Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:60-62

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.  Mark 15:3-5

            Jesus did not answer his accusers for three reasons.  One, it fulfilled prophecy.  Isaiah 53 prophesizes Jesus crucifixion almost step-by-step.  It says this about Jesus’ silence:

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  Isaiah 53:7

            Two, Jesus’ defense would not do any good before these individuals who wanted him dead, so why waste his breath.  Three, Jesus didn’t want to talk himself out of this.  He needed to go to the cross quickly, by Passover the next day.  He only spoke to make the case airtight against him.