It is finnished

“IT IS FINISHED” — John 19:30

The Sixth Statement from the Cross

Text: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” — John 19:30

INTRODUCTION

Few words in Scripture carry the weight of this single sentence. In Greek, it is just one word: Tetelestai—a cry of victory, not defeat. Not “I am finished,” but “It is finished.”

Charles Spurgeon said:

“In that moment, the battle was fought and the victory won.”

This is not the sigh of a dying martyr. It is the triumphant shout of the Son of God completing the mission the Father gave Him.

The word tetelestai is unfamiliar to us, but it was used by various people in everyday life in those days. A servant would use it when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned to me” (see John 17:4). When an artist completed a picture, or a writer a manuscript, he or she might say, “It is finished!” The death of Jesus on the cross “completes the picture” that God had been painting, the story that He had been writing, for centuries. Because of the cross, we understand the ceremonies and prophecies in the Old Testament.

POINT 1 — THE COMPLETION OF SCRIPTURE

📖 Cross‑references:

— “All things must be fulfilled…”Luke 24:44

— Is a prophetic portrait of the crucifixionPsalm 22

— Is a picture of the suffering servantIsaiah 53:5–6

Jesus’ life was not random. Every step was fulfillment.

There’s no single exact number everyone agrees on, because it depends on what you count as a prophecy and whether you include:

only direct Messianic prophecies

(like Isaac, Passover lamb, bronze serpent)types/shadows

prophecies about His birth only

prophecies about His first coming

prophecies about His toosecond coming

Most common:

fulfilled by Jesus in His (A very common Christian teaching is .)Around 300 propheciesfirst coming 300–333

Some teachers say , depending on how broadly they count Messianic references.over 400

Jesus’ is also prophesied many times—some say there are .second comingeven more verses about His return than His first coming

A good simple answer:

There are about 300 Old Testament prophecies that point to Jesus Christ and were fulfilled in His first coming.

Examples of major prophecies of Jesus:

— Isaiah 7:14Born of a virgin

— Micah 5:2Born in Bethlehem

— Jeremiah 23:5From the line of David

— Zechariah 9:9Entered Jerusalem on a donkey

— Zechariah 11:12–13Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

— Isaiah 53:7Silent before His accusers

— Psalm 22:16Pierced hands and feet

— Isaiah 53:12Crucified with criminals

— Isaiah 53:9Buried with the rich

— Psalm 16:10Raised from the dead

Important note:

Some of the “300+” lists include:

(clear predictions)direct prophecies

(symbolic pictures of Christ)foreshadows/types

So if someone asks, “Exactly how many?” the honest answer is:

The exact number is debated, but a commonly accepted estimate is around 300 Messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus in His first coming.

Illustration: Think of a master craftsman carving a piece of wood. Every cut is intentional. Nothing is wasted. When he steps back and says, “It is finished,” he means the work is perfect. So it was with Christ. Every prophecy, every promise, every shadow in the Old Testament found its fulfillment in Him.

Application: The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories. It is one story—God’s plan of redemption—completed in Christ.

POINT 2 — THE COMPLETION OF THE SACRIFICE

📖 Cross‑references:

— “One sacrifice for sins forever”Hebrews 10:10–12

Heb 10:10-12

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

NIV

— “Behold the Lamb of God…”John 1:29

John 1:29

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

NIV

— “Christ suffered once for sins…”1 Peter 3:18

1 Peter 3:18

18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

NIV

When Jesus cried “It is finished,” He declared that the sacrificial system had reached its goal. No more lambs. No more priests standing daily. The veil was torn (Matthew 27:51), showing that the way to God was now open.

Illustration: In ancient times, when a debt was paid in full, the creditor wrote tetelestaiacross the bill. Jesus stamped that word across the debt of our sin.

Quote: Adrian Rogers said:

“Jesus didn’t make a down payment on your salvation. He paid it all.”

POINT 3 — THE COMPLETION OF SATAN’S POWER

📖 Cross‑references:

— The serpent’s head crushedGenesis 3:15

Gen 3:15

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

NIV

— Christ “disarmed principalities and powers”Colossians 2:14–15

Col 2:14-15

14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

NIV

— He destroyed the one who had the power of deathHebrews 2:14

Heb 2:14

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil—

NIV

The cross was not Satan’s victory—it was his defeat. Hell threw everything it had at Jesus, and Jesus triumphed.

Illustration: A chess master once stood before a painting titled Checkmate. The king on the board appeared trapped. But the master studied it and said, “The king has one more move.” At Calvary, Satan thought he had God cornered. But the King had one more move—resurrection.

Application: Because Christ finished the work, the enemy has no legal claim on the believer.

POINT 4 — THE COMPLETION OF SALVATION

📖 Cross‑references:

— Salvation is not of worksEphesians 2:8–9

Eph 2:8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

NIV

“Not by works of righteousness…”Titus 3:5 —

Titus 3:5

5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

NIV

— “No condemnation…”Romans 8:1

Rom 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

NIV

Jesus didn’t say, “I did my part; now you do yours.”

He didn’t say “I finished it.”

“He didn’t say I am finished.”

He said, “It is finished.”

Salvation is not achieved by human effort but received by faith.

Illustration: Imagine a man trying to swim across the ocean. No matter how strong he is, he will never make it. But if he steps into a boat, the boat carries him all the way. Our works cannot carry us to God. Christ carries us.

Quote: Billy Graham said:

“There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Christ has done it all.”

CONCLUSION — WHAT DOES “IT IS FINISHED” MEAN FOR US TODAY?

— fully, finally, forever. All one has to do is receive the gift given. Your sin can be forgiven

— no more condemnation.Your guilt can be removed

— because it rests on Christ’s finished work.Your salvation is secure

John 10:28-30

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and the Father are one."

NIV

— because the One who finished His work calls you to follow Him.Your life has purpose

Invitation: If Christ finished the work of salvation, the only unfinished business is your response. Will you trust Him? Will you surrender to Him? Will you follow Him?996), 383.