In the Gospel of St. Mark it states, “But He kept silent and answered nothing” (14:61). In answering nothing, Christ shows His meekness and humility; His total obedience to the Father – following the will of God in all things. In answering nothing, Christ also fulfills what the Prophet Isaiah foretold: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment he was taken away…he makes himself an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:7-8, 10).

One might even say that Jesus remains silent in order to preserve His own integrity; refusing to dignify the mock proceedings and false accusations. Any attempt to protest or extol the truth to this seething mob would have been futile and gone unheard. And besides, as a famous Renaissance poet once wrote, “The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting. Calumnies are answered best with silence.”