Jesus endures quite a bit of suffering leading up to His death:

• the betrayal of a friend
• the threat to and abandonment of His followers
• harassment at the hands of the priests, and their physical abuse
• the denial of Peter
• the questioning of Pilate
• the whipping, humiliation and mockery of the soldiers
• the long walk to the crucifixion site
• the pain of the cross
• the attacks of spectators

How did He keep silent? It still astounds me that Jesus did not defend Himself.

I don’t think that it was to line up with an Old Testament prophecy, I think the silence was intentional and strategic, I’m just not sure exactly what it was accomplishing. My best guess these days is simply this: Jesus silence ensured that the reason that crossed everyone’s mind for His death was His claim to be the Son of God…the Messiah. His trial before the high priest turned at this conclusion. Pilate called him the Messiah to the leaders. The soldiers mocked Him with a crown and robe. The sign on His cross even read “king of the Jews”

And Jesus died for that claim…the only claim that matters.

He didn’t die for any sin…except ours.