Mission Accomplished John 19:30

It Is Finished

This phrase is actually the translation of one Greek word tetelestai. This word is rich in content and full of powerful meaning. So today, I want to explore the meaning of this word, "Tetelestai."

The Sacrifice Is Accomplished

Every Jewish person around the cross would have recognized this word as the equivalent of a Hebrew phrase that the High Priest used on the Day of Atonement when he would enter the temple and would make a special sacrifice of a Lamb without spot or blemish for the sins of the entire nation of Israel. When he would emerge from the place of sacrifice he would announce to the waiting crowd, "It is finished." All the sins of Israel were symbolically placed upon this sacrificial lamb that was killed and punished in their place. They were safe for another year. In other words, this sacrifice was incomplete, imperfect, and temporary. But when Jesus died on the cross he was the perfect and final sacrifice for all sin and for all those who would believe into his name, nature and character. The book of Hebrews says then Jesus is a better sacrifice, a better hope, and a better way.

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption... But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself."

Jesus is the ultimate Lamb of God, and by his sacrifice all of humankind can be saved completely by believing into his name, nature, and character. Therefore by saying it is finished Jesus is saying there is no more need for sacrifices. Because what he had done was to bring absolute fulfillment to what the Jewish sacrificial system foreshadowed.

The Work Is Completed

In those New Testament times. When an employee had completed his day's work or finished a project, he would tell his boss, "tetelestai." This was to state that whatever work he had been assigned was now done. It is like when an artist finishes a piece of art he or she would unveil it and announce "tetelestai." This was to signal that the masterpiece was complete no more finishing touches or adjustments were necessary. The work is done. When Jesus came into this world he announced, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save those that are lost." Jesus provides salvation, rescue and deliverance to a broken and lost world. So when Jesus says “It is finished he is saying that the task of his earning salvation for the world was completed in him.

PAID IN FULL

The most common use of the word, "tetelestai" in New Testament times was in debt collection. When someone paid off a debt, the loan note receipt was stamped "tetelestai," which meant that their debt was now paid in full. Our sin created a debt to God that we couldn't pay. But Jesus paid it all. When he cried out at the cross, "It is finished it was not the cry of a victim, it was the cry of a victor! It was not the cry of a chump. It was the cry of a champion!

Jesus has paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow!

But our high priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand... And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer anymore sacrifices. Hebrews 10:12-13,18

We no longer have to try and earn our way through works! Jesus paid it all! He paid our debt once for all!

IT IS DONE

The rich truth found in this phrase is that in Jesus the work of salvation is complete, done, finished, over! We don't have to worry about adding anything about finalizing anything. Because Jesus paid it all. So just continue to push deeper into his finishing! Push deeper into his perfection! Deeper and closer to his way! Trust in his finished work and the confidence of your salvation. Continue to pursue godliness. Continue to run after the holiness. You can make it because Jesus paid it all!