John wants his readers to understand that in death Jesus has fully accomplished his earthly mission to redeem mankind. As Christians we must never fall into the trap of taking the sacrifice of Jesus for granted. We are free but we must constantly remind ourselves that our freedom came at a terrible price. We are saved by grace and while grace is free it is not cheap!

Jesus is not on trial; Pilot and the Jewish authorities are and the verdict for all time is guilty. These men however do not bear the guilt alone.  We are just as much to blame because we sent Christ to the cross, our sin, our rebellion all necessitated his sacrifice. When we reflect on the passion and death of Jesus we must always remember that we put him there.