The Silence of the Lamb

There was a graphic movie by this title several years ago that spoke to the sinful nature of man; but today, I want us to look at the life of our Lord and Savior …and understand His silence in service.

In scripture, Mark 7: 33-36, we read of Jesus and his disciples, traveling through the region of Tyre, when a man that is deaf and has a speech impediment is brought to Jesus. “And they begged Him to lay His hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, He put His fingers into his ears and after spitting, touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue released and he spoke plainly. But Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.”

Did you see that? In this miracle, as well as many others recorded in the Bible, Jesus sought anonymity….He stepped away from the crowd to perform the healing and then instructed those that witnessed the healing to tell NO ONE…. HE WAS SILENT IN HIS SERVICE!!!!

Now, surely these miracles from Heaven deserved center-stage; they deserved the spotlight of admiration and celebration; but Jesus did not come for this….He came to seek and to serve and to save the lost…..and He left us behind to continue His ministry.

So, the next time that you step out to do a good work…do it in silence and in secret, if possible….and let Jesus, the Lamb of God, receive the praise and adoration for your sacrificial service. What better way to honor Him who gave His all for you than to serve Him in silence …with no thought of who gets the credit or reaps the reward.

Practice service in silence lest you fall into the trap of the Pharisees and the hypocrites. Strive to follow Christ’s teaching in Matthew 6:1-4, “Beware of practicing your righteousness (or serving; my translation) before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give (serve) to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving (serving) may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

The more we practice serving our Savior in silence, the more He will be honored and the more glory His work, through us, will receive. It is our calling to follow the Master in service and we can show Him no greater love than to serve Him in silence ….to follow the example of the silence of the Lamb of God.

Today, look for that quiet, silent opportunity to serve God….and let Him receive ALL the credit for your service to others.

Seeking to serve…in stealth-mode,
WPQ