Finished Work Of God Series

There is such satisfaction in completing a task. In finishing a marathon. Like when I finished running the up Comrades 90km race. I lay on the grass on my back after the finish line holding my medal in my hand, tears running out of my eyes and I said to myself that nothing ever in my life would be more difficult than the Comrades.

When I finished school and got my matric certificate, I was so relieved. Then when my military service was over. I remember walking out of the military base and looking back at the big blue gates knowing I will never ever have to go back there again. It was such a joy.

I have completed a number of large projects and other smaller tasks. There is always fulfillment in finishing something you have started and not much joy if it is not completed.

There was a day Jesus said, “It is finished”

John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The Greek translation of the word Tetelestai means "to bring to an end, to complete, to accomplish." As I said in my introduction the word finished is a word you use when you have completed a running race or completed your work or a project you have tackled. Some say it means to have paid in full. You bought a car on loan and now you have paid the final payment.

The word finished is Tetelestai, it is written in the perfect tense in Hebrew. Which says "This happened but it is still in effect into the future. The meaning of It is finished, is to make restitution. So, in the Jewish mind, this word also brings up the thought of paying or making restitution, to restore or make peace, to make whole.

So what Jesus was saying is that His suffering work was complete. The cross was God’s will prophesied by the prophets and is now fulfilled.

If we declare that this is the finished work of Jesus, we stop at the cross and we declare defeat and not victory. There is no “finished work” at the cross!

1 Corinthians 15:14-17 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates a powerful God in whom we believe. God created all things and therefore God has power over all things including death. He has the power to raise the dead. Only God can remove the sting of death and gain victory over the grave

Acts 13:32-34 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

‘You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.’

34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:

So, continuing from the death on the cross is the resurrection which is also a prophecy fulfilled by the prophets. Another powerful Tetelestai. Jesus would not see corruption. His body did not decompose and returned to dust like David’s. It is in His death and in His resurrection that we are forgiven and justified.

Jesus’ “finished work” still did not end at the resurrection. Then came the ascension of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:12-24 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.