Forgiveness Was A Plan

Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges?  What do you have to say for yourself?”  But Jesus was silent and made no reply.  Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  Jesus said, “I am.  And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven. [Mark 14.60-62]

The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him.  They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us!  Who hit you that time?”  And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at him. [Luke 22.63-65]

We have no record that Jesus identified His abusers when He was challenged to do so.  He was silent as far as the Gospel writers witnessed to.  However, when asked if He was the Messiah, Jesus was not silent but verbally acknowledged His deity.

This seems like a small thing, but in reality, it was huge!  Had Jesus identified those who physically abused Him, they might have been forever marked as unforgiven.  The fact that Jesus remained silent at that point revealed His resolve to bring forgiveness to mankind.  Forgiveness was a plan.

Father, thank You for this little insight into Jesus' unmovable goal of salvation for all.