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21st July 2026
TuesdayReflection
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John Piper
Founder & Teacher, Desiring God
The Secret Superpower of
Silence
.... 1 Peter 2 v 19-23
A physical response happens inside us when we get treated unfairly. We feel our chest get tight.
Our brain starts to cycle through comebacks.
Later, we will play back all the comebacks we didn't think of in the moment.
We want instant justice, to land the right verbal jab.
But today, we're looking at a guy who had rocks thrown at him - and just walked away.
In, we see Jesus respond to false accusations and suffering as he stands before Pilate, and then as he endures the cross.
Why did he remain silent in the face of accusations?
How does his silence reflect humility and obedience to God's will, even when he seemed to have every right to defend himself?
Does his example teach us also how to respond to injustice and personal suffering?
In many ways, the Jewish King David was a foreshadowing of Jesus, who is called the Son of David.
And one of the ways that David foreshadowed Jesus was by enduring many hardships as the king of Israel, including being cursed by his own people.
There's the correlation between David and the Son of David.
The patience and silence of David in his suffering points toward the patience and silence of Christ in his suffering.
So, when Jesus is silent before the accusations of the Sanhedrin and before Pilate and before Herod, he was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53
("like a sheep that before its shearers is silent"),
and he was fulfilling the foreshadowing of David's acceptance of cursing.
The clearest answer to that question is given by the apostle Peter in his first letter, because he focuses directly on the suffering of Christ, and he makes it, explicitly, an example for us to follow.
So, here's what he says.
I think these words are hugely important for us today in the very contentious, reviling world in which we live.
He said,
This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?
But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
....1 Peter 2:19-20
Now, here's where he makes the connection with Christ.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example [there's the explicit connection], so that you might follow in his steps.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
So, it's clear that Peter thinks that the way Jesus endured his suffering is an example for us to follow.
This is fundamental to the way we Christians should respond to the opposition that comes against us in our obedience to Jesus.
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article is avaiable on request
"John Piper"
is founder and teacher of Desiring God and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary.
For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He is author of more than 50 books, including Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist
and most recently Foundations for Lifelong Learning: Education in Serious Joy
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