11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
This passage deals with the political aspect, before Pilate, and the charge, as Pilate's question in 11 implies, is that of treason. One further point of significance may be added to what has already been said, and it concerns the silence of Jesus (12:14). Bearing in mind what was said in the earlier Notes about Jesus standing in for us as our Substitute, this may be said: In another great part of Scripture that also takes the form of a trial - the Epistle to the Romans - Paul presents the divine case against man the sinner, and sums up as follows: 'Now we know that whatsoever thing the law saith it saith to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God'. This is why Jesus was silent before His accusers, and dumb as a sheep before its shearers. He was assuming upon Himself the guilt of the world's sin, and guilt stops a man's mouth. He had nothing to say because there is nothing to say for guilty man before a holy God. So completely did He take our place in what He did for us!