Pilate found no guilt in Jesus but had Him flogged. Jesus had no guilt in Him and could have said the word and been not only rescued but had all those mocking, hurting, and seeking to kill Him drop dead in an instant. He is not motivated by self-preservation or pride or any other “self” thoughts. He’s motivated by love. He loved those ripping open His flesh. He died for those killing Him. He made the choice of the Father’s will, to love this world that rejects Him.

There are some who say Jesus never claimed to be God. But here, they were killing Him because they understood Jesus was claiming to be God. That was the accusation worthy of the death penalty.

Jesus recognized Pilate had no authority to kill Him. Jesus knew He was in the position of the Father’s will. Our battle isn’t with flesh and blood. Don’t blame others for your circumstances. Recognize God’s sovereign plan and the enemy’s deception at work in others. They are being tricked. Have compassion on them.

Pilate turns the King of the Jews over to the Jews. Jesus, ever thinking of others and not Himself, places His mother into the care of His disciple, John. The disciples had scattered at Jesus’ arrest, but John follows the proceedings and is found at the cross with Jesus’ mother and the women with her.

When all was fulfilled, Jesus pronounces, “It is finished,” and He gives up His spirit. No one took His life. He gave it up. And He didn’t do it until His work was finished. He bought our lives. He bought our redemption. He paid for the redemption of all of creation. His perfect life, His divine life, was enough to buy back all of creation, including each soul from its penalty of hell. He rescued us by being willing to not rescue Himself from the torture and sacrifice. He went through the suffering for our sake, and for the joy on the other side.