It is Finished.

Those beautiful words in red. Jesus is agonizingly set between two thieves. His feet and hands are nailed to a wooden cross. There at the foot of the cross, many mocked, some cried, and I am confident there were those—in complete silence. After the vinegar water was offered to Jesus He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He then bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

“It is finished.”  The word in Greek is amazing! Stand back and take in the whole Technicolor filled screen. I don’t think even Steven Spielberg with all his creative genius could convey the scene that was unfolding upon humanity. “It is finished” (Tetelestai) “to bring to an end—to fulfill. What is done corresponds to what has been said, ordered or commanded.”  “Not My will, but Your will be done” (Jesus, Lk 22:42). Grammatically, it is in the “perfect tense.”  Meaning, the action was completed in the past with results continuing in the present. Basically, “This happened, and it is still in effect TODAY.”  The gift that keeps on giving! 

As Jesus said this, His blood flowing down His forehead, from His hands and His feet. His sacrifice now eliminates the debt owed by mankind (you and me). May we take careful notice, Jesus didn’t say “I am finished.”  That would imply He is a mere man and dies defeated. What was finished was not Jesus’ life—it was everything keeping us from God.  Imagine with me, you can almost hear the divine whisper as God sends Man & Woman out of the Garden, “It’s okay, I’ve got a plan.” 

Those red words.  “It is finished.”

Jesus is ultimately laid in the tomb. Where God spares NO detail. Looking back, instructions for building the Tabernacle and the divine furniture, “Make the atonement cover (Also known as the MERCY SEAT) of pure gold… Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second at the other end” (Ex. 25:17-19). HERE the blood sacrifice was placed by the Priest (Lev 16:14). Fast forward, John 20:12, Mary “saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.” Because of blood—Jesus’ blood, God’s requirement of sinful man is now satisfied. HE is the Lamb of God. HE is our High Priest. 

When Jesus rose from the dead and the stone was found rolled away it was NOT so He, the Son of God, Who walked on water, could get out, it was so mankind could get in!  Get in and see “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying” (Matt 28:6). 

Jesus rises from the dead triumphantly (Happy Easter) the bridge back to the Father is perfected. He engages and commissions the disciples. Returns to heaven to reign forever. Does it end here?  No. Now we the church with the authority given by Jesus Himself, as inspired and powered by Holy Spirit, carry on with the red-letter commands, statements, and tender words.

Move over Easter Bunny, here comes the risen King! Let’s all stand to our feet! With loud shouts of praise, and enthusiastic applause! “It is Finished! Relationship offered; relationship restored.

When Jesus died and with His resurrection power, He left no unfinished business behind, He successfully completed the work He came to do.  The plan, the process of God. Now may we live each day as a red-letter day!  Celebrating with a fresh revelation of our God!

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds“- Hebrews 10:24).