Its FInished but not over

“It Is Finished, But It’s Not Over”

Text: John 19:30 & Matthew 28:5–6 (CSB)

INTRODUCTION

Church, Easter is not the celebration of a good teacher.It is not the remembrance of a moral example.

It is not the remembrance of a moral example.

Easter is the proclamation that Jesus Christ conquered death itself.

Everything about the Christian faith rises or falls on one truth: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If Jesus is still in the grave, then nothing we do matters.But if Jesus is alive—

But if Jesus is alive—then everything changes.

1. THE CROSS: THE PAYMENT WAS FINISHED

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30 CSB)

This is not defeat—it is declaration.

“It is finished” is the word Tetelestai—paid in full.

At the cross:

Sin was paid for

Righteousness was provided

Salvation was secured

Jesus did not say, “I am finished.”He said,

He said, “It is finished.”

The work was not partial—it was perfect.

There is nothing you can add to the cross:

not your works

not your religion

not your effort

The cross is enough.

You are not trying to earn salvation—you are called to embrace it.

2. THE QUIET: THE PLAN WAS STILL WORKING

Between Friday and Sunday… there is Saturday.

Friday has the pain.Sunday has the power.

Sunday has the power.But Saturday has the

But Saturday has the silence.

The disciples are scattered.Hope feels buried.

Hope feels buried.Faith feels shaken.

Faith feels shaken.

And yet—God is still working.

Just because heaven is quiet does not mean heaven is absent.

Some of God’s greatest work happens in the waiting—in the space between what has died… and what is about to rise.

in the space between what has died… and what is about to rise.

If you are in a “Saturday season” this morning, hear this:

God is not done.God is not distant.

God is not distant.God is not defeated.

God is not defeated.

He is working—even when you cannot see it.

3. THE RESURRECTION: THE POWER WAS DISPLAYED

“He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6 CSB)

This is heaven’s announcement to earth.

The tomb is empty.

Not because it was explained away.Not because it was misunderstood.

Not because it was misunderstood.But because

But because Jesus rose.

And when He rose:

Death was defeated

Sin was stripped of its power

Satan was subdued

The resurrection is God’s declaration that Jesus is Lord of all.

The grave could not hold Him.Hell could not stop Him.

Hell could not stop Him.Death could not keep Him.

Death could not keep Him.

4. THE CHANGE: THE PROMISE IS FOR US

Because He lives, everything changes.

A. Our Past Is Pardoned

The cross doesn’t just cover sin—it cleanses it.

You are not what you did.You are not what happened to you.

You are not what happened to you.You are who Christ says you are.

You are who Christ says you are.

B. Our Present Is Powerful

You are not walking through life alone.

The same power that raised Jesus is alive in you.

That means:

you are not defeated

you are not abandoned

you are not powerless

C. Our Future Is Promised

The grave is no longer the end.

It is the doorway to eternal life.

Death is not your destination—it is your departure into glory.

5. THE CALL: THE RESPONSE IS REQUIRED

The angel said, “Come and see…”

Faith is not blind—it is built on an empty tomb.

You can examine it.You can question it.

You can question it.You can consider it.

You can consider it.

But you cannot ignore it.

Because an empty tomb demands a response to a living Savior.

CONCLUSION

Church…

It is finished.The price has been paid.

The price has been paid.

But it is not over.The power is still working.

The power is still working.

Because Jesus is alive, your story is not defined by your past—it is shaped by His power.

FINAL INVITATION

If Jesus rose from the dead, then He is Lord.

And if He is Lord, then He deserves everything:

your trust

your surrender

your life

The question of Easter is not, “Do you believe the story?”

The question is:

Will you respond to the Savior?

Because He is alive.And He is calling today.

And He is calling today.