Unbound by Silence: Stories of Liberation and Letting Go

Jesus stands before Pilate. He is bound, but he speaks plainly. 

“My kingdom is not from this world.” 
“For this I was born… to testify to the truth.” 

And then Pilate asks a question that echoes: What is truth? 

This week in Lent, as we continue our series Unbound we consider what it means to be unbound by silence. In our gospel reading, silence is not neutral. It protects power. It shields injustice. It keeps everyone comfortable while someone else is bound. 

We are living in a time where truth is distorted, and neighbors are pitted against one another. Naming this is a call of our faith. It is our responsibility as people shaped by the Gospel. Suffering thrives on silence. The Gospel does not. 

In our text today, Jesus does not shout. But he does speak clearly. Even when it costs him. 

This Lent, we remember that following Jesus requires more than private belief. It requires public truthfulness. Not self-righteousness. But courage rooted in love. 

I’m reminded of an interesting fact. Did you know that early spring in Illinois is also sap season? Before new leaves appear, the maple tree has already decided to live again. Internally, the tree is shifting from dormancy to growth. The warming days pull life upward and the trees are filling with sap that we can tap to make delicious syrup. 

Truth is like sap. It rises before it is visible. It moves internally before it becomes public. And when tapped with care and intention, it can become something sustaining and sweet. Reminding us that our courage often rises before outcomes are clear. 

To be unbound by silence is to refuse complicity. It is to let go of the fear that keeps us quiet. It is to trust that something new is growing within us and truth belongs to God. 

Lent is our wilderness. A season where God meets us honestly. A season where we loosen our grip on what binds us. We release shame, fear, the need to be liked, and step toward courageous love. 

Jesus stands before Pilate, bound in chains yet utterly free. 

The question is not only “What is truth?” 

The question is: Will we live it out loud? 

Check out my song of the week to go along with the text! Love is Greater than Fear by The Many  

Peace, 

Pastor Katie