JOHN 19:28-30
THREE WORDS OF TRUTH:
“It Is Finished.”
In the name + of Jesus.
The last word St. John records from the lips of Jesus as he hung from the cross is this: “It is finished.” (John 19:30) It is not the sigh of a defeated man who knows that his miserable condition and torment are just about over and that death will finally bring sweet relief to all of his pain and anguish. “It is finished.” He does not moan it that we might pity him. He declares it so that he would comfort us.
“It is finished.” These words provide such great comfort for you that you cannot ponder them enough. The devil is always lying to you. He always wants to convince you that your sins are not really forgiven, that you must make amends for your sins with good works, and that your good works are never enough. The devil doesn't care if you know that Jesus died on a cross. Most people know that. The devil wants you to doubt that Jesus really meant what he said: “It is finished.”
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) This brought an end to a life that had begun in Mary's womb. God had become a man to become one with mankind. He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, served his parents, and lived a quiet, common life until he was thirty years old. Then, he was anointed with the Holy Spirit and began his public work as the Messiah. But whether it was a quiet life lived in the village of Nazareth or his public ministry being widely reported in Judea and Galilee, Jesus was at work. As a man, Jesus was obligated to live under God's commandments or pay the price with the rest of us. Temptations did not plague him just in Gethsemane and in the wilderness; Jesus was tempted his whole life long to go his own way—to despise ungrateful people for whom he provided, to condemn the demanding people who acted as if he owed them more and better, or to mock the people who made a mess of their lives by their own foolish choices. These are the things we do, and we think that we are justified in doing them. But sins are never justifiable, and they do not justify us. Jesus, however, did not yield to temptation no matter how hard he was pushed. He did what God demands of all mankind—he kept the commandments. He was faithful to God's word. He loved his fellow man. He was holy and obedient. With his final breath, Jesus acknowledged that the temptations were over and declared that the demands of the Law were met. “It is finished, complete, accomplished.” The work of obedience was done, and done perfectly.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) Jesus' mission was completed. His work was not only to obey God's commandments, his work was also to redeem people who have not. This meant he had to suffer what sinners deserve. This meant that he had to submit to the wrath of his heavenly Father. This meant that the flesh he assumed had to suffer great torment, and the body he had would be given into death. And it was not easy work.
Before Jesus suffered for sinners, he had to suffer being sinned against by sinners. Jesus had to endure the faults of his friends, the wicked schemes of his enemies, and the brutality of others on his way to the cross. He stood before religious authorities who crafted lies and hurled false accusations against him. He stood before secular authorities as King Herod flaunted his little power by mocking the King of heaven and earth. He stood before a Roman governor who repeatedly declared Jesus innocent only to hand him over to his enemies because it was easier for him to do what was convenient than to stand up for what was right. He stood next to authorities on violence. He exchanged places with Barabbas because the religious leaders deemed the streets safer with a murderer on them than with Jesus on them. He was given a place among felons who were rightly sentenced to death for their crimes. He was punched and spit upon. He was crowned with thorns and beaten with rods. He was scourged and pummeled so that he did not even look human anymore. Women wept over him. Children hid their faces from him. Finally, he was pierced to a cross. And that was not even the worst of it.
From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:45-46) The greatest torment Jesus endured at the cross was the wrath of God. Jesus endured the torments of hell; for he was bearing in his body all the sins of all sinners. There is nothing for which Jesus did not suffer. Whatever sin you have thought or done, whatever sin you have experienced or witnessed or heard of, Jesus paid the price for it. The love of God was withdrawn from him. He suffered wrath, judgment, and damnation. And this, Jesus did willingly. And this, Jesus did for you. The timeless Son of God was damned for people of all time. And then he cried out, “It is finished.” The payment for all sins was rendered. Your debts are canceled, and you are free. The holy, precious blood of Jesus and his innocent sufferings and death are sufficient for all your sins. “It is finished, complete, accomplished!”
No matter how many times you hear that you are forgiven, the devil challenges God's word. He asserts that you cannot hide what you are. He presents facts. He reminds you how you have broken God's commandments. He proves that you are guilty, and your conscience confirms every accusation and taunt. But the devil is a liar, and Jesus himself says so.
The devil's lie is not about what sins you have committed; the lie is that your sins still condemn you and that God is angry with you. If you want to know what God thinks of sin, look at the crucified Jesus. There, God's wrath was unloaded on Jesus who suffered for sinners what sinners deserve. God did this for you because he loves you. Your judgment has been taken. The punishment has been meted out—all of it. There is no wrath left for you. It is finished. It is completed. All has been accomplished. Therefore, your sins do not condemn you. They are forgiven. Jesus said so, and overrules every accusation of the devil. “It is finished, and there is nothing that can be added. The sacrifice is complete. Sins are taken away.”
Still, the devil wants you to doubt it. He insists that it is not enough that Jesus has died. He insists that you must prove your worth by good works and obedience. As it is with the devil's lies, there is always some truth in it. It is, indeed, God's will that we do good works and live godly lives. We do not give ourselves over to sins and run back to what brings death. So if we are devoted to good works, how much needs to be done to save us? Jesus already answered your question: “It is finished.” God demands is holy obedience, but it has been accomplished. It is finished. Jesus lived his holy life to satisfy God's demands, and Jesus gives you full credit for it. Your salvation is not something that has yet to be completed. The pressure is off. Fear is taken away. Doubt has been done away with. Jesus said so: “It is finished.”
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) There is such sweet comfort in Jesus' words at the cross. They soothe tormented consciences. They console fearful hearts. They calm troubled minds. And they always will.
“It is finished” has been translated in the present tense, but the Greek word is actually a perfect tense. That means salvation was purchased in the past—when Jesus gave up his spirit, but the benefits of Jesus' sacrifice continue to the present time. His perfect life always covers you. His sacrificial death always atones for you. You are not teetering in and out of the kingdom of God based on how good of a day you are having. Jesus has secured your place in his kingdom and has not left any doubt. Jesus declared it in simple, clear, undeniable terms: “It is finished.” It has been accomplished. It is complete, and the devil can never undo it. There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven. Be confident; you are the Lord's beloved saint. Be comforted; your salvation is complete. You have Jesus' word on it: “It is finished.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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