In the middle of the night Jesus was arrested in an olive grove east of the city of Jerusalem. He was tried before the Jewish religious authorities as morning dawned on Friday. Wanting Rome to execute him, they then handed Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. It was about the sixth hour on the day of preparation for the Passover. During that time the people would cease their work and the priests would commence the task of slaughtering the lambs for Passover. All this while Jesus, the Lamb of God, was standing in the breach for us, taking upon himself our sin and dying in our place.

The themes of Jesus’ innocence, his status as King, and the injustice of his treatment that were established beginning in chapter 18 continue with the account of the crucifixion. Having no idea of the deep significance of his words, Pilate repeatedly affirmed the innocence of Jesus and called him king. He even placed a sign on the cross of Jesus’ execution which read in three languages “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”

Of course, Pilate had no idea that what he was publicly announcing was true. Absolutely true. Jesus was in that moment exercising his office as King. What must a king do above all things but provide for his people and defend them from enemies? And this is what the Son of God was doing on the cross. King Jesus was giving his people the very breath of life by wiping away their sin. He was conquering the three-headed dragon of sin, death, and the devil. The death of Jesus sealed for all eternity the gracious covenant of God with his beloved people making all of his promises “Yes!” in Christ.