Jesus’ Final Words From The Cross, Part 4

“… After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high….”
Hebrews 1:3b (ESV)

With the help of others to quench His thirst and clear His throat, Jesus was able to make a clear declaration of redemption that completed His mission to reconcile sinful man with a holy God:

• “It is finished!” John 19:30 (NIV)

In Greek, this statement is really one single word, “Tetelesthai”.  It means, “It is finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished!”  What is finished?  The work of redemption.  God’s plan to buy back mankind from the separation and slavery of sin. 

I’m so thankful He didn’t say, “I am finished!”  He said, “It is finished!”  The once-for-all sacrifice for sin had now been completed!  Jesus used a word familiar to the people in His day.   They used that word in everyday life.  A servant would use it when reporting to his or her master, “I have completed the work assigned to me.”  We might say, “Done!”  When a priest examined an animal sacrifice and found it faultless, this word would apply.  When an artist completed a picture, or a writer a manuscript, he or she might say, “tetelesthai”, it is finished!  The death of Jesus on the cross completes the picture that God was painting, the story that He had been writing since Genesis! 

Perhaps the most significant meaning of the word tetelsthia was found by the merchants who used it in everyday business transactions.  It meant “The debt is paid in full!”  That’s what Jesus did for you and me!  He paid our debt of sin in full!  When He gave Himself on the cross, Jesus fully met the righteous demands of a holy law that said, “The wages of sin is death!” (Romans 6:23).

None of the Old Testament sacrifices could take away sins; their blood only covered sin.  But the spotless Lamb of God shed His own blood, and that blood can take away the sins of the world!  There’s nothing more to do!  Simply believe and receive!

Personal Challenge:

Are you still trying to do something to earn God’s favor?  What does it mean to you to simply believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross and receive His forgiveness and grace?

Join us on Good Friday at Woodlands Church and invite a friend to experience forgiveness and grace at our first of twenty-two Easter services!  See website for times and locations. 

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To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit https://kerryshook.org/blog.

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.