Youth Sermon: He Was Silent

Introduction

Hey guys, let's dive into an epic story today. It's about a hero who did something so mind-blowing, it changed the world forever. This hero is Jesus, and the story is about His last 36 hours on earth.

Today we're going to zoom in on a prophecy from Isaiah 53 - His silence during His trials.

Imagine this: You're accused of something you didn't do. You're standing in front of everyone, and they're all pointing fingers at you. What would you do? You'd probably defend yourself, right? But Jesus didn't. He stayed silent.

Jesus' Trials

Jesus went through six trials in just six hours. And in each one, He didn't say a word to defend Himself. Let's break it down:

1. Trial 1: Before Annas - Jesus was charged with no specific crime. Still, He didn't argue.

2. Trial 2: Before Caiaphas - Jesus was accused of blasphemy. He stayed silent.

3. Trial 3: Before the Sanhedrin - Jesus was sentenced to death. He didn't protest.

4. Trial 4: Before Pilate - Pilate found Jesus not guilty, but Jesus didn't say a word.

5. Trial 5: Before Herod - Herod wanted to see a miracle, but Jesus didn't perform one.

6. Trial 6: Before Pilate again - Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd wanted Him crucified. Jesus didn't fight back.

Object Lesson and Prophecy

Now, let's do a quick object lesson. I want you to take a piece of tape and put it over your mouth. Feels weird, right? It's hard to stay silent when you want to speak. But Jesus did it. He stayed silent because He was innocent, and He wanted to pay the price for our sins.

Isaiah prophesied this 700 years earlier, saying the Messiah would be oppressed and afflicted but remain silent like a lamb led to the slaughter. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy perfectly.

Conclusion and Prayer

So, what's the takeaway here? Sometimes, it's better to stay silent and let your actions speak. Jesus' silence showed His love for us and His willingness to sacrifice Himself for our sins.

Let's pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for your silent sacrifice. We know you died on the cross for our sins. We invite you to be our Lord and Savior. Amen.

So, next time you're in a tough spot, remember Jesus' silence. It's not always about having the last word. Sometimes, it's about letting your actions do the talking. And remember, Jesus' silence before men gives us a voice before God. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to remain silent during His trials?

2. How do you think you would have reacted in a similar situation?

3. What does Jesus' silence teach us about handling false accusations?

4. How can we apply the lessons from Jesus' silence in our daily lives?

5. How does Jesus' silent sacrifice demonstrate His love for us?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Trials of Innocence
• Group Activity: Role-Playing the Trials of Jesus
• Youth Challenge: Embrace Silence