"It is finished." - John 19:30 (RSV)

Tonight we are confronted with the culmination of Jesus’ life and ministry. Last night we saw how Jesus knew that his death was imminent, that he was about to be betrayed, tortured and publicly executed. Even though he knew it, he did not give in to panic or cowardice, but calmly, with all the aplomb of a king, he faced the personal disaster head-on. We read that "he loved his own ... [and] he loved them to the end." He loved them to the end of his earthly life with a love that knew no limits.

This was a partial glimpse of his glory, the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace or unbounded love. Tonight we shall also see his glory, but a glory revealed in truth. For Jesus is not only full of grace or love; he is also full of truth, tha…