December 9

But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” — Matt 26:63 BSB

The remarkable thing about Jesus’ trial was that His enemies could find nothing against Him. It’s also worth noting how Jesus responded to the false accusations—He remained silent. This is an important lesson for us, too. We should not be troubled by unfair treatment from others. Learning to be silent under insult is a valuable lesson. We often talk too much, especially when we feel wronged.

Yet there are times when we must speak up, when staying silent would be a betrayal of truth. Jesus remained silent until the high priest demanded to know if He was the Messiah. At that point, He spoke clearly. We, too, must speak when truth and justice are at stake.

Perhaps the most painful part of that night for Jesus was Peter’s denial. We bring joy to Jesus when we are faithful and true, but we grieve Him deeply with every act of disloyalty.