It Is Finished

“When Jesus received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished,’ and He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.” (John 19:30)

With the utterance of these words, the earth shook, the dead were raised, and the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom opening the way to the holy of holies. It is finished! All the work that He had set out to do was finally and fully finished. He passed the test of perfect, flawless obedience to His Father, all the way to death. He cancelled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:14). He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame (Col. 2:15). He justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood to be received by faith (Romans 3:24-25a). He ransomed His people from their futile ways by His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). While we were enemies (of God), we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Romans 5:10a). Ransomed. Redeemed. Reconciled. Righteous. Justified. Forgiven. It is finished!

With these beautiful words uttered from the lips of our Savior as He hung on the cross, we see the faithful God who always completes all that He says He will do. What He has said in His Word, all that He has promised, He WILL accomplish.  “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb...who confirms the word of His Servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers.” (Isaiah 44:24 & 26) “Remember this and stand firm...for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish ALL my purpose...I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:8-11) The words “It is finished” are evidence of  God’s faithfulness and the extent to which He is willing to go to bring about His purposes.

What a sure and steady anchor for our souls in the midst of such dark and troubling times. “It is finished” reminds us to hold fast to the hope that is set before us. There is more in God’s Word that He has promised us and we are waiting with great anticipation for our faithful God to fulfill His Word.

He has said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though He die, yet shall He live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)
           I believe Lord, help my unbelief!

He has said in His Word: “I am sure of this that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
           I believe Lord, help my unbelief!

He has said in His Word: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth...and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, Nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
          I believe Lord, help my unbelief!

“And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write this down for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And He said to me - ‘IT IS DONE! I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end!’” (Revelation 21:5-6a)

It is indeed finished! Amen. Come Lord Jesus!