This Sermon was preached for class in Feb 2010. it was my first sermon for Sermanery. it was on the passages Mark 15:1-5  

Silence

Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Silence…. What a strange answer to hard questions. What an off thing for Jesus to do in the face of the hand who will deliver him to the cross. Why? Why is Jesus doing this? Silence? …

Right before this passage we have Jesus praying in the garden of Gasimony asking God to change his fate, most likly having a break down that none of us could even began to imagine. Then after the kiss of a man who had been his friend his fate was sealed…. Or was it? In those wee hours of the day they testified against him. Our text says that the bore false witness. And that there arguments disagreed. Jesus admits to being the “son of man” … Sorry guys the Marken secret is out! And that was all the preset need to go take him to death. They bring him before Pilate, it was said to be morning then, they probably woke him. Beating down his door to hear their case and make their claims. the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. Pilate, probably not having his coffee finished yet and knowing that today was gona be one of those days. One of those days when …(sigh) And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Man! That’s if there is anything that I have learned in pastoral care, passive aggression in a stressful time is a great idea! I mean really, is Jesus trying to egg them on at this point? What is he doing? Doesn’t he realize that these men are gona kill him! ³And the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? (he’s ordering Jesus to answer him) See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵But Jesus made no further answer, WHAT?!?!

            Why? Is he pleading the fifth? Are the accusations so ridiculous that he they don’t even deserve an answer? Has he accepted his fate? Is he fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy? And where is the Holy Spirit??! Not but two chapters before this Jesus was telling the disciples that when they are on trial don’t worried about what to say the Sprit will give them the words in that moment!! So… where are the words? Is Jesus really going to go to the cross saying nothing but a sarcastic comment to Pilate? WHY?!?

            I thought, maybe he’s trying to make a point ya know? Like Silence can be a powerful persuasive tool.  Maybe he’s using silence to create a bond? (Hear me out.) there is something he wants Pilate to know, but he’s not saying it. What’s the bond there? (…) or maybe its disappointment. I know that for me the best way for you to show me your disappointed is to say nothing at all. Mamma was good at that one… you just walk in and (—) man… that one hurts.

            So instead of why? Maybe What is the right question for today. What is Jesus doing with Pilate in this moment? Who is playing who’s game? Dose Pilate have control over this situation? Dose the council of accusations? Dose Jesus? Dose God? Maybe that’s the point… Pilate is trying so hard to take control. Pilate needs the Authority in this situation. This is about power, who has the power? Jesus at this point knows his fate. Jesus knows where he will be sitting at the end of day. Jesus knows that God’s plain has been laid out for this moment for a long time. Jesus doesn’t have to answer Pilate! Jesus have more important people to answer to. There is no need to argue with these fools. Jesus is ultimately responcabul to God. That who has the authority, that’s who at the end of the day Jesus is accountable to. Jesus knows, what’s up.  Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” ⁵But Jesus made no further answer,…… so that Pilate was amazed. Pilate marveled, Pilate knew. At that moment Pilate changes in the story. He sees Jesus and knows that something is different about him. His efforts to save him are for not and the people set free a murder. And well you know how the rest of that goes.

            Power, the passage that we are looking at today is about Power, Authority. Whose voice has authority? What about this roaring crowd? This mob of noise, what authority do they have. What about in our own life’s? Who has authority? Is it God? Is it us? Is it mob? Someone else?

            Jesus knew the plan, or at least kind of knew. We are here for one reason or another because of a plan… that plan, calling, has been reviled to us in one way or another. Maybe it was a growing feeling, maybe it was a strange serious of events, either way at some point we knew. We knew that this is what God wants from us. We had a taste of the plan. But now there’s a mob. The mob of this world, what they saying to you? What claims to authority are they trying to make on your life? Buy this car, look this way, vote this way, love this way, act this way. There’s so much noise they sound like a mob. What about closer to home? What about our church? How much Authority do you give the church? Its run by humans? What claims is the churching about you? Dose the church get more authority than God? You CPM? Do they have authority? Dose the church have the Authority saying that you can’t be ordained? Is the church your mob? Is your mob inside your own head?… what falsetaisy are being said? You can’t do this. You can’t speak for God.  You really think anyone wants to hear that sermon? You’re not good enough? Who’s looking ugly today? Is that kid gona grow up to be like you? What are you doing?

            Do we give those voices, those mobs, the authority? … Why? We know better than that. God… God has authority. We don’t have to respond to those voices. We don’t have to give them the authority. We know who at the end of the day that we have to report to. We know that God is working toward a plain in our life’s.

SO how do we do it? I think it’s time that we give some of these voices the Silent treatment. Maybe the voice you need to silence tells you your not good enough? Maybe the voice you need to silence is the telling you to be silent. Maybe it’s a professor in your head? Maybe is your political party? Don’t give those … fools God’s authority. There is no Point to auguring with fools. Give Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is Gods…. And when they say to you. These voices say to you “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.”  Make no further answer… so that World can marlvale at the god in you.