What was that all about? Jesus did not defend himself.
* **
I think I get it now. The Truth before Pilot / the Court was clear, there was no defense necessary. The only reason that Pilot / "the system" wanted defense was to take attention OFF OF THE TRUTH; to further enable AVOIDANCE / IRRESPONSIBILITY.
Jesus realized that it would give Pilot, the onlookers and bystanders a better chance at moral conversion if he did NOT ENABLE THEIR AVOIDANCE / IRRESPONSIBILITY. To return evil with kindness would "heap burning coals upon their heads," it would leave the full weight of their evil undisguised, undistracted from on their heads, and through such a gift by Jesus of Clarity, of Truth Jesus maximized the chances that their Humanity / Conscience would be at some future time awakened.
Yes, this is how to wage
UNARMED PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE for the KINDOM.
* Matthew Chapter 5 39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.
41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
26 go with him for two miles.
42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
43 27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors
28 do the same?
47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
2948 So be perfect,
30 just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
** Romans Chapter 12 20 Rather, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head."
21 Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.