"It is accomplished ..." The tragic death of Jesus on the Cross is the most radical expression of obedience and love. "... it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour" (12:27) and in 19:11 Jesus says to Pilate, "You would have no power over me at all if it had not been given you from above...". Earlier in Gethsemani He told the disciples, "Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?" (18:11).

Today let us look upon our crucified God. His death was a conscious act, a self-offering to His Father. The proclamation of Pilate, "Behold your king" and confirmed by the composition of the inscription on the Cross, "Jesus, the Nazarene, King of the Jews" (19:19) is there for all the world to see. Pilate had caught a glimpse of the greatness of Jesus but had not had the moral strength to see that justice was done to Jesus, that day. He had failed to listen to the truth.

The supreme sign of God for a people, who had surrendered their claim to be God's own people by their cry, 'we have no king but Caesar', is His Son on the cross for "he came to his own and his own received him not" (Jn. 1:11). When, however, the Son of Man was lifted up on His cross all the world was affected and history was changed forever" (8:28), for "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son." (3:16). Good Friday is the day when love triumphed over hate and light over darkness.