Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd. He became people pleaser. In contrast, Joseph of Arimathea though he was a member of the council (Sanhedrin) that had condemned execution, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus and laid it in a tomb. Pilate had all authority, but he misused his authority. Joseph being a minority had less authority, but he used it well.

“He saved others…” (v. 31)

The priests handed him over because they were jealous that Jesus is the best teacher and he could heal people.

save yourself, and come down from the cross!” It is hard not to note the irony: salvation comes not “from the cross” but “through the cross”. Jesus came not to save Himself but us.

(v. 33) At noon, (“At noon”), darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon (“until 3pm”). (v37) With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.
-The Light of the world (John 8:12), Jesus Christ, died on the cross, the darkness came over the whole land!
-If Jesus is in us, we will be in light, if Jesus is “not” in us, we will be in darkness!

3 hours of darkness:- nature’s expression for Jesus’s death; we find star during Jesus’s birth
– Holy Spirit moved out to make way for Jesus to die.
– Jesus lost His live connection with Father hence He cried out with a loud voice “My God , My God , why have You forsaken Me?”