A TIME OF SILENCE AND SOUND
There is a time for everything…a time to be silent and a time to speak. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7)
As we look at the Gospels, it is amazing to note how the accounts of Jesus’ coming into the world in the flesh have several distinct periods of silent meditation and expressions of joy and praise.
Think first of the silence:
- Zechariah—at the angel’s command could not speak for nine months until his son was born (Luke 1:11-20)
- Elizabeth—“hid herself five months” and kept her unusual pregnancy in discreet silence (Luke 1:23-25)
- Mary—“treasured” all the events connected with her son’s birth and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19)
- Joseph—the “Silent Saint” did not speak one word in the Bible, but his actions spoke volumes
- John the Baptist—prepared for his ministry by years of silent mediation in the desert
- Simeon and Anna—saw the Messiah after many years of prayer and study in the temple (Luke 2:25-26, 36-37)
- Shepherds—spent hours of loneliness and silence through dark nights on the Judean hillside (Luke 2:8)
Yet after these people had pondered the mystery of God’s miracle in Christ, the Scripture records their expressions of joy brought about by their faith:
- Zechariah—spoke boldly about his purpose after John the Baptist’s birth (Luke 1:67-80)
- Elizabeth—greets Mary loudly upon seeing the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:39-45)
- Mary—expresses her praise for God’s grace to her in song (Luke 1:46-55)
- Joseph—gives a loud testimony in actions of unquestioned obedience (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-15; Luke 1:39)
- John the Baptist—announces the coming of Jesus to all of Jerusalem (Matthew 3; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3)
- Simeon and Anna—proclaim fulfillment and witness to all concerning redemption (Luke 2:27-35; 2:38)
- Shepherds—spread the Word and returned to their work glorifying and praising God (Luke 2:15-20)
- Angels Hosts—praise Glory to God in the Highest! (Luke 2:9-14)
Perhaps most striking of all is the silent way our Lord came to the earth—no trumpets, parades or fanfare—but rather a humble, mostly ignored birth to indicate things that count so much with men such as wealth, position and worldly power matter very little to God. He wants to rule in people’s hearts here on earth and have every person live with him for eternity in heaven. Because in his grace our Lord’s greatest desire was to lead us to believe the miracle of Christ in our hearts, we too will share in the desire to tell the world about our Savior!
