It Is Finished
Notes
Transcript
I’ve titled the message today, “It Is Finished.” Clearly I’m borrowing the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. There in the crucifixion scene, Jesus is up on the cross and we read:
John 19:28 (ESV)
After this, Jesus, knowing that ALL WAS NOW FINISHED, …
What was finished?
Let’s take a quick run through the Gospels:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
And perhaps more relevant since it comes from John’s Gospel where we started:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
John 18:37 (ESV)
For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets,
Calling sinners to repentance,
not condemning but saving,
doing the will of God who sent him,
shining a light,
bearing witness to the truth
… this was Jesus’ task. This was his mission. By John’s Gospel and Jesus’ own words on the cross, all of this was finished.
So, now as we get to chapter 10 of our Epistle of Hebrews we read:
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
As we read this verse, let’s break it down.
Hebrews 10:1 (ESV)
For since THE LAW HAS BUT A SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME INSTEAD OF THE TRUE FORM OF THESE REALITIES, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
The Law is a mere shadow.
Let’s face it, we like rules. We like knowing exactly what is expected of us. We like “job descriptions.” Well mostly,…there’s always that phrase “and other duties as assigned.” We like having a standard to which to compare ourselves and dare I say, compare others.
We seem to be pre-programmed to want to attain to a works based faith. We want to prove ourselves worthy of God’s love, and if we can’t make it on our own, then we start comparing ourselves to others and say, “Well, at least I’m not like ‘so-and so’.”
But the latter part of this verse gives those who hold to a works based faith a dose of reality:
Hebrews 10:1 (ESV)
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, IT CAN NEVER, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, MAKE PERFECT THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR.
The Law cannot make you perfect. That was never the laws purpose. There was the Law and as you compared yourself to the Law you recognized your short comings and offered a sacrifice. Verse 3
But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
The sacrifices were a reminder, they were a reminder for the people to once again consider their relationship to God. The Law was not meant to be held up as something to be worshipped but a signpost directing us back to a relationship with God.
And then, there’s this stunner (for those who relied on these transactions somehow cleansing them of their guilt), He 10:4
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
I can see the hearers of this letter nodding along, and then this statement wakes them up. Wait! What?! You mean I’m still stuck in my sin?
But all those sacrifices cost me a lot — your sin costs you more.
I made all the offerings according to the law — it’s not about the law, it’s about relationship.
I brought the offering every year — and then you turned your back the rest of the time.
This entire epistle continuously calls us back to our relationship with God. Early on we saw all those “Therefore” passages lifting up Jesus higher and higher. Just as the author exalts the person of Jesus, the Christ. He also warns the readers from turning away from Him.
Why? The author of Hebrews is once again calling the readers back to relationship with their Creator God. This is what the all the Law and the prophets was all about.
The author quotes Jesus quoting Psalm 40, vs. 6-8 in the following verses:
Hebrews 10:5–7 (ESV)
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”
Our author writes: He 10:9-10
then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The new order is established in Christ, the new covenant through His blood, through His offering.
1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might BRING US TO GOD, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
What we are seeing throughout the Bible is in essence an incredible invitation. It’s an invitation to return to the relationship that was at the beginning. Living in the very presence of God.
Living in the love, acceptance and forgiveness that is offered by God. The author returns to quoting from Jeremiah as he did in chapter 8, he writes:
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
Now when we read this, we think of the law again, right? The writing of God’s law on the hearts and minds is not to make us guilt ridden and feeling less than. The Law does what it always did in directing us back to God.
then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Did you hear that? Do you see that? The author quotes God from the prophet Jeremiah 31:34, the end of that verse. The sins are remembered no more.
What does that mean? He 10:18
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
There is no reason for the readers to make offerings or sacrifices anymore. The one sacrifice has been made in Christ and for the purpose of bringing us to God.
There is a love, acceptance and forgiveness in Christ that we so often overlook. It is in our nature to want the rules, to want the guidelines so that we can know whether we measure up. Unfortunately the rules too often become how we measure others instead of reflecting on our selves.
As we look at those opening chapters of our Bibles we read of God’s simple instruction to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet it was so tempting, to know good and evil! Yet that would mean we would know evil. Since our eyes were opened we knew good, we knew evil, we knew our vulnerability, we knew shame, and we not only hid from God we hid from one another.
When our sin is revealed we’re quick to deflect the accusation to someone else. Adam deflected to Eve, and ultimately putting the blame on God for his indiscretion. God comes walking in the garden and calls for Adam.
He wanted a way to show himself guiltless - but none was to be found. So it seems he reasoned that if he could show himself less guilty than Eve, or even show God as being at fault. In other words where there once was innocence and openness, now there is hiding, accusations, and judgment. And it’s to be noted that its the man, not God, making the first judgment.
He recognizes he’s naked, He recognizes he’s vulnerable. He judges Eve - it’s her fault.
Where’s the love in that? Where’s the acceptance? Where’s the forgiveness? Yet God comes. It is God who comes looking for the humans created.
It’s God who comes not as the accuser, but as the one who calls and invites us to continue in relationship.
It is God who helps them face what they’ve done.
It’s God who covers their shame by offering that first sacrifice and clothing them.
It is God who continues the relationship.
But humanity, we’re a fickle lot. Throughout the Old Testament we are given all sorts of signposts pointing us back to our relationship with God. Yet throughout we see how easy it is for us to continue to try and be in that judgment seat - casting blame, deflecting responsibility, seeking to paint ourselves in the rosy glow of innocence while knowing of our guilt. When we don’t succeed we default to the comparison game, judging others. At least we’re not as bad as…
When I was in seminary as part of an assignment I attended a large AA meeting. There were more than 100 people there, I’m guessing. But one image stands out to me. In the row in front of me and to my right were two men: One, a well dressed man, three pieced suit, polished shoes, well groomed hair. By all outward appearances, “he had it together.” The other man appearing the exact opposite, his hair sticking out from under a well worn and stained baseball cap, collared golf shirt half-tucked and stained, worn jeans and shoes with holes. They casually greeted one another, sat down together, and the well dressed man offered the other a cigarette. Together they smoked, talked, laughed. There didn’t seem to be any judgment between them. There was clearly and open acceptance of the other. I remember writing in my paper about the experience, “This is what church should be like.” Their past made no difference. They were where they were, both on a journey.
We’re on a journey. Often we hold on to our past and it holds us back. The accuser reminds us of past sins, of not living up to God’s commands, of hurting people in our past, of failing. It haunts us.
The message of Christ is not one of the past, it’s one of the present and the future. You are seen in your best light.
The price has been paid, the sacrifice has been made - once for all - to bring you to God.
Folks, it has always been about relationship, and it remains so today. Do you have a relationship with God? Or is your faith a bunch of rules to follow.
God is calling you to a relationship. Talk with him. Read his letter to you. Admit you’re not the person you wish you were. BE honest and work on yourself while drawing into God.
God loves you. God loved you in the past. God loves you now. God loves you in the future. God loves you.