Tag: “it is finished”
It is Finished
Scripture reading for May 1st: 1st Kings 14-17, John 19
Key Scriptures: John 19:28-30 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture),”I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Jesus, Son of God, Son of David, was obedient unto death on the cross. He hung there until He had accomplished everything written in Scripture, and then announced the completion of His task. He gave His life blood and then His spirit. His heart was fully committed to the Father.
1st Kings 15:11, 14-15 “And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. . . .But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver and gold and vessels.”
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to finish the work of salvation and fulfill Scripture. Help me to please You and fully commit to You all my days. Amen.
“It is Finished!”
Scripture reading for May 2nd: John 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: John 19:28-30 “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 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. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Jesus had been on the cross for about six hours, the last three in darkness that had come over the land. His body was dehydrated but He was fully conscious and knew that His work was done. He knew that nearly everything in Scripture had been fulfilled concerning His life and sacrificial death. The one thing remaining was the wine vinegar! (Psalm 69:21) He cried out that He was thirsty, and the drink was provided. One last bitter drink, and the cup of suffering for our sins was complete! Jesus last words, “It is finished!”, were a cry of victory in completing the suffering and death necessary for salvation!
Observations for over-comers: Because Jesus fulfilled Scripture and completed the work of salvation, over-comers can rest in that work and live a life of thankful service and look forward to the King’s return in power and glory! “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s Right Hand is lifted high; the Lord’s Right Hand has done mighty things!” “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” (Psalm 118:15-17) (Psalm that was likely sung as they left the upper room for the Garden of Gethsemane.)
“It is Finished!”
Scripture reading for May 1st: John 19
After being severely flogged and crowned by the soldiers with a crown of thorns, Jesus was made to carry His cross until He could no longer. He was mocked as the “King of the Jews”! Jesus was crucified on Passover morning at 9:00, just as the Passover lambs were being sacrificed. He was the One John the Baptist had identified prophetically as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Over His cross, Pilate had the soldiers fasten this notice: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19) The religious leaders pleaded with Pilate to remove the notice, but he refused! Around the cross, the soldiers gambled for His garments that had been removed. This fulfilled Scripture written about a thousand years earlier by King David. (Psalm 22:18)
Also near the cross was His mother Mary and the two other Mary’s. “When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved (John) standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27) Even in agony and near death, Jesus was thoughtful of others and showed His love!
“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 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. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished!” With that He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30) Jesus’ last cry was a shout of triumph! Everything necessary for the salvation of mankind was complete!
Entering His Rest!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: Hebrews 4:1-16
“Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the Gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest. .” (Hebrews 4:1-3a)
Faith in Jesus Christ for complete salvation brings us into what the writer of Hebrews says is ‘His rest’. Jesus Christ finished our salvation when He cried from the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) However, even this act was completed in God’s mind before the creation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3b) God rested along with creation on the seventh day, which God set aside as a day of rest. (Genesis 2:1-3) Man’s first full day on earth was to be this day of rest. Man was to rest in God’s finished provision and to worship and enjoy God’s fellowship as a child with a loving Father!
However, sin entered and man was lured into a dependency on his own abilities to know good and evil. He gave into Satan’s temptation to try and become like God in his own effort. The consequences were deadly! Man died because sin separated him from the relationship of rest in God’s complete provision. There is truly no rest for those outside of God’s grace. Eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth is the fate of those dying in their sins! (Revelation 20:15)
The writer of Hebrews warned the believers to be careful not to fall short of Christ’s rest. The children of Israel heard the call to enter into the promised land, but did not believe God for the ability to possess it. They died in the wilderness and never found the rest that was promised because of unbelief. Today is a new day for every believer. Each must choose to believe God and enter Christ’s rest. We must not fall short of His promised rest by unbelief! Rest fully in Christ’s finished work!
Famous Last Words!
Scripture reading for May 31st: John 19:23-42
It is said that a man’s last words as he leaves this world have meaning. They reveal something about the heart of the person and leave something for those left to remember him by. Jesus, as He hung on the cross, spoke some last words that have been contemplated by those who followed Him.
Around the cross, soldiers gambled for His seamless robe. They cast lots to see who would get this robe. It would be a little extra payment for their gruesome job. This fulfilled Scripture written by David in Psalm 22:18. Over the cross was a sign written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek, “The King of the Jews”. This was written by Pilate–a designation He refused to change even when requested by the Jews. This was the setting as Jesus suffered.
“Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From this time on, this disciple took her into his house.” “ (John 19:25-27) Jesus, in His agony, took note of His mother. He placed her in the care of His beloved disciple. This was John, who wrote this account! We have an eye-witness account that is not recorded any where else. What love and compassion we behold in Christ!
“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it and put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30) John records these last words of Jesus.
Psalm 69:21 stated that they would give vinegar for the thirst. This prophesy was fulfilled here. I believe that Jesus was also thirsty for His Father’s house! (Psalm 42:2) His work was done, fulfilling all Scripture and now He wanted the glory of heaven and fellowship with the Father! “It is finished” simply states “Paid in full”! He then yielded His spirit to God!