It is Finished!

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

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

All of heaven was waiting for that moment, when Jesus uttered those final three words.  The plan that was etched before time was now being completed on earth.  God’s redeeming work rested upon the shoulders of His dying Son.  One word motivated this gruesome event, love!  It was love from the Father, carried out through the heart of His Son.  The perfect, sinless Son of God cried out those final words, “It is finished.”

God had asked Jesus to do something that only He could do, die for the sins of the world.  The sacrifice required blood and Jesus gave His freely.  His earthly ministry was coming to a close, just as it had been planned.  Death had taken its most prized human being, the Author of Life Himself.  For three days death celebrated its victory and the fate of the world rested in that dark sealed tomb.

Today you may be facing your toughest hour.  Death may be doing it’s best to bring you down.  Fear may be standing at the door you long to walk through.  Sin and guilt have taken you down a road you never thought you would walk.  Whatever your circumstances may be, don’t give up!  Jesus taught us a very important lesson from behind that stone, trust!  Trust in the one who conquered death once and for all.  Jesus waited and God spoke.  And out of the darkness of that tomb, came God’s one and only Son, full of life and calling your name, come and follow me.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are now finished.  Heaven is His home.  Jesus died for us and is asking us to live for Him.  Are we willing to carry on His message of hope and His gift of eternal life?  I owe Him my life, how about you?

Jesus finished His work, now we must finish ours.