It Is Finished
IT IS FINISHED
JOHN 19:30
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
At the age of 33, most people are saying about their life, "It is beginning." But for Jesus, at age 33, as He hung on a cross, having paid the price for the world’s sins, He declared, "It is finished!" Note, however, that He did not say, "I am finished!" This was not a cry of defeat, but a shout of victory. In the original Greek text, this phrase is one word of ten letters - "Tetelestai" - which literally means: "It is finished, it stands finished, and it always will be finished."
The word, "tetelestai," was a word with which the people of Jesus’ day were very familiar. Today, I want us to think of some common ways in which the word was used as we consider the significance of this cry from the cross. In so doing, we will find that the word "tetelestai" explains two important truths for us.
I. "Tetelestai" Explains The Mission Of Christ.
A. "Tetelestai" Was A Word Used By Artists.
When a painter had completed his work, he would step back and say, "Tetelestai - it is finished!"
Jesus came to give us a full portrayal of what God is like. He was God in the flesh, come to make Himself known to us (John 1:1; 14, Hebrews 1:1-3).
“In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God himself. And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”- John 1:1; 14 (Amplified)
“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.”- Hebrews 1:1-3 (NLT)
With respect to God’s revelation of Himself to mankind, “It is finished.”
B. "Tetelestai" Was A Word Used By Servants.
A master would tell his servant to go and do something, and when the servant had completed the task, he would come back and say, "Tetelestai - I have finished the work that you gave me to do."
Jesus had been sent by the Father to complete a task. He spoke of this in Mark 10:45 (NIV), "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." He fulfilled His appointed task through His suffering on the cross for our sins. Having suffered for the sins of the world, He could declare, “It is finished.”
II. "Tetelestai" Explains The Meaning Of The Cross.
Not only was "Tetelestai" a word used by artists and servants, but. . .
A. "Tetelestai" Was A Word Used By Priests.
The Jewish people had to bring their sacrifices to the priest to be examined before it was offered on the altar, because it was against the law to offer an imperfect sacrifice. After the priest had examined the sacrifice, he would used the Hebrew or Aramaic equivalent of the word Jesus spoke from the cross, "Tetelestai - It is perfect."
Jesus Christ, dying on the cross, was God’s per¬fect, faultless sacrifice: the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. How do we know Christ
B. "Tetelestai" Was A Word Used By Merchants.
To merchants, "Tetelestai," referred to the paying of a debt. If you purchased something, the merchant would take your money and then would give you a receipt of payment. The receipt would say, "Tetelestai - paid in full."
George Wilson was sentenced to hang after he was convicted of killing a guard while robbing a federal payroll from a train. Public sentiment against capital punishment led to an eventual pardon by President Andrew Jackson. Unbelievably, Wilson refused to accept the pardon. Can you do that? The case became so confusing that the Supreme Court was called on to bring about a ruling. Chief Justice John Marshall delivered the verdict: "A pardon is a parchment whose only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon. We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has. Therefore, George Wilson must die."
Consequently, Wilson was hanged. God’s grace becomes a pardon from sin only to those who receive it.
In one sense, the work of redemption is unfinished. God wants to bring the salvation Jesus fully paid for on Calvary to the hearts of individuals, and as long as there is one person who has yet to receive the pardon Jesus died to provide them, the work is unfinished.
Some of you have some unfinished business with God. He has completed His part. You need to bring to completion your part by receiving Christ as personal Savior and Lord.
For those of us who do know Christ, our work will never be finished as long as there is one person left in this world who has yet to finish their business with Jesus.
There is only one kind of person in this world - a person for whom Christ died - and you and I are called to go to all we can to tell them the good news Jesus proclaimed on the day of His crucifixion - "It is finished," the price has been paid - eternal life is a free gift - you need only receive