“Do not write ‘The King of the Jews’; but, ‘This man claimed to be King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered them, “What I have written, I have written.”
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each of them.
But as the tunic was woven in one piece from top to bottom, they said, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots to decide who will get it.”
This fulfilled the words of Scripture: They divided my clothing among them; they cast lots for my garment. This was what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister Mary, who was the wife of Cleophas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw the mother,
and the disciple whom he loved, he said to the mother, “Woman, this is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “This is your mother.”
And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home.
Jesus knew all was now finished and, in order to fulfill what was written in Scripture, he said, “I am thirsty.”
A jar full of bitter wine stood there; so, putting a sponge soaked in the wine on a twig of hyssop, they raised it to his lips.
Jesus took the wine and said, “It is accomplished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up the spirit. (…)

REFLECTION:
Throughout his ministry, Jesus sought to teach people that God was a caring and loving Father, not a stern and unforgi­ving judge,
nor a vengeful and uncaring deity. The Prologue in the Gospel of John tells us of God’s profound love for the world which led him to send his Son to redeem it.
It was the heart of Jesus’ message. It was the “Good News”. On the cross, he showed the radical rea­lity of what he taught, what he believed,
and what he knew. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Today, the only Begotten Son of God put flesh to these words. He showed us how much the Father loved us, sending his Beloved Son to die for us,
so that we too, like him, might live.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020