Readers of the four Gospels are struck by the fact that — when Jesus appears before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate — he says nothing in his own defense. This isn’t just surprising to us; it also was striking to Pilate himself. What should we make of Jesus’ silence? There have been many proposals. But what’s the real explanation? It helps to note that his appearance before Pilate is not the first time Jesus has been silent. A few hours earlier, when he appeared before the Jewish ruling council, he was similarly quiet…