In fulfillment of the description of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, Jesus did not open his mouth. If the totality of his ministry had not been enough to silence his critics, then a verbal defense at this point wouldn't have helped. Jesus had the power to stop these events, but his silence — rather than defending himself — was just one more way Jesus showed he was follow the will of God no matter the personal cost to himself. A priestly system that had grown corrupt and sold out to the Roman political machine would and dif not treat him fairly. The only desire of those in power was to stay in power. Jesus did not dignify their injustice with a self-defense. He needed no defense to prove his innocence. He had chosen to suffer humiliation, injustice, and crucifixion to honor God and to save us.