St. Paul writes that we have made the good confession as Christ made the good confession before Pontius Pilate. What confession did Christ make? What did He say to Pontius Pilate? Mark points out the silence of Jesus when He is before Pilate. Pilate asks Jesus questions and the whole time the religious leaders are there slinging accusations but Jesus doesn't say anything. He is silent. Pilate is amazed. This isn't how prisoners facing the Romans act! They beg for their lives. They cry and tremble in terror, making excuses for what they've done. Or they shout in anger and defiance, claiming their innocence. But not this one. It's almost like a lamb going to the slaughter. He walks along quietly not realizing he's about to be slaughtered. So this Jesus. He doesn't say anything. Doesn't beg for mercy. Doesn't argue His innocence. Doesn't make counter-accusations against His accusers. He just stands there. And gets scourged with the Roman razor-tipped whip. Crowned with thorns and smacked around by the bored soldiers and finally led out to be nailed to the cross. What kind of “confession” is that? How is that, as St. Paul says, the “good confession?”
The answer is in this: Jesus doesn't open His mouth in order to save us who do. We open our mouths and make excuses for our sins. We open our mouths to tell others how great we are, how much we do, how important we must be. Or we open our mouths to complain, to curse, to grumble against what God gives us or doesn't give us. We throw out words that defend ourselves and tear others down. We accuse others as the Jews accused Jesus. We boast in ourselves as Pilate boasted in his power. Because we can't keep our mouths shut, Jesus doesn't open His. He goes silently, like a lamb led to the slaughter because we can't keep quiet. We can't stop ourselves from saying things that profane God's name and hurt others. That's why the Son of Man makes this good confession, that He holds His tongue and endures what must come. Jesus does not go to Calvary grumbling and complaining and pleading and cursing! He goes as the Lamb of God led to the slaughter of our salvation. Jesus opens not His mouth and that saves us from all the times we open ours!
But now, having been raised from the dead, Christ sends His Holy Spirit to us by water and the word so that we too make the good confession. What is that good confession? What are we “confessing” with God's Word? We confess that we are sinners, to be sure, but that by Christ's death and resurrection we are forgiven. Our confession of faith is that Jesus is our Savior. Now, the Holy Spirit opens our lips to declare His praise and speak of the Christ who died and rose for sinners, who washes and feeds His people and gives us eternal life. Now Jesus' silence before Pilate along with all of His suffering and death, silences the accusations of the devil, death and even the Law against you. No one can accuse you before God because the Lord was accused before Pilate. No one can condemn you before the Lord because He Himself was condemned for you by the Roman Governor. Jesus suffered under these earthly authorities so that you will never suffer before His authority. Rather, by His authority, earned by His obedient work of suffering and death, Christ grants you an eternal pardon that cannot be overturned. Christ is condemned. You are set free. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
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