Go! And… Live in the Power of “It Is Finished!” - John 19:30
John 19:30 – New Living Translation
Introduction: The Cry That Changed Everything
John 19:30 (NLT): “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.”
Church, imagine for a moment the weight of those words: “It is finished!” In Greek, it is one single, explosive word: ?et??esta? (Tetelestai). A word that echoes through eternity, a word that speaks of victory, not defeat. It was not a whisper of surrender—it was a shout of triumph!
This cry was not a sigh of relief from a man at the end of his strength; it was the royal declaration of the King of kings, proclaiming that the mission was complete, the debt paid, the way made open for sinners to be reconciled to God.
1. The Completion of the Mission (John 19:30)
The Greek word Tetelestai means “it has been accomplished, paid in full, brought to its intended goal.” In the marketplace of the ancient world, it was stamped on receipts to declare, “Paid in full.” On the battlefield, it was the victory cry: “The mission is accomplished!”
From the very beginning of Scripture, God promised a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15). Every prophecy, every sacrifice, every shadow in the Old Testament pointed to this moment. Christ’s cry of “It is finished!” means the plan of redemption that began in Eden reached its climax at Calvary.
Charles Stanley once said, “The cross is the perfect, complete, and final payment for sin. There is nothing you can add to it and nothing you can take away from it.”
This is so true—many in our day think salvation is a ladder they must climb, a list they must tick, or a weight they must carry. But Christ’s cry demolishes all human striving. We cannot add to a finished work.
How many of us live as if the work is still unfinished? We strive for acceptance. We punish ourselves for sins already forgiven. But church, the gospel is not “try harder”—it is “trust fully.” When Jesus said Tetelestai, He declared your sin debt cancelled—past, present, and future.
2. The Fulfilment of Prophecy (Luke 24:44–47)
Luke 24:44–47 (NLT): “Then he said, ‘When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, ‘Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.”’”
The cross was not an accident. It was the centrepiece of God’s plan from eternity past. Over 300 prophecies foretold the Messiah’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Isaiah wrote of Him being pierced (Isaiah 53:5). Psalm 22 describes the very crucifixion scene centuries before crucifixion even existed as a method of execution.
John Piper wrote, “The wisdom of God designed a plan for our salvation that would magnify His grace forever. The cross is that plan revealed.”
The fulfilment of prophecy magnifies the sovereignty of God and the reliability of His Word.
In an age of uncertainty—political unrest, moral confusion, personal suffering—we can anchor ourselves in this truth: God keeps His Word. The cross proves it. And if He fulfilled every promise in Christ’s first coming, He will keep every promise about His return.
3. The Payment for Sin (Colossians 2:13–14)
Colossians 2:13–14 (NLT): “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
Sin is a debt. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…” The law stood as a record of our failure. But on the cross, Jesus paid it all. The word Tetelestai was written across our spiritual debt ledger—Paid in full.
Max Lucado beautifully said, “The cross is the crowbar God used to pry open the doors of heaven.”
That means nothing now stands between you and God—no unpaid debt, no hidden guilt, no lingering shame—if you are in Christ.
Picture a prisoner on death row, the execution hour approaching. Suddenly the warden walks in, tearing up the death warrant: “The debt has been paid. You are free to go.” That’s the gospel! Christ did not just cancel your sentence—He took your place!
4. The Invitation to Believe (John 3:16–17)
John 3:16–17 (NLT): “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
The finished work demands a response. The cross does not save everyone automatically; it saves those who repent and believe.
R.T. Kendall said, “Faith is not believing in spite of the evidence; it is obeying in spite of the consequence.”
True belief is not passive—it turns from sin, embraces Christ, and follows Him as Lord.
In the 21st Century, people believe in many “saviours”: careers, relationships, good deeds, even religion itself. But only one Saviour died and rose again. Only one declared, “It is finished!”
The Gospel Call: Christ’s Death, Burial, and Resurrection
At Calvary, Jesus bore the wrath you deserved. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. On the third day, He rose again, proving that the payment was accepted and death defeated.
Romans 10:9 (NLT) says, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The Bridge Across the Chasm
Imagine standing on one side of a great canyon, with God’s holiness on the other side. The canyon is sin, and no human effort can bridge it—good works, religion, philosophy all fall short. But at the cross, Christ laid Himself down as the bridge. Tetelestai—the way is made open. The only question: will you step onto that bridge by faith?
5. The Call to Live in the Finished Work (Hebrews 12:1–2)
Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT): “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.”
The cross is not just the starting point—it is the sustaining power for daily life. We do not run to earn God’s love; we run because His love has already been poured out at Calvary.
Tim Keller wrote, “The gospel is not just the ABC of the Christian life; it is the A to Z. We never get beyond the cross, only deeper into it.”
The same Tetelestai that saved you empowers you to forgive others, to resist sin, to live boldly.
Are you carrying guilt Christ has already paid for? Are you striving for approval He has already secured? Lay it down. Live free. Go and tell the world: “It is finished!”
Call to Action:
For believers: Stop living like the cross was incomplete. Rest in Christ’s finished work. Forgive freely. Serve boldly. Share courageously.
For seekers or the undecided: Today is the day of salvation. Repent. Believe. Receive the gift that cost Jesus everything but is offered to you freely.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you have never trusted Jesus as Saviour, this is your moment. He cried Tetelestai for you. Will you come? Pray in your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I believe You paid my debt on the cross, that You died for my sins, were buried, and rose again. I turn from my sin and trust You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for finishing the work for me. Amen.”
Benediction / Exhortation:
Go this week not as people striving to earn God’s love, but as those resting in a finished, perfect salvation. May the words of Christ, “It is finished!” echo in your heart when the enemy accuses you, when doubt whispers, when sin tempts. The cross speaks a louder word: Paid in full.
