It is Finished
It is Finished
TEXT: John 19:30
INTRODUCTION: The four gospels of the New Testament paint a picture of the life of Christ. The first strokes are bright with promise: The light of heaven shining down on dark Bethlehem; the heavenly radiance of the angelic choir singing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Several years pass before the artist again begins to paint in earnest. Oh, once or twice, he took up his brush to add a stroke here and there, but for the most part the subject he had chosen to paint was overlooked by the masses of humanity and forgotten. The paint began to crack and the colors fade. But the artist is not done. After nearly 30 years of idleness, he takes his brush in hand and again selects colors that are vibrant and full of hope. We see the radiant smile of a blind man who was given sight, the joyful leaps of a lame man who was made to walk. We sense the excitement of the crowds who flocked to hear words unlike any they had ever heard before. As the picture takes shape, we see in the background a heavenly kingdom and a golden crown. We see the multitudes that line the way, crying, "Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." It is a picture that makes you feel good.
Then the unthinkable happens. The colors on the canvas are smeared together in darkness and confusion. The sky is blackened. Crimson blood stains the ground. Hardened soldiers gamble with indifference to the man who hangs on the cross above them, surrounded by His enemies and bracketed between two thieves.
Yet, even now we hold out hope. Once before a voice from heaven was heard, "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Father claimed Him then; maybe He will rescue Him now. We watch expectantly as Jesus raises His head from off His chest. We look upon His bruised and battered face. We see him moisten his lips with the cheap vinegar wine given him by the soldiers. Then we hear Him speak, summoning the remnants of his physical endurance for one final statement, "It is finished." A single word when spoken by Christ, "Tetelestai!"
Other of the gospel writers tell us that this was spoken in a loud voice. It commanded attention of all that stood nearby. It broke into idle thoughts and interrupted hushed conversations. And as they wondered what it meant, Jesus bowed His head ... AND DIED.
"Tetelestai - It is finished!" The word conveyed more than just a task completed. It also implied that all had been done that could be done. WHATEVER WAS HAPPENING ON THAT CROSS WAS OVER. It was finished. Nothing could be added to it or taken from it. Further suffering would be pointless. Nothing else could be done. And so, Jesus died.
But what did it mean?
I. To His Disciples It Seemed A Word of DEFEAT.
A. At least one disciple, John, was present at the cross.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
1. He would carry a report back to the other disciples.
2. Imagine their confusion as he related the events of the cross, ending his account to them as he does in verse 30.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the died.
B. We also know what the outlook of the disciples was anything but optimistic.
1. Read Luke 24:13 - 21a
2. You can sense the bitterness in their voices.
a) "We put all our eggs in the wrong basket! We had big dreams and high hopes, but now they have all come to nothing."
b) It was a silent, defeated group of disciples who listened to John's report. When he finished, nobody stirred. Then, I can imagine Peter, shaking his head in dismay, saying, "That's it? That's all we get out of this? We left our homes and jobs for this? I should have stuck to fishing!"
c) "Tetelestai!" To the disciples, it was a word of defeat, as though they had gambled ... and lost.
II. Satan Heard It As A Word of SURRENDER.
A. Every step of the life of Christ involved a life and death struggle against Satan.
1. Satan moved Herod to murder all the babies in and around Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the child Jesus.
2. Satan taunted Christ at His temptation, daring Him to jump to His death from atop the temple.
3. Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot and moved him to betray Christ to be crucified.
B. The Scripture leaves us in no doubt as to Satan's estimation of the cross
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1. Satan viewed the cross as his triumph and God's defeat.
a) Jewish treachery sent Jesus to the cross.
b) Roman soldiers drove the nails that held Him there.
c) But ultimately, Satan took credit for crucifying "the Lord of Glory."
2. When Jesus cried, "It is finished," meaning that further struggle would be in vain, Satan was convinced he had won.
III. To The Father It Was A Word of ACCOMPLISHMENT
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
A. All the prophecies had been fulfilled.
B. All the demands of the Law had been met.
Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
C. The wages of sin had been paid in full.
1. Sin carries a price tag: death.
2. The death of Christ was payment in full.
D. Nothing more COULD BE DONE or WOULD BE REQUIRED to secure the salvation of sinners.
Hebrews 10:11-12 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
1. For hundreds of years, rivers of blood had flowed from the altar of God, and yet the price of sin was never paid.
a) The work of the Levitical priest was never done.
b) Each day brought new sins and a fresh cry for blood!
2. But what tens of thousands of animal sacrifices could not do, Jesus accomplished with ONE SACRIFICE FOREVER.
Though Michelangelo is considered one of the greatest artists of all time, he was known to be very temperamental. He would begin a piece, and then abandon it in a fit of temper. Consequently, he left more works unfinished than he completed. In Florence, Italy, is a vast display of his uncompleted works.
3. Jesus left nothing undone.
a) He offers salvation as a FINISHED work.
b) There is nothing left for you or me to do.
c) This brings us to an important question:
d) What does His declaration mean to men and women today?
IV. To The Unbeliever It Is A Word Of SALVATION.
A. It means the end of your search for forgiveness
Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
1. The death of Jesus Christ provided forgiveness for all sin.
a) No sin is unforgivable.
b) No soul is beyond salvation.
B. It means there is nothing you can do to save yourself.
1. Salvation is a finished work. It is not a Do-It-Yourself project.
a) Good deeds cannot earn forgiveness.
b) Religious devotion, no matter how sincere, cannot pay for your sin.
2. Salvation can only be obtained by receiving it as a gift from God to you.
V. To The Christian It Is A Word of ASSURANCE.
A. It means your salvation is secure.
1. Because it is finished, it doesn't depend on you.
2. The true child of God is not trying to be saved. He knows that everything has already been done!
B. It means your acceptance is complete.
1. Some Christians receive Christ as their Savior, and then spend the rest of their lives trying to get God to accept them.
a) They are never sure where they stand with God.
b) They try to perform better in hopes that God might smile in their direction.
2. The words "It is finished" mean that I am not accepted by God because of what I do, but because of what Jesus has done for me.
CONCLUSION
