Jesus' Death Crossroads: Silence

Matthew 26:57-63a | Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus remained silent.

• What crossroad did Jesus face at his first trial?

• If you were in Jesus’ situation, do you think you would have remained silent as people lied about you? Why or why not?

• When have you faced a crossroad where you had the choice to be silent or to speak up?

  • When was the right choice silence? What did you do?

  • When was the right choice to speak up? What did you do?

• When might silence be what points others to Jesus?