John 19
Here we are on the last Sunday of 2009. How does it feel to finish the first decade of the twenty-first century? Answer these questions: How WELL did we finish the decade of 2000-2010 (1. as a nation, 2. as a church in this community, 3. as a Christian individually)? It has been nearly ten years since Y2K. We stand today on the cusp of a new decade, about to finish the decade that nationally has ushered in digital television, HDTV, legalized homosexual marriage, “sexting,” and the greatest economic decline since the Great Depression.
As a church in this community, this is a decade that by God’s grace has ushered in a lot of growth. God has blessed us with an increase from an average Sunday morning attendance of 85 to 150. In the early part of this decade we hired Joel Baxley for part time youth and family minister, and when Joel decided to give up that post near the end of this decade, we hired Kendall Harrison for full time youth and family minister. God has blessed us to add on to our physical building which was just finished December 2008. We have read through the entire Bible chronologically in 2007, then, by God’s grace, we helped organize an entire community reading of the Bible in 90 days in 2008. In this year of 2009 the Lord allowed us to help organize a community wide fund raising dinner for Bible in the schools which raised almost $400,000 through gifts, pledges and matching funds. And with God’s help, Howard High school will have Exavious Farley as a full time Bible teacher this next fall. Please pray that we will hire a good full time Bible teacher for our new Signal Mountain High School. Thank the Lord, in some ways we have finished well. On the other hand, in other ways we haven’t. We have some straying sheep from our membership that need to be reclaimed and restored. We have also entered a size where it is easier to let things slip between the cracks and our elders need God’s guidance more than ever as to how to manage our membership, lead us into greater service, and discipline us when we need it. Our very identity as the body of Christ requires that we be faithful to God’s word in these things.
And individually... how would you say that you finished the first decade of 2000? Let’s take a moment to pray about this together:
Heavenly Father, your word tells us to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. You tell us to test ourselves. Today, holy Father, at the end of this decade, we come before your throne asking you to search our hearts, O Lord, and test us and know our anxious thoughts. See if there be any wicked way within us, and lead us in the way everlasting. You know us full well, Father. You know each one of us completely. You know who among us trusts you and seeks you with holy fear and love. Father I pray that you will discipline us in your wisdom according to your word to make us more like Jesus Christ. Cleanse us from sin and lukewarmness. Tear down, overthrow and destroy anything in our lives that we would allow to stand between us and you. Abolish the idols of our hearts and minds. Then, by your grace, build and plant in us that which is most pleasing in your sight. Restore us in the likeness of your holy Son, Jesus. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our Strength and our redeemer! Forgive us for our sins and rescue us from our fleshly desires and temptations. Wash us in the cleansing blood of our Savior and Sacrifice, Jesus Christ. And Father, when the time of our departure comes... may we have lived to FINISH WELL. In Jesus most holy Name. Amen.
John 19:28-30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty."
29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.
30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Jesus said in John 17:4 I have glorified you on earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.
Paul wrote in his last letter to Timothy 2 Tim. 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Finishing well is very important. One of these days every one of us will be finished with this life, every one of us will draw a final breath. It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment. I think we all want a happy ending, don’t we? Stories of people who died after living a godly life serving Jesus Christ are stories with happy endings. I actually enjoy doing those kinds of funerals. Oh, they are often filled with tears, but the tears are sweetened by the assurance of glory that this person who died in Christ now knows. On the other hand, it is miserable doing the funeral for those who lived for themselves and sidelined God. Their funerals are filled with words that are an attempt to comfort and create a semblance of meaningfulness about their lives. Nobody would dare say an unkind word at a funeral. (I thank God I am not the judge, especially at times like that). There’s a sort of obligation in a funeral to emphasize the good and overlook the bad. Most of us have learned: If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all. That’s partly why you can pretty much guarantee that your funeral will be have nice words about you, no matter what your true condition before God is.
But the nice words at the funeral won’t change a thing about how you stand before the judgment seat of Christ. At that time there will be only one thing that counts: are you or are you not in a saved relationship through Jesus Christ. When God opens the book of life... your name had better be there.
There are a few people who stand out in time and history that finished well. But there is one person who finished well and whose words: “It is finished!” stands above all others and has direct application to every person who has or will ever live on planet earth.
Just before Jesus died, he knew all things had already been accomplished. He knew the greatest work of all history was being carried out in his flesh and through his blood as he gave himself up for our sins there on that cruel cross. He knew it! The final word was his to speak. Even his words, “I thirst!” were a fulfillment of scripture. The sour wine he received allowed him to utter his ultimate lasting words as he died.
The gospels give us seven recorded statements of Jesus on the cross:
(Thank-you to Ralph Andrus’ “Finished” April 2008 message, for the sequence and list)
Prayer for his enemies: Luke 23:43
Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.
Salvation to the thief who sought his favor: Luke 23:43
Today, you will be with me in paradise.
Provision for his mother: John 19:26-27
Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.
Separation as he paid for our sins: Mark 15:34
Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthan? (My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?)
Anguish as he suffered: John 19:28
I thirst!
Dedication as he neared the end: Luke 23:46
Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit!
Victory in his final breath: John 19:28
It is finished!
Jesus finished the work the Father sent him here to accomplish. He fully paid for our transgressions and fulfilled all God promised through the prophets. He freed the captives who would follow his leadership and Lordship. Jesus finished the race, founded and formed the church. Jesus supplies forgiveness through his gracious sacrifice. He is the author and perfecter of our faith.
It is finished!
Our redemption is paid in full. Our justification is completely satisfied. Jesus accomplished it all. The door of glory now stands open by the power of Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
It is finished!
The one true Son of God has done it all. He is the one and only way. The one and only truth. The one and only life. There is no other name under heaven given by which we must be saved. Jesus Christ is the only one who could ever finish this for us, and he did.
Let’s stand and sing the song: It is finished!
