IT IS FINISHED

John 19:30 “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Finishing. This is one of the hardest things for man to do. Man is a great starter, we are quick to embark upon things that need to be done but lack the strength many times to carry it through. Man, though his intentions are true and sincere, lacks the ability to finish what he starts. Max Lucado states that, “Our human tendency is to quit too soon and our human tendency is to stop before we get to the finish-line. Our inability to finish what we start is seen in the smallest of things like: a partly mowed lawn, a half read book, a letter begun but never completed, an abandoned diet, a car up on blocks or it shows up in the most painful of areas: like an abandoned child, a cold faith, a job hopper, and wrecked marriage.”

In our life we are tempted to quit so many times because of the odds and enemies that have come to stop our successes in God. If you feel like quitting remember that Jesus was tempted in every point as we are yet without quitting. He felt like quitting but pressed to victory. It is finished is not a cry of defeat but a cry of relief, victory and fulfillment. He took the bitterness of defeat and transformed it into a finished victory. He absorbed our defeats against sin, Satan and self and accepted this victory by proclaiming – It Is Finished!

The Greek word is “Tetelestai” which in our version of the scripture is translated, "It is finished." Archaeologists have repeatedly found its Latin equivalent, consummatum est, scrawled across tax receipts used in those days, indicating it also meant "paid," A renowned Presbyterian professor has speculated that many standing near the cross probably interpreted the Savior’s words as having that connotation. With sin’s account settled, our debt of guilt was wiped out.

Our redeemer’s glorious cry of “It is finished” was the death knell of all the adversaries of his people. Psalms 76:3 says “There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle.” The Hero of Golgotha used his cross as an anvil and his sorrows as a hammer, dashing to bits the bundle after bundle of our sins. He snuffed every poisoned arrow of the bow and trampled on every indictment and accusation. He struck down with his hammer the darts of the enemy that try to pierce our soul. He has pulled out Satan’s sword from its sheath and busted it across his knee like a piece of dried wood and cast it into the fire. No sin of a believer can now be an arrow to mortally wound him; no more can condemnation be a sword to kill him, for the punishment of sin was borne by Christ. The full price was paid by our substitute, Jesus Christ. Who can accuse you now? Who can condemn you now that Jesus has justified you? Christ is the one that died and rose again. He emptied the quivers of hell and broke off the head of the arrows of wrath. On the ground lays the splinters and relics of the weapons of hell’s warfare. This only remains visible to remind us of our former danger and great deliverance. Sin has no more dominion over us. Jesus made an end of it for us.

No matter what you may be facing today, remember that Christ died for you. He won so many victories for all of us on the cross. Don’t quit. Keep holding on. Live in the triumph that he has gained for you.