It Is Finished Series

Continue looking at the seven final sayings Jesus made on the cross. As we look in the context of the story of God’s love for us, our need for Him, and his plan to redeem us, we see the heart of the Savior.

So Far >>

“Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34)

The Big Idea: Christ gives us the example of forgiveness.

Today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

The Big Idea: It’s never too late for God’s mercy and grace.

Woman, behold your son. John, here is your mother. (John 19:26-27)

The Big Idea: Christ demonstrates his compassion in the midst of our pain.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:45-46)

The Big Idea: Christ was abandoned so we might be adopted.

“I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

The Big Idea: Christ experienced thirst on the cross so ours might be quenched.

This Week >> The sixth saying of Christ from the cross. Some say this is the most powerful/important …

"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30 NIV

>> Prayer <<

Ever started something and didn’t finish it?

For me > books and projects – It’s always something . . . time / money / boredom / tyranny of the urgent

Can you imagine what it would be like to sit down at the end of the day and say, “Everything I set out to do today got done.”

Can you imagine what it would be like to say at the end of your life, “I’ve completed everything I needed to.”

As we look at the sixth cry of the cross, we see Jesus make this incredible statement, “It is finished.”

At first glance it may not look all that incredible. At first glance it may sound as if he’s just making an obvious statement. But this is more than the statement of a tired, worn-out, beaten man saying, “I give up!” This is not a cry of surrender. Rather it is a cry of triumph.

Let’s look a little deeper at this statement and see if we can come to a better understanding . . .

“It is finished” – Greek > tetelestai – to end, ie. complete, execute, conclude

Tetelestai is in the perfect tense – a completed action with a resulting state of being.

It implies a process but looks upon the process as having reached a consummation and existing in a completed state. It is finished and remains finished. It signifies the successful end to a particular course of action. The action happened in the past, but the results are still effective today.

The word was also used as an accounting term to describe when a debt was paid off --> Paid in Full

It’s the word you use when you pay off your car or your mortgage. It’s the word you use when graduate from college. It’s the word you use when you finish a race. The word means more than “I reached the end.” It means “I did exactly what I set out to do.”

“This was not the despairing cry of a helpless martyr. It was not an expression of satisfaction that the end of His sufferings was now reached. It was not the last gasp of a worn-out life. No, it was the declaration on the part of the Divine Redeemer that all for which He came from heaven to earth to do, was now done; that all which was needful to reveal the glorious character of God had now been accomplished; that everything necessary for the putting away of the sins of His people, providing for them a perfect standing before God, securing for them an eternal inheritance and fitting them for it, had all been done.” ~ A.W. Pink

The Big Idea:

Christ paid my debt in full.

Why tetelestai is significant:

• This didn’t happen by accident or chance – it was the plan all along

At birth > “He will save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:21 NIV

Early ministry > "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."

John 4:34 NIV

End of ministry > “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

John 17:4 NIV

• It put an end to the old system of law and ushered in grace

"He [ended] the system of law with its commandments and regulations." Eph 2:15 NLT

"Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins." Heb. 9:13-14