Mark 14:61
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
But he held his peace while false witnesses accused him before Caiaphas and the council, whose verdict was already decided, since no evidence worthy of death had been given and the rulers hoped he would say something they could use to condemn him. He stood calm, serene, majestic and dignified at the foot of the throne of judgment, with the eyes of the multitude upon him amid wild excitement. His bearing stood in sharp contrast to the excitement, hostility and malignant behavior around him and of Annas and Caiaphas. When Caiaphas in sneering, haughty tones demanded that he work one of his mighty miracles before him, he held his peace and acted as if he had not heard, giving no answer to that demand.
His silence gave his accusers no advantage, for he would not retaliate or use divine power to force recognition, but patiently endured the trial and abuse as part of his mission to bear humanity's sin and suffering. He also withheld the statement they sought because he knew they wanted him to repeat his claim to be the Son of God so they could twist it into a political charge. His silence fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant who did not open his mouth, like a lamb led to slaughter and like a sheep before its shearers. His calm bearing sent forth a holy influence that moved even the hardened multitude to wonder whether a man of God-like presence should be sentenced as a common criminal. It struck Caiaphas with sudden admiration and conviction that he was akin to God, which Caiaphas at once banished in scorn and then hastened the trial from his throne with judges on either side and Roman soldiers ranged below.
Though clad in coarse, homely garb and tried for his life at an earthly throne, he was the one who had reigned in the courts of heaven, crowned and clothed in brightness and attended by holy angels. The rulers' effort to force condemnation in this setting violated the principle that a person must be treated as innocent until guilt is established. The verse then records the high priest directly asking him whether he is the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, which is the same as asking whether he is the Christ, the Son of God, and which sets up his solemn answer and public claim to be God's Son. He answers that solemn question because he is adjured in God's name and respects the law. His answer, given in the following verse, declares that he will sit at God's right hand and come in heaven's clouds, so that though he stands before judges at this trial, he will be the Judge when every secret thing is revealed.