“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,”

Isaiah 53:7-9

“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

As described in the posts on Isaiah 53:1-3 and also Isaiah 53:4-6, Jesus Christ was subject to harsh treatment by those who were in authority and endured severe pain and suffering. Through it all, He didn’t open His mouth in protest, didn’t try to work out a compromise nor any type of plea deal, nor did He try to escape the sentence of death that was pronounced upon Him.

Our Lord Jesus knew that prophecy was being fulfilled, that He was indeed the Lamb of God that would take away the sin of the world by His death on the Cross, as John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 Jesus Christ knew the excruciating pain and suffering that would come upon Him and even prayed that He would not have to go through it all. When He finished praying, He was fully surrendered to the will of His Father and not His own, “…saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luek 22:42-44

Our Lord Jesus had already made His voice heard by praying to His Father. There was nothing more to be said about the matter, He would die by crucifixion on the Cross to atone for sin. When He was placed on trial, all those who presented charges against him pressed Him to defend Himself. He already had that discussion with His Father; there was no further need for Him to try to present His innocence to anyone. He stood before them in silence, like a sheep being led to its slaughter. “And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent.” Matthew 26:62-63

Jesus didn’t try to solicit any help from the government authority, “Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. Matthew 27:13-14 Jesus was like a sheep before its shearers, standing before them without protest as they sheared all respect, esteem, and dignity from Him.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we take up our cross and follow Him, “As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:36-37

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.1 Peter 2:21-25

“He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.” Isaiah 53:8

Jesus was arrested and placed in prison, where He remained until His crucifixion. He spent roughly nine to twelve hours there before being taken out to be crucified. His arrest happened in the early hours of the night, and He was crucified the following morning. Click for a post on the timeline of how long Jesus was in prison.

Judgment was denied to Him, meaning He would not receive true justice, as His crucifixion was the scheme of the chief priests, “Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,” Matthew 26:59 The chief priests went so far as to pay someone to betray Jesus, “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.” Matthew 26:14-16 Ever since Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, the chief priests began plotting to put Him to death., “Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.” John 11:53

Who was there to speak of His generation? Who would witness of the countless people healed, finding peace, becoming whole, learning to live in peace with those in authority and with each other, and having their sins forgiven? Who was there to proclaim the way of Jesus Christ? “However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.” John 7:13 Who today will share the message of the Cross? We live in a culture where people are afraid to speak about Christ Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross to atone for sin. Across the world, people live under the power of darkness, influenced by the beast that gives them what to say, do, think, and feel. By what they are given to say and do, they oppose belief in God, suppress those who proclaim Jesus as the Christ and Lord, and resist the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ was executed in a way far from honorable, facing the kind of punishment a criminal might receive under today’s death penalty. He was taken from the land of the living, struck down and crucified on the Cross to atone for sin—your sin, my sin, and the sin of the whole world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.” Isaiah 53:9

Jesus’ grave was intended to be among the wicked, as He was crucified and died between two criminals—a thief and a murderer. He was also seen as a blasphemer, an evildoer, and an enemy of God, so His burial place was planned to be with those considered cursed and corrupt. However, in His death, He was buried like a wealthy man, in a new tomb carved from rock. The tomb of Jesus belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, who generously gave his expensive tomb to Jesus. Joseph was a rich man and a disciple of Jesus, but kept his faith secret out of fear of the Jews.

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus.” John 19:38 “Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.” Matthew 27:57-61

Joseph wanted Jesus Christ to have an honorable burial because He had committed no violence and no deceit was found in His words. He spoke with truth, peace, and justice. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6