Tuesday: “ ‘It Is Finished’ ”
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 17th of December 2024
As John 19:17-22 shows, Pilate wrote an inscription in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew that said, “ ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’ ” (John 19:19, ESV). The religious leaders wanted it changed. Pilate would have none of it, and the inscription remained, a mute witness to the truth about Jesus and one of the markers that Jesus is enthroned on the cross as the King. Here was Jesus, truly their King, the King of the Jews, hanging on a cross like a common criminal.
“A higher power than Pilate or the Jews had directed the placing of that inscription above the head of Jesus. In the providence of God it was to awaken thought, and investigation of the Scriptures.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 745.
Read John 19:25-27. What touching scene regarding Jesus’ mother happened at the cross?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Among those standing at the foot of the cross that day were John, the beloved disciple, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and others. Many years before, Simeon had predicted this very experience when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him (compare with Luke 2:34-35). Now in His dying moments, Jesus speaks to His mother: “ ‘Woman, behold your son!’ ” To John He says, “ ‘Behold your mother!’ ” (John 19:26-27, NKJV).
Read John 19:28-30. What is the significance of Jesus’ dying words, “It is finished”?
The Greek verb teleō (to finish, complete, carry out) in John 19:28 (“all was now finished,” ESV) is the same verb as used in verse 30 (“It is finished”). Furthermore, a related word, teleioō (to finish, make perfect) also appears in verse 28 in reference to the fulfillment of the Scripture (“to fulfill the Scripture,” ESV). However horrific the scene, everything was being fulfilled, accomplished, and completed.
When Jesus says, “It is finished!” He is completing, fulfilling, the work that the Father gave Him to do.
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When Jesus said, “It is finished,” what does that mean for each of us? What was finished, and how does that apply to our lives? |
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I want to reflect for a moment on what Jesus said on the cross. I will leave you, the reader, to contemplate the significance of what has been recorded here:
This is indeed so deep, as to defy being encapsulated in a few words in an online post. The seven statements of JESUS on the cross reveal to the end his connectedness to the Divine - His Father 3 times and to the human - His mother's welfare and the spiritual welfare of the thief on the cross; (for those into scripture numerology 7 is significant for completeness and perfection. These 7 statements form the basis of a famous oratorio - but I digress). Many thanks for posting these statements, food indeed for thought and reflective meditation.
As I contemplate all of the things Jesus said on the Cross, something stands out for me...
Have you ever experienced some serious physical hardship? Or if not serious, just an exhausting physical burden? Maybe a long sickness yourself, or of a parent or caregiver, think of repeated sleepless nights and how that affects your personality and thinking. For example, I remember going on a trip sharing a bed with a snoring family member, after a couple of nights without sleep I dragged some blankets and pillow into the bathtub of our hotel bathroom just to try for a few zzz's. It definitely affected my mood and functioning during the day, too.
Jesus went through more physical agony than any human ever has. And yet on the Cross, His mind was still clear, quick, powerful. He was speaking coherently, and more than that, He was recalling prophetic Scripture and connecting how it was being fulfilled within Himself (Jn. 19:28). He was still offering comfort and hope to those around Him and those dear to Him. He was still communicating with His Father. He was still exhibiting God's forgiving, patient, generous Spirit. In those moments of excruciating physical pain, Jesus was still uttering more profound judgments on the deepest subject than any other human ever has, can or will.
Jesus went through more physical agony than any human ever has.
Hmm . . . . , I'm not so sure about that. But I am sure that He went through more mental agony than any human ever has. Not only did He have the weight of the sins of the world on Him, He was experiencing the horrors of the second death--all the while knowing that He could jump off the cross at any time. Pure torture. Ellen White said that He hardly felt his physical pain because of the mental anguish He was experiencing.
The phrase "It is finished" spoken by Jesus in John 19:30 carries deep spiritual significance. What was brought to its finality by the death of Jesus on the cross? Are there some things in our lives which need to be declared “it is finished”? The relevance of Jesus words (It is finished) comes to right when we explore his mission here on earth.
The following meanings come to the forefront:
1.Completion of the Redemptive Work- The words "It is finished" signify that Jesus' mission on earth was complete. His purpose, which was to atone for the sins of humanity through His sacrificial death on the cross, had been fully accomplished.
2.Fulfilment of Prophecies - Jesus' death on the cross was the culmination of the Old Testament prophecies about the suffering Messiah (e.g., Isaiah 53). He had borne the weight of humanity's sin, fulfilling what was promised by God through the prophets, and ensuring that the plan of salvation was completed.
3.Victory Over Sin and Death - The phrase also points to the defeat of sin, Satan, and death. Through His sacrifice, Jesus won victory over the forces of evil, and His resurrection (which would follow shortly) would prove that death no longer has power over those who believe in Him.
The spiritual relevance of "It is finished" should never be overlooked. The atonement and forgiveness of our sins was guaranteed. The words signify the completion of the atonement for sin. Jesus' death satisfied the demands of God's justice, paying the penalty for sin that humanity could never pay on its own. This establishes the foundation for forgiveness, and believers are reconciled to God through Jesus' sacrifice.
The declaration "It is finished" by Jesus on the cross, should be our declaration to claim victory over things that hold us captive. We should be able to declare “It is finished" over the power of sin. In Christ, the dominion of sin is broken, and we no longer have to be slaves to sin. This declaration signifies that through Christ's sacrifice, sin's hold on us is broken. We are now empowered to live in righteousness. We should be able to declare "It is finished" over the old sinful nature. Our fleshly desires no longer define us. Through Christ’s crucifixion, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live according to God’s will and not by our old sinful desires. Also, we should have the confidence to declare “It is finished" over fear. The fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the future, and all other fears can be defeated because of Christ's victory. We can now live in courage and confidence, trusting in God's plan for us.
Amen 🙏
Thank you for sharing these angles on meanings of Jesus' words "It is finished", Omwenga. I'm imagining these from Jesus' viewpoint on the Cross. We have the saying that often before death, especially if it is a tragic sudden sort of death like a car accident, someone's life might "flash before their eyes". I'm imagining Jesus' life flashing before His eyes. But far bigger than His own 33 1/2 years, all of human history from the perspective of both God and sinner flashing before Him (because He was now bearing all of our sin).
He saw Adam and Eve standing there and felt their shame, sorrow, nakedness and guilt and saw God killing the first lamb to symbolize the spotless blood shed for them. He felt Cain's blinding anger and Abel's pleading brother's heart. Jesus experienced that first sacrifice of faith Noah made upon leaving the Ark. He felt Abraham's tremendous relief as his hand was stayed from offering his covenant son, Isaac, and Jesus saw the ram caught in the thicket laid on the altar and sacrificed instead. One thousand years of animals laid on altars, the blood spattering down, the human heart, if still soft, broken by this death caused by one's own choices and habits. One thousand years of Days of Atonement and the High Priest pleading in the Most Holy Place. One thousand years pointing to this moment of hope and victory.
Jesus cries out, "It is finished: it is finished in Me". No more innocent animals killed. No more waiting for someone to obey God perfectly and show that it was possible. Jesus was tempted in all points as we are and so much more, even on the Cross fending off demon thoughts, and obedient even unto death on the Cross (Phil. 2:8 KJV). The perfect robe of righteous obedience with which He covers us, all finished in that moment on the Cross. Satan's last barb of accusation against God and against us thrust through Jesus into the Cross, his stinger left there stuck like a scorpion's or bee's stinger left in the flesh. "It is finished" - Satan has lost his stinger, lost his ability to stick, lost his ability to hurt through temptation and death (1 Cor. 15:55 KJV). Jesus felt sin destroying Himself, and by submitting to His Father's will and letting that happen He destroyed both the penalty and grip of sin. It is finished. The curtain tore from top to bottom. We can run directly to Jesus, ask for His robe of purity, claim His victory, be free from the power and curse of sin forever.
Thanks for sharing this, i understand better and correctly. God bless 🙏🏻
"It is finished!" "It's better the end of things than the beginning of them." The heavy and every-minute work of Him, Who was fighting His human nature and all the dark powers of this fallen planet, got to the end! Job accomplished, "It is finished" by Jesus on the cross represents the Universe's most important goal ever achieved! Jesus completed the promise of His first coming; thus, now, we can rest in the hope of His second.
When Christ cried from the cross, “It is finished,” He was not only declaring that His suffering had ended but, more significantly, that He had achieved victory in the great cosmic battle against Satan and his angels.
However, "It is finished" does not imply that Christ's work for humanity's salvation is complete, as many Christians believe. Now in Heaven, Christ is applying the benefits of His earthly accomplishment. We must cooperate with Him for His victory to become a reality in our lives. The devil cannot prevent this, unless we allow him to.
Is the war finished?
Yes, mission of Christ was finished.
Yes, the way for our salvation was finished.
Yes, the need for sacrifices that pointed to Christ taking on humanity an dying for our sins once and for all was finished.
No, the war still goes on and won't be stopped until Satan is chained to this earth without anyone to tempt.
And then one last conflict when the Holy City decends to the Earth.
I was once many years ago in a Sabbath School the question was asked if the war had finished, and I answered yes. Unbeknownst to me, they were talking about the battle between us and Satan and the final conflict after the thousand years.
So it is not finished for us. However, We need not be concerned if we are garnering a relationship with Christ because Christ has won the battle for us. Salvation is ours if we hold on. God won't let us slip through His fingers, if we so chose and take action by grasping His hand unto death.
John 3:16, John 3:17, John 3:36, John 10:10, John 14:6, John 17:3, 1 Timothy 6:11-14,
1 Timothy 6:19-21.
"It is finished," tells me that what Paul wrote in Hebrews 9:27,28 was accomplished by Jesus for "All Humanity" and also "me," for even though in verse 28 there it says that "...Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many," Hebrews 10:10 clarifies that Jesus bore the sins, "Once for all." And through that sacrifice, God makes it possible to also "Sanctify" all who will live daily with this new "Life in Jesus Christ."
When Jesus said,"I thirst" and received the vinegar on the sponge, was this a testament to His being human?
It is finished, I'm no longer a slave to sin
John 17:25-26 (NIV)
"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Can Grace and Mercy spring forth from anything other than love? The Sanhedrin rejected both the Messenger and His message because they could not hear His voice —the voice of mercy and grace — expressing God’s boundless love for mankind. Yet, through these unfolding events, God’s new covenant would be established, offering salvation by Faith through His Grace. This covenant was to be rooted in the perfect Love and Faith shared between the Father, the Son, and those whom Christ came to save.
It was the Roman custom to strip the crucified of all dignity, leaving them exposed and humiliated. The religious rulers, too, did everything within their power to diminish Jesus’ honor. Yet, He declared with finality, “It is finished!” This proclamation marked not only the end of mankind’s search to understand who God is but also the beginning of a new journey for believers — a life empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk the 'New Way by Faith'. What began as a regional religious conflict transformed into a world-changing, spiritual event for all humanity.
Indeed, mankind’s search for Truth finds its culmination in Jesus Christ, who revealed the very essence of I AM. Jesus faithfully completed the work the Father had entrusted to Him by making disciples of those given to Him. He prayed for their sanctification, saying:
"Sanctify them by the Truth; your Word is Truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” — John 17:6-26 (NIV)
Thanks for Truth simply and beautifully presented. Praise the Lord!
He died for me; I needed His death for my sin.
The work Jesus was sent to do by his father was finished when he was crucified on the cross.so we are free because he died. as christians we owe him a lot