"When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished,' and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:30 ESV)
"It is finished." Three simple words that changed the course of history forever. As Jesus uttered these final words from the cross, He wasn't merely announcing the end of His physical suffering -- He was declaring the completion of God's grand plan of redemption.
In the original Greek, Jesus used the word "tetelestai" -- a term merchants would write across bills to declare "paid in full." When archaeologists uncover ancient receipts from that era, they often find this same word stamped across them. How fitting that Jesus would use this marketplace language to announce that the debt of our sins had been fully paid.
Think about those moments in your life when you've longed for completion -- a difficult project, a strained relationship, a burden of guilt. Jesus' declaration speaks to that universal human yearning for resolution and peace. But His "it is finished" goes infinitely deeper. He wasn't just completing a task; He was fulfilling every prophecy, satisfying divine justice, and bridging the chasm between God and humanity.
On this Good Friday, as we reflect on these words, we're invited to rest in their finality. We don't need to add anything to what Christ has done. We don't need to earn our salvation or prove our worth. The work is complete. The price is paid. The victory is won.
In a world that constantly demands more from us -- more achievement, more proof, more striving -- Jesus' words offer profound relief. The debt we could never pay has been settled. The separation we could never bridge has been spanned. The restoration we could never accomplish has been achieved.
Take a moment today to let these words sink deep into your soul: "It is finished." Whatever burdens you carry, whatever guilt weighs you down, whatever inadequacies plague you -- bring them to the cross. Jesus' final declaration means you can stop striving and start receiving. The work is done. It is finished.
-- SOUND BITES Ministry, compiled from a
variety of sources
#6097
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