Introduction

Good morning, beloved! I am thrilled to be standing here before you today, not as a bearer of my own words, but as a humble servant, bringing forth the divine message from God's inerrant Word. Today, we are going to contemplate the profound depths of the incredible, life-altering words uttered by our Savior on the cross, "It is finished," emphasizing their significance for our redemption.

Our Scripture for today is John 19:30 from the Amplified Bible: "When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And He bowed His head and [voluntarily] gave up His spirit."

These three words, "It is finished," carry an immeasurable weight of meaning that spans the breadth of time and eternity. They speak of the fulfillment of the Scriptures, the finality of Jesus' sacrifice, and the freedom we receive through His release.

In the words of the esteemed Christian preacher Charles Spurgeon, "It is finished; sin is pardoned, and every believer is in Christ provided for. Nothing remains for God or man to do; 'It is finished.'"

As we stand on the precipice of these three profound points, let's not rush past this moment. Let's pause and allow the Holy Spirit to breathe life into our understanding, to illuminate the eternal truths that are wrapped in these three words.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. As we delve into the depths of His final words on the cross, we humbly ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide us, to give us ears to hear and hearts to understand the profound truths they contain. May Your Word not return void but accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

Transition. So, let's approach the foot of the cross together, dear friends. Let's gaze upon our Savior and listen to His words, not as mere observers, but as participants in the divine story of redemption. Let's allow these three words, "It is finished," to resonate within us, transforming our hearts and minds as we grasp the depth of their meaning.

Fulfillment of the Scriptures

When we consider the words "It is finished," we are immediately drawn into the grand narrative of God's redemptive plan as revealed in the Scriptures. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies, types, and shadows that point to the coming Messiah. These aren't just vague predictions or general ideas, but specific, detailed prophecies that only Jesus could fulfill.

Take, for example, the prophecy in Isaiah 53:5. It says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." This prophecy, written hundreds of years before Jesus' birth, perfectly describes the crucifixion. Jesus was indeed pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities on the cross. His punishment brought us peace, and by His wounds, we are healed.

Then there's the prophecy in Psalm 22:16. There is states, "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet." Again, this is a clear reference to the crucifixion, a method of execution that wasn't even invented when the Psalm was written. Yet, it perfectly describes what happened to Jesus on the cross. These are just a couple of examples among many.

The Old Testament is filled with such prophecies, all pointing to Jesus, all fulfilled in Him. When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was declaring that all these prophecies had been fulfilled. Every promise made by God in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah had come to pass.

But it's not just the prophecies that were fulfilled. The entire sacrificial system of the Old Testament was a type and shadow of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. The animals that were sacrificed in the temple could never take away sins; they were merely a symbol, a foreshadowing of the perfect sacrifice that was to come.

When Jesus died on the cross, He became the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His blood, shed on the cross, cleanses us from all sin. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was fulfilled in Jesus.

This is why the curtain in the temple was torn in two when Jesus died. The curtain separated the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelt, from the rest of the temple. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year, to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people.

But when Jesus died, the curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. This was a clear sign that the old system of sacrifices was over. Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient to atone for all sins, once and for all. We no longer need a human priest to offer sacrifices for us; Jesus is our High Priest, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice.

When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was declaring that the old system of sacrifices was finished. The need for animal sacrifices was over. The way to God was now open to all who believe in Jesus. When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was also declaring the fulfillment of His own mission. Jesus came to earth with a specific purpose: to seek and to save the lost.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus was focused on this mission. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and preached the good news of the kingdom of God. But His ultimate mission was to die on the cross for our sins.

When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was declaring that His mission was accomplished. He had done what He came to do. He had given His life as a ransom for many. He had completed the work that His Father had given Him to do.

Transition. So, when we hear the words "It is finished," let's remember all that they entail. They are not just the last words of a dying man. They are a triumphant declaration of the fulfillment of the Scriptures, the completion of Jesus' mission, and the end of the old system of sacrifices. They are words of victory, words of hope, and words of salvation. They are words that changed the course of history and continue to change lives today.

Finality of Jesus' Sacrifice

As we continue to ponder the weight of Jesus' words, "It is finished," we are drawn to the second aspect of this declaration - the finality of His sacrifice ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO