“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

    so he opened not his mouth.

 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered

that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death,

although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Isaiah 53:7-9

The picture of a lamb led to the slaughter would have been both familiar and significant to Isaiah’s original readers. Sacrifice was a regular part of the religious life of the people of God. They understood that only blood can atone for sin. The blood of the innocent and blameless must pay for the crimes of the guilty. The people of God would have been familiar with the image of an uncomprehending and innocent animal being led away to pay for the sins they had so willingly committed.

Isaiah speaks of the Lamb of God being led away, but this Servant was silent by choice. He was led away, not by force, but because he chose to lay down his life. Jesus made it very clear to his disciples that he was in control of everything that happened to him on the night that he was betrayed. He said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” (John 10:17-18)

It’s almost comical how much control Jesus had over his own arrest and trial. When the soldiers came to arrest him, they fell down to the ground when he proclaimed his name. (John 18:6) When Peter attempted to defend him and in the process cut off a man’s ear, Jesus healed the servant. He turned to Peter and said, “No more of this! Put your sword into its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (Luke 22:51, John 18:11) He allowed them to tie him up and lead him out of the Garden. 

His trial was a travesty of justice. The key witnesses for the prosecution couldn’t agree and contradicted each other. He stood there, silent, as they accused him of crimes he never committed. The only time he spoke was to tell the truth about himself, the very truth they twisted to convict him. He went from there to Herod and then to Pilate, who found no reason to convict him. Again, he was silent. Pilate washed his hands of the whole situation, because he knew he was sending an innocent and pure soul to his death.

As we read through the events that happened to Jesus that night and on the day of his death, everything in us cries out, “Speak up! You are innocent! Defend yourself!”. His silence is baffling. It goes against every fiber of our being to be silent when we are falsely accused.

Why was our Savior silent that day? Because his silence served his purpose. He allowed them to accuse him and try him and convict him because he was the Lamb of God being willingly led away to the slaughter. He laid down his life as a sacrifice for us. We stood under the guilt of our sins. We desperately needed the blood of the innocent, spotless, blameless Lamb of God to cover all that we have done. His silence that day sealed his fate. It also secured our salvation.

But he is silent no more. The blood of Jesus “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24) The blood of Abel, the first person to be murdered, cried out to God from the ground. It cried out for God to see and to act. Abel’s blood cried for justice.

All of our wounds cry out to God. He sees everything that the children of man do to one another and his heart needs justice. We need justice for our wounds. If we have any hope of forgiving one another, we need to know that our wounds matter to God. He sees and he knows what has been done to us, and he will act in justice on our behalf. We will have justice, if not in this life, then in the next.

But we are not just wounded people. We are also people who have inflicted wounds on others. We have sinned against God and other people. The things we have done to others demand justice as well. This is why we need the blood of Jesus.

Jesus’ blood speaks a better word. Justice has been satisfied. Jesus has paid the debt we owe to God for the sins we have done. Those who look to him in faith are lavished with forgiveness. The blood of Abel cried out for justice. The blood of Jesus cries out that we are forgiven, that sin has been atoned for and that the love of God has been secured, no matter what crimes we have committed. 

If you have ever been falsely accused, know this: Jesus understands this injustice. He sees what you have suffered and he will make it right in the end. If you have been harmed in this life, know this: Jesus sees your wounds and they matter to him. He will have justice for what has been done to you, for he stands as the great advocate of his people. If you suffer under the weight of your sin, if you are burdened by shame and regret for the things that you have done, know this: Jesus’ blood cries out for you too. His blood cries forgiveness over you. 

The blood of Jesus cries “It is finished” over every soul that runs to him for refuge. The Lamb of God willingly went to the cross for you. Our Silent Savior is quiet no more. Let his blood sing of forgiveness, of reconciliation with God and harmony with your fellow man. For his blood speaks a better word than vengeance. It speaks of peace.