It Is Finished-Into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit Series

IT IS FINISHED-INTO THY HANDS

TEXT- John 19:30 & Luke 23:44-49

Introduction

The date was may 10th, 1869. That was the day the first Intercontinental Railroad in the world was finished; and it here in the USA. About 6 years earlier, the Central Pacific RR set toward the east-from Sacramento, California. Some time a little later, the Union Pacific RR began to build west from Omaha, Nebraska. They were going to meet somewhere in the middle and tie this nation-east and west-together

They had unbelievable difficulties as they build through rough terrain-crossing the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. They had to work through every kind of weather, but, in about 6 years the 2 RR’s met in northern Utah..

The officials of both Errs were present for the driving of the last spike, which happened to be a golden spike. The newspaper headlines across this country read: “IT IS FINISHED, EAST AND WEST TIED TOGETHER!”

It was a far greater day when Jesus Christ said- from the cross on Calvary-“IT IS FINISHED.”

Sermon

During His crucifixion on a roman Cross between two thieves, Jesus made 7 statements. As He looked down upon the people responsible for putting Him to death, He made His 1st statement as a Prayer, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.”

His 2nd statement involved one of the thieves being crucified with Him, and Jesus said to Him, “TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”

Then Jesus looked upon His Mother standing near the cross and gave her into the care of John, “saying, “WOMEN, BEHOLD YOUR SON.” And to John, He said, “BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER.”

Darkness fail on the face of the Earth from noon until 3:oo on the afternoon Jesus was crucified. Out of the darkness His voice cried, “MY GOD,MY GOD. WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?”

The next statement demonstrated His humanity, when our Lord said, “I THRIST.”

Then came His last two statements, “IT IS FINISHED” and, “FATHER, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.”

Jesus had lived in this world for about 33 years, he had done His Father’s will and had performed that will perfectly. He had finished the work that God had given Him to do. And-as He was crucified-He bowed His head upon a burdened bosom and said, “ IT IS FINISHED.”

What did He mean? What was finished?

TETELESTAI—WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

These three English words, It is Finished, are actually one Greek word. It means “it is finished-it is accomplished-it is completed-the work is done! It was not a cry of defeat, but it was a shout of victory! Tetelestai means it is finished-it stands finished-it will always be finished.

In the every day language and customs of the Greeks it meant:

1. To the Servant-when the job was completed, the servant would say to the master-TETELESTAI-meaning, “I have completed the job you gave me to do. I did it-I won-I overcame…And the master will say to the servant- “well done….”

2. To the Priest-The Jewish people would bring their sacrifice to be offered-After the High Priest had examined and accepted it, he would say-TETELESTAI-meaning “it is perfect. It is acceptable.”

3. To the Merchant-The debt has been fully paid. When you purchase something, the merchant would take your money and hand you a receipt. TETELESTAI-Paid in full.

4. To the Artist—When an Artist would complete a work, he would step back and say-TETELESTAI- it is finished. The picture is completed and it is excellent work. When Jesus came, He completed the Old Testament picture of the Christ to come. He completed the shadow and turned the light on it.

THE PROPHECY IS FULFILLED

At the cross of Christ, as He said, “It is finished.”-the prophecies of the OT that pointed to this very event were fulfilled. The cross of Jesus was in keeping with the eternal plan of God. Acts 2:23 tells us that it “was according to the determined counsel of God.”

Revelation 13:6-8 tells us that the cross of Christ showed the lamb slain-even from the very foundation of the world. Everything had moved toward this event. The OT prophets looked forward to and predicted the crucifixion of Jesus.

At the fall of man in Genesis 3;15, God spoke to the serpent-and I believe this serpent was Satan. God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel.”

God was saying: “The world needs a redeemer.”

God was saying, “A redeemer will come.”

And God was saying, “a redeemer that will come wail be of the human family.” It is the seed of woman.”

Finally, the promise of Genesis 3:15 says that the redeemer will be victorious.

Jesus was not defeated-Jesus was not destroyed-Rather than that being the result, Jesus instead dwelt a deathblow to Satan. Genesis 3:15 pointed directly to the cross of Christ.