Last Piece of Puzzle

John 19:28–30 ESV

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I love this verse.

This powerful phrase:

"It Is Finished."

I really wanted to preach about the beautiful meaning of this passage.

Then I realized something.

I'm not 100% sure what it means.

The statement says,

"It Is Finished."

At the risk of

Confusing what is plain...

My question is:

What is finished?

Possible answers:

Satan

Sin

Great Controversy

The problem is:

Those things are not

completely finished!

If they were

We would be in heaven!

So I ask again,

What is finish

What is "it"

The finished thing?

It must have some

Connection to the above things:

Satan

Sin

Great Controversy

But how?

Is it possible to say,

Something was finished,

But something else is

not finished...

Communion is all about

Celebrating what Jesus

Accomplished on the cross

Today I want to celebrate

But I ask again...

What exacty was accomplished?

So I can celebrate!

Let's look at another text:

John 12:31–33 ESV

Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

Jesus said,

Speaking of his death

That it would be a judgement

Against Satan

And he would be

cast out

I want to draw this

point out further.

Satan will be judged

How?

The word judgement

Can me many things

There are multiple

phases to judgment

In our courts

Phases

Arraignment

Charges are heard

Plea made

Guilty or Not Guilty

Perhaps potential criminal sentence for conviction.

Set Bail

Preliminary Hearing

Only prosecutors present evidence

Probable Cause

To indict defendant

Enough evident to have trial

Trial

Evidence

From investigation

Decides Guilty or Not

Sentencing

Decides Punishment

Appeal

Opportunity to appeal judgment

Execution

Fulfilling the punishment

How do we know

what phase this is?

One thing is sure

Not executive

Otherwise,

We would be in heaven!

Perhaps we need to go

Back through Bible

Examine

What steps have

Already been taken

In judgment process

Isaiah 14:12–14 ESV

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

What is happening here?

Charges are being brought.

What Phase?

Arraignment

Charges Heard

Plea Made

Potential Criminal Sentence

Set Bail

Charges:

Insurrection

Rebellion

Mutiny

Isaiah 14:15 ESV

But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

Potential Sentence

You are going down to the pit.

(Reference to Millennium Time-out)

Bail Set?

You are not getting out!

Plea Made?

Revelation 12:7–9 ESV

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Satan fights against charges

Pleads not guilt

Thrown into jail

with no bail

Preliminary Hearing

Prosecutors Present Evidence

Probable Cause?

Indict Defendant

Enough Evident For Trial?

Ezekiel 28:13–17 (ESV)

You were in Eden, the garden of God;

every precious stone was your covering,

sardius, topaz, and diamond,

beryl, onyx, and jasper,

sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;

and crafted in gold were your settings

and your engravings.

On the day that you were created

they were prepared.

You were an anointed guardian cherub.

I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;

in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.

You were blameless in your ways

from the day you were created,

till unrighteousness was found in you.

In the abundance of your trade

you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;

so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,

and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,

from the midst of the stones of fire.

Your heart was proud because of your beauty;

you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.

Prosecutors Present Evidence

You were made perfect

You were jealous of God

You wanted to be God

You rebelled against creator

You traded these ideas with others

Created doubt in other's minds

Probable Cause?

Indict Defendant

Enough Evident For Trial?

Possible Sentence?

Ezekiel 28:17–19 ESV

Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”

Possible Sentence?

Death

Destruction

Non-existence

Judgment So Far...

Arraignment

Preliminary Hearing

Satan was accused

Charges were brought

He pleaded

Not guilt

Yet....

And his Defense

So convincing

1/3 Angels believe him

Next Phase?

Trial

Evidence Brought Forth

Jury Organized

Eventual Decision of Guilt

Every day...

Universe watches

Universe watches on

Angels

1 Corinthians 4:9 ESV

For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

Satan accuses God

Not fair

Unnecessary law

Impossible law

Justice - condemn all

Mercy - mercy on all

Evidence

True Character of Satan

True Character of God

The Cross

Satan led people to

Attack and kill

Jesus

Character seen

Like never before

What happened at the cross?

Satan was found guilty

Universe saw

His evil

Jesus' victory means:

Satan is condemned

Sin is condemn

His death sentence is ratified

Salvation is assured

Back to Beginning

Jesus Words:

It Is Finished

Something was finished

But

Something was not finished

Theologians call this:

The already but the not yet...

The universe is hanging in

a state of legislative limbo

Jesus purchased salvation

For the saint

It is so sure

It is stated as if

It has already happened

John 11:25–26 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Salvation is spoken of

As a present reality

Even though

it has not happened

The English phrase

"It is finished."

Is only one word

In the Greek.

tetelestai

What is so interesting

About this word

Common use.

Greek business.

Archeologists found

This word on my documents

Receipts

At the bottom

They say

tetelestai

"It is finished"

What is means is:

"Paid in full"

"Payment Received"

"Purchase Complete"

By faith,

We have eternal life

right now.

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

We are not in heaven yet

But according to Jesus

It is finished!

All of the provision has

Already be provided for us

Satan is condemned

The only thing

That stands between us

And life eternal

Is our own faith

Today,

I invite you

Celebrate with me

Satan is a vanquished foe

Christ has triumphed

Eternal life is free for the taking

IT IS FINISHED