Message
John 19:30
It Is Finished
Would you class yourself as a “stayer” or a “quitter”? Many of us can continue for the long haul if we think we are on a winning streak. But I think it is fair to say that many of us have a tendency is to stop before we have crossed the finished line.
If you don’t believe this is true, think about your own life for a moment. Is there
- a partly mowed lawn? - a half-read book?
- an unfinished letter? - an almost finished cross stitch?
- an abandoned diet? - au uncompleted kitchen?
- a car up on blocks?
It can happen to the best of us. Even Michelangelo, who is considered one of the greatest artists of all time, would often begin a project only to abandon it in a fit of anger. Amazingly, when he died he left more unfinished works than ones that were completed.
There are many things in life which can go unfinished. There are many people in this world who have gone to the grave without finishing what they really wanted to do. But Jesus isn’t one of those. Let’s read some passages from Scripture.
John 17:1-5
John 19:28-37
When He had received the drink Jesus said, “It is Finished.”
In the original language the actual word Jesus says is tetelestai … which means it is finished. The word sounds very unfamiliar to us, but in the days of Jesus it was a very common expression.
• A farmer would use it describe an animal so beautiful that it seemed to have no faults. He would look at his lamb and declare, Tetelestai!
• A carpenter, after finishing a perfect piece of furniture would smile and say, Tetelestai!
• An artist, after putting the finishing touches on a canvas would step back and pronounce, Tetelestai!
• A servant would return to his master after faithfully finishing his job and report, Tetelestai!
• And, perhaps most importantly, this was a banking term. When a person would fully pay off his debt, the banker would hand him a receipt with the word Tetelestai stamped on it.
When Jesus cries out tetelestai … it is finished He is proclaiming to the whole world that there is nothing left that needs to be done. That the assignment God gave Him was complete. And that no-one needed to add to His earthly ministry.
That is a very powerful statement to make; isn’t it? Right at this moment Jesus is saying, “I have done all that was necessary to give you a ticket to heaven”.
If Jesus can do what He says He can, then these words become very important for each one of us as we consider our relationship with God. So we are going to have a closer look at these words this morning and ask three questions.
It is finished – But where did it all begin?
Let’s go back to the garden of Eden … to Adam and Eve … and to the beginning of mankind. When we do that we realize how intimately God wants to be involved in our lives.
Think about all the detail God put into place.
The sun, moon and stars.
The trees, fruit, and open meadows.
The peace, tranquillity, and balance.
It was all there right from the beginning. God providing for all our needs, and so much more besides … doing it because He cares for us.
Or think about the responsibilities God gave to Adam and Eve.
You will be the ruler in all creation.
You have almost unlimited access to all the resources of creation.
The joy of filling this world with people and families is yours.
Imagine Adam’s face as God outlines the plan of action. God makes sure man knows how important he is in the overall scheme of things.
Or think about the fact that God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. You can be sure this was not a time of ideal chit-chat about the new spring lambs. This is a picture of intimacy – God showing Adam and Eve that He wanted to be involved in their life and at the centre of their heart. God being the best friend Adam ever knew.
God wanted to be part of our lives right from the very beginning … but as we look around now at the way people treat God we know that something has changed.
Satan did not like the strength of relationship there was between God and man, so Satan tried to break that intimacy by shifting our focus.
In our society we are very familiar with vandalism.
• Signs.
• Trains.
• Buildings.
Vandalism is so destructive because it destroys and covers the item which has been vandalised. Things are made to look second rate.
When Satan came and successfully tempted Adam and Eve this is exactly what he was doing. It was an act of vandalism. And the process was a very clever deception. He got man to look past all that he had … and long for something more. These are the words he used:-
God knows that when you eat of (the fruit) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God …
That’s a pretty powerful incentive isn’t it … you will be like God. But the power of the temptation was not just in what Stan said … it was what he didn’t say.
He didn’t say that there would be no more walks in the evening with God.
He didn’t say that sin would dominate our thoughts.
He didn’t say that we would be on a path to eternal destruction
He didn’t say that we would not naturally follow after God.
He didn’t say that we would regret living in a world that used Satan’s rules.
He didn’t say that our love for God would now be broken.
In two bites of a piece of fruit it all seems lost. God is no longer the king … God is now just one of the options. The greatest act of the Divine Artist has been ruined.
It is tragic.
It has incredible consequences.
But it is not the end.
When Jesus says tetelestai … it is finished … this is the point He has in mind. This is when “It” all started. The point when the relationship between God and man was snapped in two. This is what Jesus wants to fix. These facts bring us to our second question.
It is finished – But what is the purpose of it?
Let’s go back again for a moment and think about the way Jesus says these words.
• He does not say, “I have finished” – right to the end He is a servant. A servant whom God is using to bring us a message of peace and reconciliation.
• He does not say, “Eureka, I have found it” – as if He is on a road to self glorification. Always He keeps His focus on God and on the glory of God.
• He does not say, “I am free” – as though He had escaped from a trap which was unsuccessful in capturing Him.
• He says It is finished. God’s plan has succeeded. There is certainty in the air. There is hope for the spiritually wounded.
All of this means that The work of Jesus on the cross deals with that which keeps us separated from God … namely our sin.
It is this cry which has finished the pathway between us and God. After 33 years of being on this earth Jesus had done all, paid all, performed all and suffered all that was needful to save sinners and satisfy the justice of God.
It is this cry which sees Jesus finish the work of keeping God’s holy law. Not just the moral laws but also the ceremonial and civil laws as well.
Every symbol in the OT was now full of meaning.
Every sacrificial offering now ceased to be necessary.
The full price has been paid and we don’t need to add to it.
Story of the man on a ship who didn’t realise that the fare also covered the food, so he ate biscuits and nearly died of malnutrition. It had all been covered and he didn’t realise.
This is what Jesus has done. Everything is included in the gift-of-eternal-life-through-Jesus package. The cry of Jesus finishes all that was necessary to make the world understand that sin does not have to stand in the way between us and God.
The work of Jesus on the cross lets us clearly know that the way into God’s family is open.
Nothing remains which can stand in the way of God bringing His people home.
The promises of God wanting to be intimately involved are loud and clear.
We can again appreciate our place in the big picture.
As Jesus makes this cry we are being confronted with God’s most powerful act of salvation. An act designed to convince us once and for all that forgiveness still follows failure. When Jesus cries out It is finished this is what has been accomplished.
Which means that Satan’s biggest weapon has now been taken away.
There is a story about a father and son who are travelling in a car. While they were driving a bee flew into the car … which was very serious since the son was extremely allergic to bee stings and could die if stung. So the father reached out and caught the bee. After a little while he let the bee go and it flew around the car.
The son was petrified when she saw the bee … but the father opened his hand and showed his son the stinger from the bee which was still pressing into his skin. The bee may be buzzing around thinking it can do something; but without the stinger it is completely harmless.
Satan does the same. Jesus has taken the sting out of Satan because Jesus has reopened the pathway to God. Tetelestai … it is finished, says Jesus. Satan cannot stand in the way anymore. We can be in God’s family when we trust in Jesus.
My friends … Jesus has done it all.
The history-long plan God bringing us back to Himself is finished.
The message of God to us through Jesus was finished.
The works done by Jesus as a man on earth were finished.
The blood has been poured.
The sacrifice has been made.
There is nothing more to add.
And now we can answer our last question
It is finished – But what does it mean for us?
Since Jesus has finished all the work and done what is necessary for us we don’t need to try and add to it.
A finished work means no additions are necessary.
We don’t have to come up with the rest of the formula.
We don’t need to try and look for a 50-50 arrangement … where you do your part and Jesus does His part.
We don’t need to try and clean ourselves up and make ourselves more presentable before God will even think about having anything to do with us.
Which means that coming into the family of God … and being part of that family … is not measured on performance.
- not what we do … either good or bad.
- not what we have done … either good or bad.
Jesus has done it all.
Since Jesus has finished the work we know that we will be given strength to move forward, even when we are struggling. As we hear Jesus cry on the cross tetelestai … it is finished … we need to recognise that Jesus is also seeking to provide an all of life answer. It isn’t just a matter of waiting to get to heaven. Jesus is giving us support for each and every day. So let me ask you personally.
Are you on the verge of quitting? Quitting on God. Quitting on the family of faith. Quitting from your responsibility … Then let this verse spur you with continued enthusiasm.
Are you discouraged? Discouraged as a parent. Discouraged as a child. Discouraged by the treatment of others … Then let these words give you hope to persevere.
Are you worried about the relationships you are in? Parent-child relationships. Husband-wife relationships. Christian fellowship relationships … Let these words call you to give it another shot.
Do you have trouble resisting temptation? The temptation of freedom. The temptation of greed. The temptation of selfishness … See in this verse a reason to accept God’s forgiveness and have another go.
Is your day merely one disappointment after another? A friend lets you down. Work is a burden. Life is a chore … These words are for your strength.
Are your tomorrows turning into nevers? Where hope is forgotten. And loneliness is your only companion. And fear is your friend … Then let these words give you the strength you need.
Tetelestai. It is finished. In our lives it may well be that we have all sorts of unfinished projects. And, there is a good chance that we will all go to the grave with some unfinished project still to be put into place. But that doesn’t have to be the case for our spiritual lives. When Jesus says tetelestai … it is finished … He means it. Because, through the work of the cross, He came to give us hope for today … hope for the future … and a renewed sense of purpose as we journey with Him in God’s family.
Prayer
