ACC ~ John 19 v9

SILENCE OF THE LAMB

AUGUSTINE: It is found, in comparing the narratives of all the Evangelists, that this silence on the part of our Lord Jesus Christ took place more than once, both before the chief priests and before Herod, to whom, as Luke intimates, Pilate had sent him for a hearing, and before Pilate himself. [1] So it was not in vain that the prophecy regarding him had preceded, “As the lamb before its shearer was dumb, so he opened not his mouth,” [2] especially on those occasions when he did not answer his questioners. For although he frequently replied to questions addressed to him, yet because of those questions where he made no reply, the metaphor of the lamb is supplied in order that in his silence he might be accounted not as guilty but innocent. When, therefore, he was passing through the process of judgment, wherever he “opened not his mouth” it was in the character of a lamb that he did so. In other words, he did so not as one with an evil conscience who was convicted of his sins but as one who in his meekness was sacrificed for the sins of others. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 116.4. [3]

[1] See Mt 26:63; 27:14; Mk 14:61; 15:5; Lk 23:7-9; Jn 19:9.

[2] Is 53:7.

[3] NPNF 1 7:426*.

SILENCE NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS

ORIGEN: Since he willed to suffer on behalf of the world, he is silent when examined and beaten by Pilate. For if he had spoken, he would not have been crucified from weakness, [1] since there is no weakness in the words that the Word speaks. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 19.61. [2]

THE WORD WITHOUT A WORD

ROMANUS MELODUS:

The Thunderer stood voiceless—the Word, without a word;

For if He had spoken out, He would not have been overpowered,

And as victor, He would not have been crucified, and Adam would not have been saved.

Therefore, He who had caught the wise, [3] conquered by His silence.

The judge on seeing that He did not utter a sound

Was overcome with embarrassment and said: “What am I to do with one who does not speak?”

But they answered: “He is liable for those things which we question, hence his silence… .”

“Death is a debt I owed,” said my Savior

To the lawless people—as for Pilate,

[Jesus] did not consider the unspeakable animal [4] worthy of a word.

KONTAKION ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST 20.7-8. [5]

[1] 2 Cor 13:4.

[2] FC 89:182**; SC 290:84-86.

[3] Job 5:13.

[4] Pilate is both a brute animal and unspeakable; the Gk word alogon implies both.

[5] KRBM 1:209-10.