Victory in Jesus

Introduction

The NET Bible

tn Or “he now loved them completely,” or “he now loved them to the uttermost” (see John 19:30). All of John 13:1 is a single sentence in Greek, although in English this would be unacceptably awkward. At the end of the verse the idiom εἰς τέλος (eis telos) was translated literally as “to the end” and the modern equivalents given in the note above, because there is an important lexical link between this passage and John 19:30, τετέλεσται (tetelestai, “It is ended”).

sn The full extent of Jesus’ love for his disciples is not merely seen in his humble service to them in washing their feet (the most common interpretation of the passage). The full extent of his love for them is demonstrated in his sacrificial death for them on the cross. The footwashing episode which follows then becomes a prophetic act, or acting out beforehand, of his upcoming death on their behalf. The message for the disciples was that they were to love one another not just in humble, self-effacing service, but were to be willing to die for one another. At least one of them got this message eventually, though none understood it at the time (see 1 John 3:16).

A Finishing Cry () “It is finished” —

The sixth of the seven sayings by Christ on the cross was a victorious saying, "It is finished" (). Arthur W. Pink said, "The ancient Greeks boasted of being able to say much in little—to 'give a sea of matter in a drop of language'—was regarded as the perfection of oratory." The sixth saying of Christ certainly represents that principle, for it is only one word in the Greek, but it speaks volumes.

It is a word of brevity, and when a task has been accomplished, it can be spoken of in brevity. There needs to be no ambiguity, there need not be a great deal of verbiage. When a task is done, it is enough to say, "Finished." Indeed, in the words of the New Testament, it is only a singular word: tetelestai.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Crucifixion

Crucifixion

The unnatural position used in crucifixion made every movement painful; the lacerated veins and crushed tendons throbbed with incessant anguish; the wounds, inflamed by exposure, gradually gangrened; the arteries—especially at the head and stomach—became swollen and oppressed with surcharged blood; and while each variety of misery went on gradually increasing, there was added to them the intolerable pang of a burning and raging thirst; and all these physical complications caused an internal excitement and anxiety, which made the prospect of death itself—of death, the unknown enemy, at whose approach man usually shudders most—bear the aspect of a delicious and exquisite release.276

It is in the context of this release that is expressed in the soul of Jesus. He did not receive refreshment from the bitterness of the sour vinegar, but his shout was the Shout of Victory, the voice of triumph! Jesus said one word

Tetelestai — “To bring to a close, to end, to finish.” To carry out. “what one is under obligation to pay! Paid in full!

Gerhard Delling, “Τέλος, Τελέω, Ἐπιτελέω, Συντελέω, Συντέλεια, Παντελής, Τέλειος, Τελειότης, Τελειόω, Τελείωσις, Τελειωτής,” ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 57.

"It is finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished!" While it is true that our Lord's sufferings were now finished, there is much more included in this dramatic word. Many of the Old Testament types and propecies were now fulfilled, and the once-for-all sacrifice for sin had now been completed.

If you look at it grammatically, you can describe it as a third person, singular, perfect, passive, indicative verb.

If you look at it grammatically, you can describe it as a third person, singular, perfect, passive, indicative verb.

It is a third person singular, which means Jesus was not speaking of himself but of something else when he said, "It is finished."

- He had in mind something of significance that was stated poignantly in the perfect tense of the Greek language, which indicates that a mighty act had been achieved and the results of it would abide. It was as if someone had stepped in wet cement that hardened and left a footprint—as if these words had been chiseled for all time into some kind of marble or granite that time could never efface. "It is finished."

What was finished? His Sufferings; Satan, OT Sacrificial system, Sin's Power, were all finished.

It was spoken in the indicative, which is certainty. Had there been any question about it, he might have said in the subjunctive, "It may be finished, it should be finished." But with a shout of triumph and certitude, he said, "It is finished." Not only that, but that passive voice indicates that he had been acted upon by some great intention, some great force. He did not say, "I finished it." Putting that mighty deed out there, he said, "It is finished." It has been acted upon by the purposes of God—by the types, the symbols, the promises, and the prophecies of the Old Testament—and "it is finished."

In its passive tense, it represents the subject receiving the action.It has about it the sense of that which has reached its goal, that which has come to ripen to maturity, that which has come to full completion. A telephone delivers a message in sound to its desired destination, a telegraph delivers a message encoded, and a television delivers a message in picture. When Jesus said, "Tetelestai," he was saying, "I have finished the right purposes of God and they have now been delivered to their appropriate and full intention."

Had there been any question about it, he might have said in the subjunctive, "It may be finished, it should be finished." But with a shout of triumph and certitude, he said, "It is finished." Not only that, but that passive voice indicates that he had been acted upon by some great intention, some great force. He did not say, "I finished it." Putting that mighty deed out there, he said, "It is finished." It has been acted upon by the purposes of God—by the types, the symbols, the promises, and the prophecies of the Old Testament—and "it is finished."

In the perfect tense- it represents an action that that was completed in the past but has continuing results

Jesus finished this act over 2000 years ago, but sin bills are still being paid.

It speaks of suffering. "It is finished" said Christ's sufferings on earth for sin were finished. "What tongue or pen can describe the sufferings of the Savior?" (Pink).

• It speaks of salvation. "It is finished" spoke of Christ finishing the work of salvation on the cross. Salvation requires that there be a blood sacrifice for the sinners. The Old Testament had many sacrifices, but they never completed the job. "Every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God... For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (, , ). Calvary was the sacrifice that finished all sacrifices for sin which made salvation possible.

• It speaks of success. "It is finished" spoke of the success over Satan. Satan had opposed Christ going to the cross and dying in the way heaven had planned. Satan had tried numerous times to stop Calvary's plan. But he failed and Christ conquered victoriously as "It is finished" signified.

• It speaks of service. "It is finished" said Christ had completed His service, He completed the work assigned to Him. It is not how many projects we start that count but how many we finish. Many say "I quit" instead of "It is finished." Analytical Bible Expositor - Analytical Bible Expositor – John.

Perhaps the most meaningful meaning of tetelstia was that used by the merchants: "The debt is paid in full!" When He 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. But the Lamb of God shed His blood, and that blood can take away the sins of the world (

Note that Jesus did not say, “I am finished.” This was the statement of a Victor, not a victim.

Poem from AW Tozer Jesus is victor—His work is complete, Crushing all enemies under His feet. Jesus is victor; He died not in vain, Risen and glorified, Jesus doth reign!

Jesus is victor—without and within, Saving and keeping and cleansing from sin;

Jesus is victor—without and within, Saving and keeping and cleansing from sin; Jesus is victor, O heavenly Dove, Come to abide and make perfect in love. Jesus is victor—the heavens shall ring, Great king of terrors, where is thy sting? Jesus is victor—we’ll shout o’er the grave, Glory to God, He is mighty to save! Jesus Is Victor!.

Jesus is victor, O heavenly Dove, Come to abide and make perfect in love. Jesus is victor—the heavens shall ring, Great king of terrors, where is thy sting? Jesus is victor—we’ll shout o’er the grave, Glory to God, He is mighty to save! Jesus Is Victor!.

We have Victory because Jesus is the Victor....There is Victory in Jesus because He is my Savior Forever....He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.....

We can live victoriously through the victory of Christ. We have been bought and paid for if you beleive