Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. As we gather together under the warm embrace of His love, let us remember that we are not merely attendees, but active participants in the wonderful story of God's redemption.

Today, we are turning our hearts and minds to a Scripture that is both a climax and a beginning, a moment of profound sorrow and immense joy. It is found in John's Gospel, chapter 19, verse 30. It reads:

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And He bowed His head and [voluntarily] gave up His spirit.'

What a powerful moment! The Son of God, hanging on a cross, declares with His last breath, 'It is finished!' But what did Jesus mean? What was finished? And what does it mean for us today?

Sacrifice Significance

When we think about the cross, we often focus on the physical pain and suffering that Jesus endured. The nails driven into His hands and feet, the crown of thorns pressed into His brow, the spear thrust into His side. But the physical pain was only a part of what Jesus experienced on the cross. He also bore the weight of our sins, taking upon Himself the punishment that we deserved. This was the true significance of His sacrifice.

The cross was not just a place of physical suffering, but a place of spiritual transaction. On the cross, Jesus took our place. He became our substitute, bearing our sins and suffering the punishment that we deserved. This is what theologians often refer to as the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. It's a big term, but it simply means that Jesus took our place on the cross. He bore our sins and suffered the punishment that we deserved.

But why was this necessary? Why couldn't God simply forgive our sins without requiring a sacrifice? The answer lies in the nature of God Himself. God is holy and just. He cannot simply overlook sin or pretend that it doesn't exist. Sin must be punished. But God is also loving and merciful. He doesn't want us to bear the punishment for our sins. So, in His great love and mercy, He provided a way for our sins to be punished without us having to bear the punishment ourselves. That way was through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

When Jesus cried out, 'It is finished,' He was declaring that the work of redemption was complete. The debt of sin had been paid in full. There was nothing more that needed to be done. The sacrifice was complete. This is the significance of Jesus' sacrifice. It was a complete and perfect sacrifice that fully satisfied the demands of God's justice. But the significance of Jesus' sacrifice goes even further.

Not only did Jesus pay the penalty for our sins, but He also secured for us a right standing with God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are now justified in God's sight. This means that we are declared righteous, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus has done for us. This is what the Apostle Paul means when he says in Romans 5:1, 'Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.'

The cross also signifies the depth of God's love for us. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8, 'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' The cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love. It shows us that God loves us so much that He was willing to give His only Son for us. This is the significance of Jesus' sacrifice. It is a demonstration of God's love.

Finally, the cross signifies our reconciliation with God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are no longer enemies of God, but His children. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:10, 'For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!' The cross is the means by which we are reconciled to God. It is the bridge that spans the chasm of sin that separates us from God.

Surrendering Self

As we continue to reflect on the words of Jesus, 'It is finished,' we are drawn into the reality of what it means to surrender our self-will to God's will ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO