7 Words: It is Finished

The Sixth Word:
“It is finished!”
(John 19:28-30)

Reflection

²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I love long-distance running. I have loved running since I was a little boy. But there is something about running a long race. My first long race was a 40 km trail race. It was over some very difficult terrain, and the last two or three km were all uphill. When I saw the finish line, I got tears in my eyes. I was finished, not just done with the race, but I was finished. I had nothing else left. You’ve probably seen football matches where, at the final whistle, the players collapse on the field. They’ve given their all. They are finished.

Jesus has been through an ordeal much more grueling than a 40 km race or a 90 minute football match. He has been tortured, whipped, and beaten. His followers have abandoned him, and, in Peter’s case, denied that they even know him. Jesus was made to carry his own cross, after which he was nailed to it and hung to die a terrible death. And at this point, he finally utters those words: “It is finished.”

When Jesus said those words, it certainly would fit that Jesus felt relief that the end was in sight. His suffering was over. It is finally done. But the Greek word that we translate “it is finished” is tetelestai, and it means more than just “it is finally done.”

I love the way Eugene Peterson expresses this word from Jesus in his paraphrase The Message. “It’s done . . . complete.”

This is more than “it is finally over.” This is a full report of “mission accomplished.” God sent Jesus here to earth for a purpose, and Jesus had accomplished that purpose. He initiated and inaugurated the Kingdom of God. He revealed God’s character in a new, incarnational way. When God spoke to Moses, he told him His Name: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7)

Jesus came and lived out God’s Name. He showed compassion and grace. Slow to anger? He allowed a corrupt trial and never even spoke out in his own defense, even though he was innocent of all charges. His love and faithfulness abounded, and his love extended, not to thousands, but to millions, even billions as his mission, that which he was accomplishing on the cross, forgave wickedness, rebellion and sin. Jesus opened heaven’s doors wide open for anyone, through faith in him, to enter in. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God, for all of us to live, to live life to the full, fully in the reign of God.

Jesus completed the work for which God had sent him to earth. Jesus completed the work of salvation. This means that we don’t need to add to it. It’s not about how hard we work; our work does not accomplish our salvation. Yes, the Apostle Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), but he does not say “work for” – he says “work out.” There is a difference. The difference is that if we have to work for it, then it should stand to reason that it would be possible for us, if we work hard enough, to achieve salvation on our own.

Is that possible?

The standard, God’s standard, is perfection. If you have messed up, even once, and after that, you’ve been perfect, then it’s not perfection. Perfection is 100% perfection. And that is God’s standard. So if you want to try to do it on your own, that’s what you have to aim for. And if you’ve already messed up, forget about it. But Jesus’ act on the cross has paid our debt. Not only does he provide forgiveness for our sins, but he actually erases our sins, makes us as if we had never committed sin in the first place. That’s why it’s important to know that in Christ, we are new creations. The old is gone. The new has come. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (1 Corinthians 5:17)

Jesus did what you or I could never do. He took our sin upon himself and gave us new life in return. Jesus finished his mission, and we benefit from what he did. Because of what he finished, we don’t have to be “finished” – done, all out of energy. We have new hope every day. We also know that because he completed his work, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

Until the day of Christ Jesus, we can live in the confidence of Jesus’ victorious words of completion: “It is finished.”