The Sin Of Silence

[Pastor Dr. Michael M Sherrod]

Debate has flourished about which of the wounds inflicted on Jesus actually caused his death . Among the many wounds he received were lacerations , punctures , abrasions , and contusions . In a sense we can say that none of these killed Jesus . The wound that killed him was silence . No one spoke up for him . When Jesus was arrested by the Roman soldiers , his loyal disciple Peter , did not run away but followed at a safe , silent distance as Jesus was marched to the high priest’s home . The soldiers took Jesus inside , and Peter joined a group of people warming themselves by a fire . Several people in the crowd recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ followers . They questioned him . ‘’ Weren’t you with Jesus ? ‘’ But Peter denied it . ‘’Sorry , I don’t know him . ‘’Before morning , before the first crow of the rooster , Peter had denied Christ three times . As we read this account , we shake our heads saying . ‘’I’m glad I never did that . ‘’ And though most of us have never said , ‘’I don’t know him, ‘’ we’ve still found a way to deny him . We deny Jesus by never opening our mouths . We deny him with our silence .We should be excited about sharing our faith. We are living in a time when biblical prophesies are being fulfilled right and left . Yet most of us remain silent .