The love of Jesus, shown explicitly in action from John 13:1 and promulgated in Jn 13:34-35 and 15:12-17, reaches its perfection in his death. This love is at the centre of the johannine account of the passion and resurrection, and it perfects Scripture by giving it a sacerdotal dimension. Jesus receives the sour wine from the hyssop branch held out by the other people in the scene, thus integrating them into his mediating act. Jesus gives up his spirit - the ultimate response to his betrayal by Judas - and the alliance is sealed. The Word, who was from the beginning, dying thus, shows himself already the One who conquers death and sin.
