Why didn’t Jesus want to defend Himself?

Mar 15:3  And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. 

The chief priests accused Jesus of many things: but He answered nothing. Pilate asked Him again: “Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing” (Mark 15:4-5a).

Why didn’t Jesus want to defend Himself? The answer is simple: They won’t believe Him anyway.

Men usually interpret silence on the part of someone being accused as admission of guilt. But not true! Moses did not defend himself when his own brother and sister falsely accused him (Numbers 12:1-2). Instead, the scripture says of him: “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Silence is not a sign of weakness but meekness. Moses committed himself to the God of Justice to defend his innocence and which He did (Numbers 12:4-16).

This is important for us to understand as we face the daily spiritual battle. There is always the temptation to answer those who falsely accuse us instead of leaving things in God's hands. The word of God says: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). It means God, who is the God of Justice, knows every false accusation that is brought against His saints and He will see to it that justice is carried out.

The Bible reveals Satan as the accuser who daily accuses us before God (Revelations 12:10). God won’t believe anything Satan said to Him anyway. So, why should we waste our time defending ourselves?

Yet, many times defending our innocence seemed the right thing to do. There's an innate sense of justice within us all hence we are prone to defending ourselves in the face of injustice. What did we get in the end? Did our accusers acquit us and admit they were wrong and apologised for it? I don’t think so. Instead, we get into more arguments!

As I get older in life, I have learned this profound truth: You don’t need to explain yourself; your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway!

Why should Jesus defend Himself? He knew all the accusations against Him originated with His enemy, the devil. Why should He give an audience to the devil? Why should He let the devil distract Him from fulfilling His mission?

Even as an elder, I have accepted the fact that not everyone will love the elders and submit to us. Some will continue to insinuate and falsely judge the actions of the elders. Should I continue to spend time and energy trying to make them change their minds and that what they said are wrong? I think not. I do not want to get distracted from doing my work as an elder. They won’t believe it anyway and the rest of the flock doesn’t need it anyway.

Jesus does not need to defend Himself; His works testify of Him that He is speaking the truth. Likewise, let our works do the talking instead of our words. Those who can see your works do not need your words and those who can’t see your works can’t hear your words anyway.

Jesus' silence meant He could focus on His assignment and not get distracted. It also means He trusted God. He left all judgment to God who judges righteously. Therefore, like Jesus, let us keep our focus and concentrate on doing the will of God. Remember the answer of Nehemiah: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3). Why should we waste our precious time arguing with someone who will not believe anything we say anyway?

Moses didn’t argue with his accusers; and neither did Jesus. Yet, we know they were innocent of the charges brought against them. Why? Because we know them! Those who know us won’t believe anything our accusers said anyway. And neither does God! “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night” (Revelations 12:10).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.