An extract from this book of sermons on the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ…

“And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.” Matthew 27:11-14

We must above all be mindful that, when our Lord Jesus Christ appeared before an earthly judge, it was so that we might be freed and absolved from the condemnation which we deserved before our judge in heaven. We know that we cannot evade what was said by the prophet Isaiah, that every knee must bow before God (Isa. 45:23). Now since God is the judge of all the world, how could we exist before his face and majesty? Every one of us would be compelled to condemn himself one hundred thousand times. If we had lived for no more than a year on earth, one hundred thousand offences would already be ours, deserving condemnation. Every one of us has evidence of this engraved on his heart and is convinced of it. How could God, who sees much more clearly than we do, not condemn us many times over? Yet here is our Lord Jesus Christ who went to the bitter end, submitting to prosecution by an earthly judge, a faithless man no less, impelled by nothing but greed and self-interest.

If the Son of God stooped so low, we should know that it was so that we might come before God with heads held high, that we might be received by him and cease to fear and shrink from his judgement seat. It was so that we might dare to approach him with boldness, knowing that he will mercifully receive us. We know, moreover, that Jesus Christ has obtained authority, power and sovereign rule to judge the world. If he was condemned by Pilate, it was to help us come boldly to him, conscious that authority to judge has been given to him. If he remained silent, it was because he chose to bear our condemnation, and not to resort to law in order to justify himself. It was necessary for him, he knew, to be condemned in and for us. Although innocent and unblemished, he took all our sins upon himself. We should not wonder, then, that he kept silent, as if he had already been convicted. He could not have fulfilled the office of Mediator except by pleading guilty, and confessing that, as our representative, he deserved to be condemned. That is what our Lord’s silence signifies. He remained mute, so that today with full voice we might call upon God, asking pardon for all our offences and transgressions.

Taken from Chapter 4: Repentance and Remorse (quote pg 70-71)

Crucified and Risen by John Calvin, published by Banner of Truth.