“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power to free you or crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” — John 19:10–11

Insight Jesus stood before Pilate with thunder in His lungs. He could have spoken storms, summoned angels, shattered injustice with a word. But He didn’t. He chose silence—not because He lacked voice, but because He knew when not to use it.

You may not know this about Jesus, but His silence wasn’t passive—it was restrained. A refusal to grasp power that wasn’t given. A surrender that shook the earth more than any shout.

Reflection Question Are there times when I should speak less so the Father can speak more?

Prayer Father, teach me not to explain or defend myself—especially when staying silent means I’m trusting You. Help me rest in the fact that You already know everything about me. Let my quiet before You be a place of strength, not a way to prove anything. Make my thoughts clean and faithful, even when I feel misunderstood. Help me trust Your timing more than my need to be heard. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

An Invitation

If you like this post I’ll be posting four posts a week like this one on Instagram @theone.forjesus.  I’ve been reading the gospels monthly since March 2012 and during that time I compiled two blended gospels. The One was published in 2023 and has already been translated into Spanish, Ukrainian and Farsi. We hope to get it translated into Turkish, Russian and Polish in 2026. An amazing App has been developed which we’re now beta testing. It’s got some great features including the gospels in English and Ukrainian in both written and audio format.

In 2019 I memorized the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain blended into a single sermon in the Jesus Story. Since then I’ve reviewed all or part of it almost daily. I review it when I’m falling asleep, when I wake up, when I ride my bike or drive my car. During this more than a decade of marinating in the Gospels I’ve discovered countless truths about Jesus which I never knew. In 2024 I started writing blogs under the title: “You Don’t Know This About Jesus.” Last July I began writing these insights and last week started posting two brief commentaries and two devotionals a week on Instagram. Today’s blog is one of the Instagram posts.

These posts are the culmination of my walk with Jesus over the last dozen, or so, years. My plan is to write 365 of these over the next two years so there will be one insight a day for every day of the year.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey as I learn and share with you fresh insights about the Lord Jesus. Please keep my in your prayers as I try to unearth fresh insights and write them in a memorable way.

Serving you and the King,

Bill Perkins