John 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, From where are you? But Jesus gave him no answer. This is very strange. Hitherto He had spoken freely and replied to questions; now He refused to speak any more. I. THE REASON MUST BE SOUGHT IN THE STATE OF PILATE'S SOUL. He deserved no answer, and therefore got none. He had forfeited his title to any further revelation about his prisoner. He had been told plainly the nature of our Lord's kingdom, and the purpose of His coming, and been obliged to confess publicly His innocence. And yet he had treated Him with flagrant injustice. He had, in short, sinned away his opportunities, forsaken his own mercies, and turned a deaf ear to the cries of his own conscience. Hence our Lord would have nothing more to do with him. II. Here, as in many other cases, WE LEARN THAT GOD WILL NOT FORCE CONVICTION ON MEN, and will not compel obstinate unbelievers to believe, and will not always strive with men's consciences. Most men, like Pilate, have a day of grace, and an open door put before them. If they refuse to enter in, and choose their own sinful way, the door is often shut, and never opened again. There is such a thing as a "day of visitation," when Christ speaks to men. If they will not hear His voice they are often left to reap the fruit of their own sins. It was so with Pharaoh, Saul, and Ahab, and Pilate's case was like theirs. III. We must not forget that PILATE'S WICKED REFUSAL TO LISTEN to his own conscience, AND OUR LORD'S consequent REFUSAL TO SPEAK TO HIM ANY MORE, WERE ALL OVERRULED BY THE ETERNAL COUNSELS OF GOD to the carrying out of His purpose of redemption. If our Lord had revealed who He was, and forced Pilate to see it, the crucifixion might perhaps never have taken place, and the great sacrifice for a world's sins might never have been offered. Our Lord's silence was just and well merited. But it was also part of God's counsels about man's salvation. IV. Note that THERE IS "A TIME TO BE SILENT," as well as "a time to speak." This is a matter in the social intercourse of daily life, about which we all need to pray for wisdom. To be always saying to everybody everything we know, is not the line of a wise follower of Christ. V. Note that IF WE DO NOT MAKE A GOOD USE OF LIGHT AND OPPORTUNITIES, — and if we resist Christ speaking to our conscience, — A TIME MAY COME WHEN, LIKE PILATE, WE MAY SPEAK TO CHRIST, and ask things of Him, AND HE MAY GIVE US NO ANSWER (Proverbs 1:24-32). (Bp. Ryle.) Parallel Verses KJV: And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. |
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