Have you ever been accused of something and known that defending yourself would only make it worse?
I remember a staff meeting once when I made a suggestion that was immediately shut down. The senior leader’s reaction was swift and dismissive: “That won’t work.” My emotional reaction was immediate. I could feel my face flush. I wanted to argue, to prove my point.
But something stopped me.
Maybe it was wisdom, but I don’t want to give myself too much credit. Probably it was just fear. But I stayed quiet. Later, I was thankful. Pushing back in that moment would have escalated the conflict without changing anyone’s mind.
In today's story, Jesus faces a similar moment, but with much higher stakes.
