John 19:28-30
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that 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’ words, “It is finished,” are the summation of everything leading up to Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. This was not just the King of Kings on the cross. This was Christ our Lord, who sat at the right hand of God, who spoke all mankind into existence, and took on the sin penalty once and for all. This sin penalty was not one man’s sin; it was all men’s sin, and it was all men’s worst sin. “It is finished,” Jesus said; there is nothing left, no other penalty to be paid for those who call on His name! The worst of the worst sinners can now be washed clean because the very God that created us paid the price once and for all! From the very foundation of the earth, God, through Jesus, knew that this day would come. Sin that was established in the garden by Adam is now no longer for those in Christ.
“It is Finished” also means that He finished the assignment given to Him by His Father. This means not only that Jesus completed His work, but you and I, as men, can complete the work God has given us to do. Jesus’ mission was not only to save us from our sins but also to make it possible for us to complete our assignments! This is why His last words give us hope in our difficulties and challenges.
In the Old Testament, sacrifices had to be repeated over and over again. Why? Because they were only a shadow, a symbol, of the perfect sacrifice that was needed to turn away the wrath of a holy God. Jesus was that perfect sacrifice. Once His work was done, there was no longer any need for sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:26
Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Jesus’ whole life was the ultimate sacrifice. It wasn’t just a ritual or a religious ceremony that He offered. It was His whole life. The people of Israel offered sacrifices again and again, but it was never enough. Their hearts remained cold and distant from God. They acted as if offering a sacrifice was all that was needed. They thought they could keep living as they wanted, as long as they offered sacrifices. But God was not pleased.
Men, God wants more than going to church and putting money in the plate. He wants us to do His will, not just to show up and look holy. God wants our hearts and our lives.
Hebrews 10:5-7
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.'”
This is our daily battle, following our assignment and doing the very will of God, instead of doing what we want. In our struggles and doubts, we can look to the finished work of Jesus Christ. God has made us a part of a new covenant. This means He has written His law on our hearts and minds. And He will no longer remember our selfish acts and sins. So, when we are discouraged, we have a new, blessed hope because Jesus finished His assignment. Because of Jesus, God sees us as holy, and He no longer holds our sins against us!
Hebrews 10:15-17
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
Men, this is what gives us confidence. Jesus did what we could not do for ourselves. We do not have to hide in shame before God. When we sin, we can confess and repent, knowing that God forgives us and accepts us because Jesus finished His assignment. His faithfulness means we can be faithful. We don’t boast about our work or our good deeds; we boast in the finished work of Jesus.
Hebrews 10:19-20
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…
As men, we often become complacent and turn away. We are tempted to shrink back from the assignments God has given us. We may think it is too much, that we don’t have the strength. We may even be afraid. This is where “It is finished” gives us the hope to move forward. We are no longer held by the grip of Satan, who wants us to live in fear and to shrink back and be safe. This is the way of destruction. This is what the enemy wants. We can now live by faith. Jesus has defeated Satan at the Cross.
Hebrews 10:38-39
“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Before we were born, Jesus knew our name.
Isaiah 49:1
Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
Not only did He create us, but He also knew our sins. He knew we would fall short, but in His unfailing love, He wanted a relationship with His children. So, what did He do? He paid the price of our sin penalty in full. “It is finished!”
— Steve Thomas, RTM