Sermon Tone Analysis

The most powerful word: Tetelestai

So what does it actually mean?

Literally translated it means... “It is finished.”

There are only two places the word Tetelestai occurs—in John 19:28 and 19:30.

In 19:28, it is translated: “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’”

Two verses later, he says the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘It is finished’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

J C Ryle wrote that

“It is surely not too much to say, that of all the seven famous sayings of Christ on the cross, none is more remarkable than TETELESTAI.”

A C Gaebelein adds

“Never before and never after was ever spoken ONE WORD which contains and means so much.

It is the shout of the mighty Victor.

And who can measure the depths of this ONE WORD!”

A W Pink writes that

“Eternity will be needed to make manifest all that TETELESTAI contains.”

Matthew Henry described TETELESTAI as a "comprehensive word and a comfortable one."

Charles Simeon adds that

‘since the foundation of the world there never was a single word uttered, in which such diversified and important matter was contained.

Every word indeed that proceeded from our Saviour’s lips deserves the most attentive consideration: but TETELESTAI eclipses all.

To do justice to it, is beyond the ability of men or angels: its height, and depth, and length, and breadth, are absolutely unsearchable."

What was Finished?

Everything that was necessary for you and me to be in the right relationship with the Father.

Not a lot of things.

Not sort of finished.

Not almost paid.

Not conditional.

Everything.

Finished.

Paid in full.

Unconditional.

TETELESTAI is the perfect tense (see below) of the verb teleo which is derived from telos (a goal achieved, a consummation, a result attained) and means to bring something to a successful end to or to its intended or destined goal.

It does not mean just to complete a task but to carry it out fully, to bring it to the finish or to perfection.

It follows that Jesus’ cry of TETELESTAI is a word of finality.

The idea is “It is finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished!”

THE PERFECT TENSE: TETELESTAI is in the perfect tense which describes a PAST completed act with PRESENT effect, emphasizing that the past completed event of Christ's death on the Cross has ongoing, even permanent effects.

Jesus’ sacrifice may have occurred in time and space, but its results will last for eternity!

In other words, when Jesus declared “IT IS FINISHED”, He was saying that His mission to redeem sinners had reached its intended goal and that the benefits to the redeemed would last throughout eternity.

Erwin Lutzer adds that "This means that my sins are on Jesus, not on me.

Yes, there is sin within me but not on me.

My sinful nature keeps luring me toward sin, and even in my best moments my works are tainted with selfish motives.

But legally, I am accepted on the basis of the merit of Jesus.

Figuratively speaking, I have a new set of clothes and a clear record in heaven.

The righteousness of Jesus has been (forever) credited to my account."

All that truth in one Greek tense!

In order to understand it, let’s look at how the word was used in Jesus day:

(1) SERVANTS

Servant used TETELESTAI when reporting to their master, “I have COMPLETED (TETELESTAI) the work assigned to me”.

In another ancient secular Greek text we read of the example of a father sending his son on a mission.

The son was not to return until he had performed the last act of the mission.

When he did return from a successful mission, he used the word TETELESTAI to report to his father that he had accomplished the goal.

(2) PRIESTS

Priests would examine animals for blemishes before they were sacrificed.

If the lamb was faultless, perfect, and acceptable, the priest would say, "TETELESTAI!"

Jesus is the Lamb of God Who alone was “without sin”

(3) ARTISTS

Frank Boreham writes that "When the painter or the sculptor had put the last finishing touches to the vivid landscape or the marble bust, he would stand back a few feet to admire his masterpiece, and, seeing in it nothing that called for correction or improvement, would murmur fondly, ‘Tetelestai!’

‘Tetelestai!’"

"IT IS FINISHED!”

All the Old Testament “pictures” (types) of Messiah were fulfilled in Christ and were only a “shadow of what is to come; but the substance (reality) belongs to Christ.”

(4) PRISONERS

The esteemed pastor Adrian Rogers used this illustration:

When a Roman citizen was convicted of a crime, he was thrown into prison.

A "Certificate of Debt" listing all his crimes was nailed to his cell door so that anyone passing by could know what he had been accused of and the penalty assessed.

When the prisoner had served his sentence and was released from bondage, the indictment was taken down from the door and the judge who had put him in prison would sign the indictment and write across it the word TETELESTAI.

The freed prisoner was then given this document and if questioned as to why he was out of jail, he could point to the indictment across which the judge had written TETELESTAI.

He could rest in safety and security because the word TETELESTAI guaranteed his deliverance and his liberty.

The charges for those crimes could never again be brought against him.

He would never be a victim of "double jeopardy" (having to pay for the same crime twice).

When Jesus cried "TETELESTAI" on the cross, He was saying that anyone who places his trust in His sacrificial death on their behalf, receives in essence a "certificate of debt" with the inscription of "tetelestai", indicating that all their "crimes" (past, present and future) against God have been PAID FOR IN FULL!

In light of this truth, Paul could write that because our debt was PAID IN FULL by Jesus, God “has forgiven you all your sins: Christ has utterly wiped out (Greek = completely obliterated) the condemning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over His own head on the Cross.

And then having drawn the sting of all the powers ranged against us, He exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated, in His final glorious triumphant act!"

(5) MERCHANTS

In ancient times when a promissory note was paid, the one holding the note wrote “TETELESTAI” across it.

A deed to property was not in effect until it was dated and signed, and when this was accomplished, the clerk wrote “TETELESTAI” across the deed.

When someone had a debt and it was paid off, the creditor would write "TETELESTAI" on the certificate of debt signifying that it was "PAID IN FULL".

It is reported in several secondary sources that several years ago, archaeologists digging in Egypt uncovered the "office" of an ancient "CPA."

In this office they found a stack of bills, with the Greek word "tetelestai" inscribed across each bill - "Paid in full"!

The final installment was left in the tomb.

soudarion, soo-dar’-ee-on; of Lat.

or.; a sudarium (sweat-cloth), i.e. towel (for wiping the perspiration from the face, or binding the face of a corpse):–handkerchief, napkin.

Billy & Alva visited the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem: Guide told them...

Carpenter folded the handkerchief and placed the bill inside.

Customer folded the payment inside the handkerchief and placed it on the object.

It symbolized completed work through hard, sweat-drenched labor.

It symbolized final payment for all was complete!