It is Finished

Pilate had Jesus flogged.

In the form of flogging that Jesus received from the Roman soldiers would have had him stripped and tied to a post. Then beaten with a leather whip with pieces of bone or metal in it. It would tear off the flesh when the whip was pulled back. This sometimes resulted in the victim’s death but it was rare because the soldiers mastered this and knew when to stop just before death.

The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on Christ head.

Put a purple robe on Him, the color of royalty, as they mocked and slapped Him.

The chief priests, officials and the crowd shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

John 19:17–30 NIV

17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. 28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:17

“It is finished.”

Not an unusual term in those days. The crowd there would have understood what Jesus meant when they heard Him cry out… “tetelestai”

This word may be unfamiliar to us, but is was used by various people in those days.

A servant would use it when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned to me”

John 17:4 NIV

4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

Christ served the father and completed the work that was assigned to Him.

When a priest examined an animal sacrifice and found it faultless, he would use this word.

Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God, without spot or blemish.

Perhaps the most meaningful meaning of tetelestai was that used by the merchants: “The debt is paid in full!” I’ve read that there are actual papyri receipts for taxes that have been recovered with the word tetelestai written across them, meaning “paid in full.”

When Christ gave Himself on the cross, Jesus fully met the righteous demands of a holy law; He paid our debt in full. None of the Old Testament sacrifices could take away sins; their blood only covered sin. When the Lamb of God shed His blood, that blood can take away the sins of the world.

When Jesus said, “It is finished!”, “tetelestai”, He did not say “I am finished.” He shout it with great victory. Paid in full!

Through the blood of Christ you can also be victorious!

Communion

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 NIV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is given for us. Let us eat together.

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 NIV

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ through which we have the forgiveness of sins. Let us drink together.