It is Finished: John 19:30

Of the seven sayings of our Lord on the cross, "It is finished" is perhaps one of the pithiest sayings of all time.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ has been viewed by all sorts, from a number of different perspectives. There were the anti-Semites who liked to blame his death on the Jews. In the early years of the 20th century, we had the liberal Protestants, who liked to see it as a noble but unfortunate event, for in their mind, this was the end of a great man called Jesus of Nazareth.

We have the modern day Arians, who deny the Deity of Christ, and view the cross as an example of personal sacrifice and nothing more (Jehovah's Witnesses). Then there were the Pharisees of the 1st century who viewed his death and said in their hearts,"good riddance".

Every Good Friday, we are reminded of this event. We do well to consider what our Lord had in mind when he uttered these words. The Scriptures clearly state that the wages of sin is death, the soul that sins shall surely die. Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. Anyone who has read his Bible would know that this (death on a tree) was the death of a sinner.

Jesus spoke these words after 3 hours of darkness and just prior to his "committing his spirit into his Father's hands". What really went on for those 3 hours in the dark? What was finished? Who was Jesus speaking to? What did he mean by this?

As the sin bearer of the people whom the Father had given to him, He took their judgment upon himself. Here is exactly what was finished: a life of perfect obedience to the Law of God and the will of his Father, the redemption or purchase of his people, the propitiation or turning away of God's wrath toward his people, the reconciliation of a broken relationship between God and his people, the guarantee of a complete salvation of his people, from regeneration to glory and everything in between.

The words "it is finished" were not the words of an unfortunate victim. These were not the words of some poor man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is not the language of an exhausted, defeated man who made an attempt to be a good example to his followers.

This was a cry of victory. These are the words of triumph, the expression of one who has victoriously completed his reason for coming to earth.

Moreover, these were not the words of a frustrated man to his onlookers. These words of victory were addressed to his Father. These are the words of a man in complete control of his life, and in complete control of his death. "No man takes my life, I lay it down of my own accord."

These words were not an exclamation of self pity, but were God centered. He came to do the Father's will, and it is now finished. But, it is not finished for everyone, only for those who receive Him by faith. As one human to another, I ask you: is it finished for you? Have you rested by faith on what Christ has accomplished for sinners?

by John Roberts