It is Finished
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· 6 viewsThe sixth last saying of Christ as He hung on the cross.
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It is Finished
It is Finished
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
In order to grasp a clear understanding of the importance of this proclamation “It is finished”, we have to look at this statement in the Greek language.
In order to grasp a clear understanding of the importance of this proclamation “It is finished”, we have to look at this statement in the Greek language.
In the Greek language “It is finished” is the word “Tetelestai”.
Tetelestai means:
The work has been completed,
I have finished the job you have required of me,
Tetelestai was a common word that was understood by everyone in that time.
When dinner was finished the wife would say “Tetelestai”
When building something the craftsman would say “Tetelestai.”
The reason we have to dive into the Greek language to get a clear understanding of this proclamation of Christ is because Jesus speaks in the perfect tense, which is very rare in the New Testament and has no English equivalent.
The reason we have to dive into the Greek language to get a clear understanding of this proclamation of Christ is because Jesus speaks in the perfect tense, which is very rare in the New Testament and has no English equivalent.
The perfect tense is a combination of two Greek tenses: the Present tense, and the Aorist tense.
The AORIST tense always conveys a single, discreet action (i.e. simple aspect). This is the most common tense for referring to action in the past
The PRESENT tense is a verb tense that describes a current activity or state of being.
The Present tense is linear: meaning something that continues on into the future and has ongoing results and implications.
The combination of these two tenses in the perfect tense as used in John 19:30 is of overwhelming significance to the Christian. When Jesus says “It is finished” (Tetelestai) what he was actually saying is “It is finished and will continue to be finished”.
The combination of these two tenses in the perfect tense as used in John 19:30 is of overwhelming significance to the Christian. When Jesus says “It is finished” (Tetelestai) what he was actually saying is “It is finished and will continue to be finished”.
Too many of us look at this verse of scripture and don’t understand the POWER of this statement!
Too many of us look at this verse and have a vision of a broke, wounded and battered God-man on the cross who’s purpose had come to a close and the end.
Too many of us only see this verse of scripture purely in the AORIST sense
No more beatings, no more suffering, no more physical suffering, yet while these things may be true, that is only one aspect of His statement of “Tetelestai”.
When we only see this verse from this perspective we can sometimes misunderstand this statement as being one of defeat!
When we only see this verse from this perspective we can sometimes misunderstand this statement as being one of defeat!
When we begin to look at these words of our risen savior from the PRESENT tense we begin to understand that His cry of TETELESTAI was not a cry of defeat, but rather a triumphant cry of VICTORY!
When we begin to look at these words of our risen savior from the PRESENT tense we begin to understand that His cry of TETELESTAI was not a cry of defeat, but rather a triumphant cry of VICTORY!
When we see these words in the present tense we begin to understand that Christ was proclaiming to all humanity, hell and the heavens that the work that My Father has sent me to do is TETELESTAI! . . .Completed.
When we truly understand these words of our Savior, we understand that there’s a big difference between “It is Finished” and “I am Finished”!
He never said “I am Finished”!
He never said “I am Finished”!
You see because if those words “It is finished” meant “I am Finished”, then He wouldn’t have rose again from the grave on that third day!
If those words “It is finished” meant “I am Finished”, then He wouldn’t sit at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us!
If those words “It is finished” meant “I am Finished”, then He wouldn’t still be at work, being our Healer, provider, strength, healer, or a very present help in our times of need.
If those words “It is finished” meant “I am Finished”, then we couldn’t call on Him in faith knowing that not only does He hear us, but that we can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us!! . . . . . . . .Hallelujia!
When Christ said “Tetelestai” He left nothing to be done! There was nothing left to be added to His work on earth while in His physical body!
When Christ said “Tetelestai” He left nothing to be done! There was nothing left to be added to His work on earth while in His physical body!
I say that meaning that there is nothing that we can do to add to His work on the cross!
There is no work that we can do to be more saved!
We don’t work to be saved, Jesus said “Tetelestai”, we work because we’re saved! TETELESTAI!
We don’t give unto God to be saved, we give unto God because we’re saved, TETELESTAI!
When we understand Christ’s proclamation of “Tetelestai”, we understand that He was telling us that in the present tense “You are Complete, because of my Tetelestai!”
When we understand Christ’s proclamation of “Tetelestai”, we understand that He was telling us that in the present tense “You are Complete, because of my Tetelestai!”
When we understand Christ’s proclamation of “Tetelestai”, We understand that because of Him completing the works of He who sent Him, we can Philippians 1:6 “6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” !!
When we understand Christ’s proclamation of “Tetelestai”, We understand that because of Him completing the works of He who sent Him, we can Philippians 1:6 “6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” !!
When we understand Christ’s proclamation of “Tetelestai”, We understand that Jesus proclaiming “Tetelestai”, means that though in Ezekiel 22:30 When God said . . .“30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
When we understand Christ’s proclamation of “Tetelestai”, We understand that Jesus proclaiming “Tetelestai”, means that though in Ezekiel 22:30 When God said . . .“30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
But most importantly we know and understand that what was finished was that His outstretched arms on that cross was and still is today the "Bridge between the GAP” that has now and will allow us to walk from eternal condemnation and death for the penalty of sin to eternal and everlasting life in the Kingdom of God!
But most importantly we know and understand that what was finished was that His outstretched arms on that cross was and still is today the "Bridge between the GAP” that has now and will allow us to walk from eternal condemnation and death for the penalty of sin to eternal and everlasting life in the Kingdom of God!