Strength in Restraint

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, “He saved others; let Him save himself if He is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”  -Luke 23:35

You showed strength in Your restraint.

On the cross, so many jeered and mocked, called on You to save Yourself if You truly were the Christ, the Son of God.

They tempted You to release Yourself from the suffering, You knowing full well that You could.

But You didn’t. You remained silent and steadfast, fastened to the cross.

All the mockery, the sharp words, You took them, absorbed them, still didn’t say a thing.

Your strength was in Your restraint. In holding onto the way of the Father—the way that saves us all—that path through death that leads to life.

Yes, You saved us by being stronger than any need to prove Yourself to the people, by following prophesy, a silent Lamb led to the slaughter. You called to Your Father and breathed Your last. The sun stopped shining, all was dark, all was fulfilled.

Strength in silence.

Strength in surrender.

Strength in restraint.

You held a bigger picture, self-sacrifice over human satisfaction. You restored in Your refusal to bow to anyone but the One whose will You came to complete.

You breathed Your last and bowed Your head. You silenced the crowd, showed them who You truly were. It is finished.