So He Opened Not His Mouth - a podcast by Rev. W. Reid Hankins

Sermon preached on Isaiah 53:7 concerning the significance of the resurrection to the Great Commission by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Good Friday worship service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 4/2/21 in Novato.















Sermon Manuscript







May we all behold again this evening the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, even as he opened not his mouth. We reflect specifically this evening on verse 7 of Isaiah 53, that Jesus, “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.” As Philip the Evangelist interpreted to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, this word from Isaiah spoke of the good news of the cross of Jesus Christ. Philip’s explanation brought salvation to that Ethiopian eunuch as he opened up Isaiah 53’s fulfillment in Jesus. Let us also feast savingly on this passage of Scripture that reminds us our Lord’s willing going to cross to be the sacrifice to atone for our sins. We’ll think of this from Isaiah 53:7, especially this idea that he “opened not his mouth.”







Notice with me first that Isaiah 53:7 speaks of how Jesus was oppressed and afflicted. For us to consider how Jesus didn’t open his mouth is in the context of him being oppressed and afflicted. Such oppression and affliction had characterized Jesus’ life even from his early days on earth. He had to come into this world being born in a manger because of inconvenient government burdens imposed on his parents. Then he and his family had to flee the heavy hand of King Herod who sought to kill him for no reason other than that he was the righteous one of God. Then during his earthly teaching ministry, he found opponents in the religious leaders of the Jews who envied him for all his wisdom and for how the people flocked to hear him open up the Word of God. At so many points these opponents tested him and tried to trick him so they could find some fault in him and thus find a way to discredit him or get him in trouble in one way or another. But he kept answering all their tests and tricks well and it was they who found themselves silent before his words of truth.







But the oppression and affliction of Isaiah 53:7 especially speaks to these events which we consider at his arrest and ultimate crucifixion. Beginning with one of his close friends betraying him for a bribe, he is arrested without reason. He is then brought before one sham trial after another. He is put under trial before Annas, then Caiaphas, then to Pilate, then to Herod, then back to Pilate again. In those trials he was sinned against by false accusations and false testimony with malicious witnesses who even then their testimony did not agree. He was scourged. He was forced to wear a crown of thorns, and mocked, struck, and his garments stripped from him and divided up. He was forced to carry his cross. Finally, he was crucified, hung alongside actual criminals. There he hung, enduring more mocking from passersby, thirsting, suffering, until he finally gave up the Spirit and died. All this oppression and affliction he endured, when he was innocent of all sin, as the only fully righteous human to ever walk this earth.







Again, just let that sink in. Jesus was oppressed. He was afflicted. By those in power, among both Jewish and Roman people in power. He was oppressed and afflicted. And he didn’t deserve any of it. Yet, in that context, he opened not his mouth.







Notice next with me in Isaiah 53:7 that it describes Jesus as, “Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent.” Just picture the simile here. When the slaughterer is leading the lamb off to be slaughtered,

Further episodes of Reformed Sermons and Sunday Schools at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Petaluma, CA

Further podcasts by Rev. W. Reid Hankins

Website of Rev. W. Reid Hankins