ability to be silent in the face of accusation, even though we're often rightly accused. 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:29.840 And yet here the Lord of glory could be the silent lamb, the lion who roared did not roar here at this time. 00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:46.639 Oh, how we adore this one, how we claim his righteousness for us, his work for us, his suffering, the wrath of God for us, his righteous response of an open ear and a listening heart and a trust in God. 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:50.400 We want to claim that all as our own today by faith. 00:37:51.119 --> 00:38:16.079 So we ask, Lord, that you would receive our prayers this week and that we too would listen, that we too would listen in quietness and trust and find salvation, find a contentment that abounds in a way that the world cannot see and understand, that they might ask about the hope we have, that we might have reason to speak with gentleness and respect of Christ our King. 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:18.320 We pray all these things in Jesus' name. 00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:19.199 Amen.