Untitled Sermon (2)

Soul Soaking Notes From Text

“It is Finished” τετέλεσται = “Paid off or paid in full”Jesus is very much in control of this situation even in His frail, human condition. After caring for the needs of His mother by enlisting John’s help, He now turns to the final moments of His life. Jesus knew “that all was now τετέλεσται, he had a Scripture to fulfill and something to say...By saying “I thirst”, Jesus is accomplishing two things. He is fulfilling Scripture (John tells us this right in the text).

​ ESVThey gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

He thirsted so we would not have an eternal thirst like the Rich man and Lazarus...He thirsted so we could forever drink from the water of life and thirst no more.He is preparing Himself for the most important announcement in History! And He needed a drink to ready his mouth to say the one-word announcement, τετέλεσται!When did Jesus say this word? Just before He gave up His Spirit. Notice, He was responsible for His death. He was the one who deliberately, at that time, gave up His Spirit. “We die because we cannot help it; Christ died because He willed to die, and not until the moment arrived when He saw it best.” J.C. Ryle

​ ESVNo one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

​ ESVThen Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

How did Jesus say this word? Jesus ask for something to drink to fulfill prophecy and, most importantly to prepare Himself to say τετέλεσται. But how do you suppose He said this important word? One would think, due to the extreme physical abuse He has endured, that it would be soft and almost unintelligible. But as we read the other accounts of this same story, we see something entirely different...

​ ESVAnd one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

​ ESVAnd someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

​ ESVThen Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Jesus mustered up the strength and while His life’s blood was oozing from His body, this powerful word with a strong voice surges from His mouth, τετέλεσται!!!