Matthew 27:14 – But he gave them no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Lord Jesus, your silence before Pilate and all your Jewish accusers is stunning. You were silent when you had every reason to speak up in defense of your innocence. But you didn’t need to defend yourself. No, you had your Father’s approval already; he was pleased with you. But more than that, you were silent because you had taken all of my guilt on you and I had actually done it. You couldn’t speak up because you became guilty of my sins. You couldn’t defend my actions because they were sinful. And for that reason, Lord Jesus, I give thanks for your silence. You became completely guilty of all my wrong doing. You completely took on my sin and were accused of it by my Father in heaven. And now, I have the Father’s approval. Now, I stand before God righteous and innocent. Now, I don’t need to defend myself either. Now, whether I am guilty of an accusation or innocent, I don’t to respond – as if my good need name depended on it. I have your approval. I have your good name. I have your righteousness. I have your love. I can be silently confident of your verdict about me, because your approval is the only approval that matters to me. Give me a godly confidence in your name, the name that you have given me. Amen.